Sin has been Taken Away
Sin and Belief
As believers, we do not go on sinning as a way of life. We don't live lives characterized by sinning.
1 John 3:9 “No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God.” (NASB 2020)
The word “continually” in this passage reflects the tense of the verb “sin” in this sentence. The Greek is explicit that the sinning being discussed here is ongoing sin, sin as a lifestyle, sin as a general ongoing practice.
Jesus took away the sin of the world, that's true. Father was in Jesus reconciling the world to Himself and not counting people's sins against them.
John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (NASB 2020)
2 Corinthians 5:18–19 “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (NASB 2020)
Consequently, what stands between us and God is not our behavior. No one can be justified by the works of the law. What separates people from God is their response to His gift of reconciliation and righteousness.
Those who respond with belief, trusting that Jesus has taken care of the problem, are reborn as children of God with new hearts and Holy Spirit living in them.
John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (NASB 2020)
Those who respond with unbelief and continue rebelliously relying on their own actions and attitudes, remain under condemnation and separate from spiritual life.
John 3:36 “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (NASB 2020)
The word “obey” is apitheo which means, “Not to allow oneself to be persuaded or believe, to disbelieve, be disobedient.” (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament)
Obedience is belief.
1 John 3:23–24 “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (NASB 2020)
