1 John 3:4-6 Sin

What is sin? 1 John 3:4 says, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” Should we be legalistic, returning to the letter of the law? The new covenant is “not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) Jesus taught that a bad thought breaks the law (Matthew 5:22, 28). What hope do we have then? 1 John 3:5-6 says, “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” Jesus covers our sins (Romans 4:7).