I John3: 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
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.
These verses were presented in an article I read this week. At first it disturbed me a little. The author was saying essentially that if you sin, you are not saved because if you were saved, you would not sin. This is really a disturbing message for many Christians. At least to me it was disturbing. Why? Because we all still sin.
The argument then goes, “they will continue to sin but they won’t make a pattern of it, but if a person continues to sin, then they were never saved in the first place.” If that were the case; if everyone who was truly saved was not even capable of sinning, then why would John write earlier in chapter 1 on I John, v9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If a Christian never sins, what would they need to confess?
Now I am not arguing that a Christian can just go ahead and sin. Paul asks the question, Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) “God, forbid” was the answer. Much of Romans 6 continues about how we are dead to sin and won’t continue therein. But in verse 7 we find out that we still do sin, even intentionally, knowingly, willfully.
Romans 7: 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
So what of the I John 3 verses? They seem to say we won’t sin if we are truly saved. Don’t they contradict what Paul is saying here in Romans? Not at all. Look at verse 15 of Romans 7; but what I hate, that do I. Often a Christian will sin, even willingly and knowingly, but the pleasure of it is not there. A Christian will feel guilty. They will feel remorse, sorrow in their sin. They will recognize the wrong. Going back to I John 1:9, we will confess our sins and be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness.
The key to what is being talked about in Chapter 3 is the condition of the heart. If one is sinning, and they enjoy it, feel no remorse over it, and plan to do it again for their own amusement, then we could say that they would not be abiding in Christ. Such a person would also have no desire to do what God says is right. They will create for themselves a God that excuses their behavior. A God of love who doesn’t condemn anyone.
I write about this because I want to encourage others. Young believers especially can have their faith shaken by such proclamations as Christians won’t ever sin if they are true Christians. Immediately they begin to doubt their salvation because it is impossible for us to live sinless, even after being saved. The real danger is when we no longer or don’t even care if our actions are sinful or not.
We as believers also have to remember what Jesus taught, Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Mathew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
We would do much better loving one another.
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