The meaning of all that is in the world and is from the world appears in the three qualifying descriptions of sin’s categories. Sin is the dominant reality in the world and, launching from this verse, it is helpful to look more extensively at sin, by definition called “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4) – any violation of God’s perfect and holy law. Whereas the law of God encompasses all that is righteous (Psalms 19:7; 119:142; Isaiah 42:21; cf. Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 119:18; Nehemiah 8:9, 18; Isaiah 51:4; Matthew 22:36-40; Acts 28:23; Romans 3:21; James 1:25), sin encompasses all that is unrighteouness (Proverbs 24:9; Matthew 15:19; 1 John 5:17; cf. Genesis 6:5).
Although it manifests itself in external actions, the roots of sin go much deeper, embedded in the very fabric of the depraved human heart. Sin permeates the fallen mind, internally defiling the sinner in every aspect of his being (cf. Matthew 15:18-20). Thus, the Old Testament likens sin to a deadly plague (1 Kings 8:38, NKJV) or filthy garments (Zechariah 3:3-4; cf. Isaiah 64:4). Sin is so foul that God hates it (Proverbs 15:9) and sinners hate themselves (Ezekiel 6:9) because of their inherent wickedness.
Sin is, by nature, both rebellious and ungrateful – so much so that, if possible, it would dethrone God in favor of sinners (cf. Psalm 12:4; Jeremiah 2:31; 44:17). Its attitude is that of Absalom who, when forgiven by his father, King David, nevertheless immediately plotted to overthrow him (2 Samuel 14:33-15:12). Romans 1:21 says of the ungodly, “Even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks (emphasis added; cf. 2 Timothy 3:2).
Sin is, also, humanly incurable. Sinners have no capacity, in and of themselves, to remedy their sin (Romans 8:7-8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1). The prophet Isaiah described Israel’s incurably sinful condition (Isaiah 1:4-6).
Sin is like a terminal illness or hereditary condition, about which sinners can do nothing in their own strength. God demanded of Israel, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then, you, also, can do good who are accustomed to doing evil” (Jeremiah 13:23; cf. Job 14:4; Matthew 7:16-18).
Finally, sin is univesal. David wrote, “They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3; cf. Isaiah 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10-12; 5:12). Thus, all people, left to their own devices, choose to sin (John 3:19-20; cf. Psalm 7:14; Proverbs 4:16; Isaiah 5:18; Jeremiah 9:5).
From: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1-3 John by John MacArthur (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2007), pp. 85-86.
John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. (born in Los Angeles, California on June 19, 1939) celebrates his 40th anniversary as pastor of Grace Community Church of the Valley, in Sun Valley, California, in February, 2009. He will turn 70 in June.
