CONFIDENCE IN A CHAOTIC WORLD
(Can Christians continue in sin? - August 22, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "Close fellowship with Christ silences the destructive beliefs and behaviors of this world"
Sermon Big Idea: "Continuing in sin is proof of an unregenerate heart"
Key Scripture (1 John 3:4-10)
Can a genuine Christian continue to live a life of sin? That is the question that the Apostle John addresses in the passage of Scripture we will look at today. The false teachers we have talked about the last several weeks that John has been refuting probably downplayed the seriousness of sin in a persons life. To refute those false teachers John will give four reasons why true Christians can't continue to practice sin willfully.
4 Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law. 5 You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. 6 Everyone who remains in Him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works. 9 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how God’s children—and the Devil’s children—are made evident.
First Reason Christians can't continue to practice sin:
Because sin is incompatible with the law of God which they love (Psalm 119:34) (Romans 7:12) (Romans 7:22). "breaks the law" means more than transgression against God's law. It literally means ultimate rebellion. It means a Christian would have to live as if there was no law or ignoring it all together (James 4:17). "Everyone who commits sin." "Commits" in the Greek has the idea of an habitual practice. It is true Christians have a sin nature (1 John 1:8), and must confess sin (1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1), but this should not be the pattern of their lives. There is a difference between committing sin and continuing in sin.
Even though believers sometimes sin they are not hanging on to a certain sin and willfully choosing to commit it. A believer who commits sin will repent, confess, and receive forgiveness. People who continue to sin don't repent and so never confess and never receive forgiveness.
The Second Reason Christian's can't continue to practice sin:
Because it is incompatible with the work of Christ. Christ died to make believers holy (2 Corinthians 5:21) (Ephesians 5:25-27). To continue to sin is contrary to the work of Christ's breaking of the dominion of sin in a believer's life (Romans 6:1-15). Because Jesus never sinned is what makes it possible for Him to reconcile other people to God (Isaiah 53:9).
The Third Reason Christians can't continue to practice sin:
Because Christ came to destroy the works of the arch-sinner, Satan. Yes the devil may still be operating, but he has been defeated! In Christ, the Christian can escape his evil. There will be a day that will come when his activity will come to an end and he will be sent to hell forever (Revelation 20:10). A person who sins is standing is direct opposition to God's plan and so follows evil plans. The reality is that the person who chooses to continue in sin is aligning his life with the devil and not God.
The Fourth Reason Christians can't continue to practice sin:
Because it is incompatible with the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who gives believers their new nature (John 3:5-8). When a person becomes a Christian, God makes that person new, with a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christians have God's characteristics because they have been born into God's family.
CONCLUSION
John concludes this section by coming back to the command to love in (1 John 2:10). He said there that love for fellow believers will characterize people who are walking in the light. Now he goes a step further and says that the failure to love is sin. To do what is right by God's standard means to not just keeping away from evil. It also means to keep the right attitude toward other people that motivates acts of love.
There are only two kinds of people in this world; children of God and children of Satan. No one can belong to both at the same time. You either belong to God's family and show His righteous character or you belong to Satan's family and show the fruit of his sinful nature. Who do you belong to?
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Yarbrough, Robert W. “1 John.” CSB Study Bible: Notes. Ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. 1995. Print.
Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.
Jobes, Karen H. 1, 2, & 3 John. Ed. Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. Print. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament.
Walls, David, and Max Anders. I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude. Vol. 11. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print.
Osborne, Grant, Philip W. Comfort. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 13: John and 1, 2, and 3 John. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007. Print.
Burge, Gary M. Letters of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Practical Illustrations: 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003. Print.
Osborne, Grant, Philip W. Comfort. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 13: John and 1, 2, and 3 John. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
Akin, Daniel L. 1, 2, 3 John. Vol. 38. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001. Print. The New American Commentary.
Vaughan, Curtis. 1, 2, 3 John. Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press, 2011. Print. Founders Study Guide Commentary.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
AFTER THE MESSAGE
After hearing today's message there may be a decision you have made and you want a pastor to connect with you. We want to make this easy for you. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and fill out the form and our pastor will contact you in the way you prefer.