What does the Bible say about sin in the life of a believer?

While 1 John 3:9 states that 'whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,' this does not imply sinless perfection. The tension between a believer's new nature and their sinful flesh is acknowledged throughout Scripture. In fact, John explicitly states in 1 John 1:8 that 'if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.' This acknowledges that believers will still encounter sin; however, they are called to confess their sins, finding assurance in God's faithfulness to forgive, as stated in 1 John 1:9.