As long as I am in this body - I will sin. Do I intentionally sin? NOPE . . . Do I get angry? sometimes Do I say things I shouldn't? sometimes No I don't assume that everyone must but if anyone says they do not sin - they are a liar.
(1 John 1:8)
I know I don't have to give in to temptation - But in some instances there is no temptation such as saying something with your mouth that is somewhat sarcastic, hurtful or disgusting . . . . being angry. These are 'fleshly', 'human', 'carnal' emotions and sometimes they are hard to control. If we never sin why would we have to ask forgiveness.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
The point is - I may struggle with sin, and I may sin - but I have Christ in me - I am a child of God now - I have strength within me, in that inner man, to run the race, to fight the fight through Christ. It is a WALK.
your 1 john quote is out of context. John is saying that unless we know we have sinned we can not come to Jesus in the first place. notice he also says later:
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Here is the beauty of the Gospel. we know Romans 7 says sin comes from within. but Jesus tells us where:
Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Jesus pinpoints where sin comes from within a man. The "heart". as it is written:
Jer_17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
but what Does David pray:
Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
can God create in us a clean heart? yes not only that he said he would:
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Praise God, a new heart. Is God going to give me a heart that sins like the last one?