September 9, 2014 “THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN”
If we are to live this life in a way that pleases our Father, our core beliefs must be in line with what the scriptures teach. At times, we may find what we read in scripture challenges our core beliefs and we may discover that we need to adjust our thinking and change what we believe if need be. In 1 John we find a passage that may be somewhat hard to digest as it may sound contrary to what we have believed. Personally, what I was taught by well-meaning teachers contradicts the passage we will look at in 1 John. “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Let me say upfront, I am not talking about “sinless perfection.” Simply put, we must know that we can live without sin as the dominion of sin has been broken. I have heard many times such statements as: “I’m a Christian, but I still have a sin nature” or “I’m not perfect”, etc. If we sin, it is because we chose to sin. The passage above confronts us as it forces us to either dismiss the emphasis of scripture that teaches that we are new creations with new hearts, or we have to come to grips with the fact that we don’t have to sin. It is humbling for us to realize that we sin by choice and that we can’t blame our “old nature” any longer. Believers have been given new hearts and this new heart no longer has a desire to sin. As said above, when a Christian commits a sin it is by choice, however, Jesus is our Advocate and forgiveness is extended when we confess our sin to the Father. If a professing believer has a desire to sin, then perhaps there is a need to examine their salvation. The fact that we do not have to sin is a huge issue and it has a tremendous impact on our lives. If we don’t believe this truth, then we can’t say we have been freed from sin. Most Christians do not struggle with overt sins such as murder, stealing, etc. but it is in the area of thought life, not expressing love, apathy, not fulfilling the “one another” commands and other sins of omission where the struggle takes place for some. It seems that we can become comfortable with what we consider a “small” sin. It is essential for us to believe in the deepest part of our being that we have been made new and that it is now possible, the new norm, for us to walk in newness and not sin. All of the commands and directives of our Father we can do and they are doorways to abundant life. Again, if and when we sin (omission or commission) we have an Advocate who assures forgiveness for our sin. We don’t have to live in fear of sin and we don’t have to analyze every action we take when we are in tune with God. The Holy Spirit guides us and if we err, He will convict us of any sin we may commit and then we simply agree with Him that it was sin and if our sin was against others, we need to ask their forgiveness and make restitution if need be. One point to clarify; if our sin, for example, was having a wrong thought toward someone but we never expressed that thought, then it may not be necessary to go to that person to ask their forgiveness-just confess it to God. The main point is for us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading. May we continue to examine our lives and our understanding of scripture so that we can continue to discover just how great our salvation is.
I John 3:7: “Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”
I John 3:21-23: “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”
If we are to live this life in a way that pleases our Father, our core beliefs must be in line with what the scriptures teach. At times, we may find what we read in scripture challenges our core beliefs and we may discover that we need to adjust our thinking and change what we believe if need be. In 1 John we find a passage that may be somewhat hard to digest as it may sound contrary to what we have believed. Personally, what I was taught by well-meaning teachers contradicts the passage we will look at in 1 John. “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Let me say upfront, I am not talking about “sinless perfection.” Simply put, we must know that we can live without sin as the dominion of sin has been broken. I have heard many times such statements as: “I’m a Christian, but I still have a sin nature” or “I’m not perfect”, etc. If we sin, it is because we chose to sin. The passage above confronts us as it forces us to either dismiss the emphasis of scripture that teaches that we are new creations with new hearts, or we have to come to grips with the fact that we don’t have to sin. It is humbling for us to realize that we sin by choice and that we can’t blame our “old nature” any longer. Believers have been given new hearts and this new heart no longer has a desire to sin. As said above, when a Christian commits a sin it is by choice, however, Jesus is our Advocate and forgiveness is extended when we confess our sin to the Father. If a professing believer has a desire to sin, then perhaps there is a need to examine their salvation. The fact that we do not have to sin is a huge issue and it has a tremendous impact on our lives. If we don’t believe this truth, then we can’t say we have been freed from sin. Most Christians do not struggle with overt sins such as murder, stealing, etc. but it is in the area of thought life, not expressing love, apathy, not fulfilling the “one another” commands and other sins of omission where the struggle takes place for some. It seems that we can become comfortable with what we consider a “small” sin. It is essential for us to believe in the deepest part of our being that we have been made new and that it is now possible, the new norm, for us to walk in newness and not sin. All of the commands and directives of our Father we can do and they are doorways to abundant life. Again, if and when we sin (omission or commission) we have an Advocate who assures forgiveness for our sin. We don’t have to live in fear of sin and we don’t have to analyze every action we take when we are in tune with God. The Holy Spirit guides us and if we err, He will convict us of any sin we may commit and then we simply agree with Him that it was sin and if our sin was against others, we need to ask their forgiveness and make restitution if need be. One point to clarify; if our sin, for example, was having a wrong thought toward someone but we never expressed that thought, then it may not be necessary to go to that person to ask their forgiveness-just confess it to God. The main point is for us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and follow His leading. May we continue to examine our lives and our understanding of scripture so that we can continue to discover just how great our salvation is.
I John 3:7: “Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”
I John 3:21-23: “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”
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