1 John 3:1-10 Sins vs. Sin

“A Christian who sins is a child sinning against His Father.  The unbeliever sins against law.  The believer sins against love,” my commentary says.  “The fear of the Lord indicates that God’s children hold their Father in reverence and will not deliberately disobey Him or try His patience.”

A Christian reading this can quickly begin to doubt his salvation when he sees verse like, “Anyone who lives in Christ does not go on sinning.”  But my commentary explained, “The emphasis here is not on sins (plural), but on sin (singular) … Sins are the fruit, but sin is the root.”

It states that asserting our will against God’s will is rebellion and rebellion is the root of sin.

This is all about deliberately and habitually sinning.  Deliberately indicates that we are asserting our will against God’s will.  Habitually means we are doing it on such a consistent basis that it is clear that we don’t care.  We are practicing.  “John did not deny that Christians sin, but he did deny that Christians can live in sin.”

“A Christian has an old nature from his physical birth and a new nature from his spiritual birth.  The old nature produces sin, but the new nature leads one into a holy life.  A Christian’s responsibility is to live according to his new nature, not the old nature.”  In an example, those natures were compared to two dogs inside us that are fighting.  The dog that wins is the one which is fed the most.

It also said, “Temptation appeals to our basic natural desires.  There is nothing sinful about our desires, but temptation gives us an opportunity to satisfy these desires in an evil way … Satan baits his traps with pleasures that appeal to the old nature, the flesh.  But none of his bait appeals to the new divine nature.”  We overcome the desires of the old nature by beginning each day by yielding our bodies to God, and by reading and studying the Word, feeding our new nature.  We also pray for God to fill us with the Holy Spirit and to give us power to serve Christ and glorify Him, it said.

If we do sin, we are told we must instantly confess to God and claim forgiveness.  Sin separates us from God, and we need to restore the fellowship so He can work in us.  Failing to do this leads to backsliding.  A key question is, “When temptation comes, do I play with it or do I flee from it?”  Do I immediately yield to the divine nature within me?”

Father, help me to have strength to let my new nature answer the door when sin comes knocking.  Keep me feeling the pain of deliberately sinning against You, so that my conscience won’t be desensitized by my sin.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford