Today’s reading is 1 John 3.
Let’s dive into some deep waters. I’ll admit, this chapter contains some confusing statements. I hope we can untie the knots and shed some light on John’s meaning.
In Jesus, there is no sin (1 John 3:5). But that is because, John says, Jesus takes our sins away. Remember, He is the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). If John stopped there, that wouldn’t be too bad. But then John doubles down. No one abiding in Jesus sins. Is John really saying if we ever sin, we are of the devil and not actually born of God? Trying to claim he means ongoing sin or continuing in sin instead of just a singular sin, doesn’t really clear up the issue, but only leads us to ask, “Well how many sins is ongoing sin? Is it two sins in a day? Three? One hundred? How many?”
Is there any help for us to clear this up? Yes. First, before John gets to this part of his sermon, he has already told us if even he says he has no sin, he is lying and the truth is not in him. Surely he doesn’t turn around and say because he’s born of God, he has no sin. He must mean something else. Second, 1 John 2:29 makes an interesting statement on the flip side of the equation which we rarely notice, “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (ESV). That is, everyone who does righteousness has been born of God. Wait! Is John saying anyone who does a righteous action is born of God? Surely not. After all, other than Jesus, we are all a mixture of lawful actions and unlawful actions.
These are extreme statements, hyperboles, which we know are not literally true. Recognizing we have extreme, stark statements on both sides of the equation helps us get to the point. It is no more true that a person who commits one sin or even a series of sin is automatically a child of the devil than it is true that a person who does just one righteous act or even a series of righteous acts is automatically a child of God. John clearly speaks in hyperbole to make us stop and consider deeply.
John’s point recalls something Jesus said in his eye-witness record of the gospel. In John 8:31-47, Jesus told the Jews if they would abide in His Word they would be free. They pushed back, declaring they weren’t slaves. Then Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34, ESV). Jesus came to set us free from slavery to and practice of sin. Further, He goes on to declare that those who were arguing with Him “are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.” (John 8:44, ESV). Jesus did not declare these folks were children of the devil because they had committed a sin, but because their will was to sin. Jesus was not saying a single sin makes one of His disciples a child of the devil anymore than He would say a single act of righteousness would make a demon a child of God. John does not saying that either.
John explained in 1 John 2:26, he wrote because liars were attacking the disciples. How would they know the liars and deceivers? Just like Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20, by the fruit of their teaching. If we abide in Jesus, we will bear fruit for God’s glory (John 15). In other words, any teaching of truth will lead us deeper into Jesus and will grow God-glorifying, righteous fruit in our lives. Any teaching whose fruit is sin is lawless, not truth. Any teaching directing people to practice sin makes them slaves of sin, not free in Christ. Any teaching that allows people to will the desires of the devil (lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes, pride of life), makes them a child of the devil, not of God. Those born of God don’t justify sin, don’t encourage sin, don’t even allow sin. Yes, sometimes we fall prey to temptation and sin. But the teaching of Christ leads us to the forgiveness we need to remove our sins and the strength we need to progressively overcome sin by His support and help.
To sum up. John does not mean true disciples cannot sin at all. Nor does he mean if a Christian ever commits a sin, that person is actually a child of the devil. Instead, he speaks in extreme terms to warn us away from soul-enslaving error. Those born of God don’t pursue sin and don’t buy any teaching that leads them to sin. Those born of God grow in freedom from sin by the truth that is in Jesus.
And that growth leads us to yesterday’s truth. One day, we will be like God. Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is 1 John 3.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does 1 John 3 prompt or improve your trust in God?
Read the Bible 
Yes, Praise the Lord. Thank you for shedding light on this passage.
LikeLike