“From  My  Heart  to  Yours”

This week we are resuming our study of the letter of 1 John under the theme of, “The Joy of Being a Child of God.”  We are now in the third chapter of this book, one which addresses the Lord’s abiding relationship with believers (3:1 – 24).  In vv.1 – 3, we learned that as followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives of joy and purity in relation to His promise to come again.  In today’s segment of vv.4 – 10, we will recognize as well that we are called to live a life of righteousness and obedience in relation to the practice of our faith.  This week’s message is entitled, “Sin Doesn’t Become You.”

While it is true that none of us can live out this life of faith here and now apart from the curse of sin, one of the joys of being a child of God is this:  as members of the family of God, we do not have to live under the dominion of sin as if we have no choice but to live in unrighteousness, disobedience, and rebellion against Almighty God.  Instead, we can reckon ourselves to be alive to our Heavenly Father, and dead to the inherent power of sin on the basis of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Romans 6:11 – 14).  This wondrous truth can become a glorious reality in our lives as we daily choose to abide in Christ in humble submission to His Lordship, and to live in surrendered obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Apostle John depicted the marks of a genuine believer to include a consistent lifestyle of obedience, righteousness, and love for others, because a lifestyle of habitual and willful patterns of sin is incompatible with being a child of God.  So, we are compelled to ask this question:  “What truth does the Holy Spirit desire to teach us, show us, instill within us through this text today?”  He desires for us to understand that a genuine profession of faith is marked by a consistent lifestyle of obedience, righteousness, and love for others.  And why is this so significant for us as Christians today?  Because it emphasizes the spiritual reality that a lifestyle of sin is no longer becoming to a follower of Jesus.

Let us consider three primary truths from 3:4 – 10.  First, I want to point out to you the distinction between saints and sinners (vv.4, 6 – 8a).  At this point, John now proceeds to demonstrate how incompatible a habitual lifestyle and willful practice of sin is incompatible with the joy of being a child of God.  This is so because, in contrast to a habitual lifestyle of sin, the life of a believer is characterized by a life of righteousness and obedience (2:29), the pursuit of purity and holiness (3:3), and a genuine love for others (3:10).

Go back and read 3:3 for a moment.  The phrase, “purifies himself,” literally means “to make oneself clean, to sanctify oneself, morally.”  This phrase denotes a continual process of moral purification (“mortification”), expressing freedom from the strongholds of sin (cf. Colossians 3:5 – 10  &  2 Corinthians 7:1).  Obviously, none of us can cleanse and sanctify ourselves from our own sin.  John’s emphasis in v.3 is that the cleansing, sanctifying work of the indwelling Holy Spirit does not take place apart from a believer’s repentance from sin, and obedience unto God and His Word. 

Now let us examine the two particular terms of “sin,” and “lawlessness,” as they are used in v.4.  The former word literally speaks of “missing the mark.”  It is used to refer to the intentional, willful breaking of God’s moral laws, arising from the deliberate choice of an individual.  It depicts a direct offense against the known will of God, of willfully straying from the path of righteousness and honor.

The latter term literally refers to “wickedness, rebellion.”  It describes a willful rejection and intentional disobedience against God’s moral standards of righteousness and obedience.  It is rooted in an attitude of the heart to show willful contempt for, and disobedience towards, God’s moral righteousness.

Why is it so significant for us to grasp the fulness of the truth of this particular verse?  Because once again, the Apostle John refuted the false teaching and hedonistic lifestyle of the Gnostics.  Remember, this group held to the belief that they could choose to engage in any and all kinds of sinful behavior and still be in right fellowship with God. 

They based this teaching on what has been described as “the two-story worldview of dualism”— the belief that whatever one may choose to do in and with this body of flesh has no impact whatsoever on one’s spirit and soul.

Let us note the contrasts that John makes between saints and sinners; those who are recognized as children of God, and those who are recognized as being children of the devil:  a) purity (v.3)  vs.  perversity (v.4); b) holiness (v.3)  vs.  lawlessness (v.4); c) obedience (v.3)  vs.  defiance (v.4); and d) righteousness (2:29; vv.6a, 7)  vs.  wickedness (vv.6b, 8a).

Listen, even as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we still must confess that we do, indeed, still sin from time to time.  Surely we can all identify with what the Apostle Paul declared in Romans 7:15, 19— “For what I am doing, I do not understand.  For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do… For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

However, we cannot habitually and willfully pursue living in the darkness and depravity of sin because of our new nature in Christ.  Sin is no longer the ruling principle of our lives.  Sin no longer suits us, sin no longer becomes us, because we are now children of God and no longer children of the devil!

In his commentary on this passage of 3:4 – 10, Daniel Akin has provided a wonderful written expression of the meaning of this text.  Here he says…

The apostle asserts with absolute clarity that those who live in habitual sin have not seen Christ and do not know Christ.  This is the same as saying they do not have saving relationship with Christ.  On the other hand, those who abide in Him live a life marked by habitual righteousness and purity instead of lawlessness (rebellion) and disobedience.  While the unbeliever lives in sin and has not seen or known Christ, the believer has terminated a life of sin for a life of abiding in Him.  The child of God has experienced a decisive break with sin.  Sin no longer controls his life (NAC— 1,2,3 John, p.144).

Whether or not you are a basketball fan, you probably recognize the name of Michael Jordan.  He is regarded as one of the very best players who ever played in college and the NBA.  His reputation for the competitive spirit he displayed, his incredible athleticism and basketball intelligence, his seeming unmatched will to win is renowned by all who are familiar with his career. 

In light of the career achievements of Michael Jordan on the basketball court, is he remembered for the turnovers he committed?  The shots he missed during the course of a game?  The missed defensive assignments that may have allowed the other team to score?  Or, instead is Michael Jordan remembered for…

• winning 6 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls?
• winning multiple regular season MVP awards, as well as all six championship MVP awards in which he played?
• winning multiple scoring titles?
• winning multiple defensive player of the year awards?
• his many dramatic game-winning shots?
• his continued influence on the game of basketball?

During his playing days with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan normally performed like the greatest basketball player who ever played the game.  Although he did make some turnovers, missed some shots, and blew a few defensive assignments throughout his career, that was the exception and not the rule in his performance.

Likewise, it is much the same for those of us who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ.  Sin in the life of the believer is the exception, and not the rule!  The atoning power of the work of the cross of Jesus Christ is denied when a professing Christian gives himself \ herself to the practice and pursuit of deliberate sin.  Dear Christian, sin no longer suits you.  The pleasures of sin cannot satisfy you.  Sin no longer becomes you!  Cf. Matthew 7:17 – 20.

Let us now consider the defeat of sin and Satan (vv.5, 8).  There are three key truths that every Christian needs to be reminded of from these verses. 

First, there is the pre-existence \ eternality of Jesus (v.5).  The word, “manifested,” not only points back to the historical reality of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus, it also to His eternality.  Cf.  John 1:1 – 3  &  Colossians 1:15 – 17.

Second, there is the  preeminence \ exaltation of Jesus (vv.5, 8).  The phrase that John used in v.5, “and in Him there is no sin,” speaks to more than just the fact that Jesus did not commit any act of sin.  It is a declaration that Jesus did not, and does not, possess a sinful nature.  John demonstrated that Jesus is our Advocate and Atonement (2:1 – 2), the Righteous One (2:29), the Pure One (3:3), the Sinless One (3:5).  The title which John used in reference to Jesus in v.8, “the Son of God,” is used the first of seven times in this epistle.  This title emphasizes the deity, authority, and preeminence of the Lord Jesus.  Cf. Colossians 1:18.

Third, there is the purpose \ end of Jesus (vv.5, 8).  There is a two-fold aspect related to why Jesus came to earth as a human being.  One is that Jesus came to deal with the penalty of our sin (v.5).  The phrase, “take away,” means more than to remove something.  It indicates the sense of bearing upon oneself the responsibility, or penalty, of that which belongs to another.  This speaks to our justification through Jesus (cf. Romans 3:21 – 26  &  8:1 – 4  \  Galatians 2:15 – 16).

The other aspect of why Jesus came to earth is clearly noted in that He came to destroy the power of Satan (v.8).  The term, “destroy,”  does not mean “annihilate.” Instead, it means literally “to loosen” (from the dominion of sin), implying the ability and authority to render inoperative the power of Satan.  This addresses our sanctification in Jesus (cf. 1 John 4:4 & 5:4 – 5  \  Ephesians 4:17 – 24).  In Jesus we have a Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Sovereign Ruler who watches over each moment and season of our lives.

The final truth we must consider today involves what I wish to refer to as the deterrent to sin (vv.9 – 10).  Let us glean two significant principles here which serve to protect and prevent us from giving ourselves to willful disobedience to God.  One involves the  fact  that  we  possess  a  new  dynamic  (v.9). 

Take note of the following two phrases— “…for His seed remains in him;… because he has been born of God.”

Those who are lost in their sin ultimately have no choice but to yield to the control and temptations of sin.  They are spiritually dead in their trespasses and sin.  They possess no life and no power with which to overcome and resist the ruling dominion of sin within their lives.

For those of us who have been redeemed and are being sanctified, though, we can overcome the strongholds of sin and resist the temptations of sin.  We know this due to the biblical teaching that the life of the “old Adam” has given way to the life of the “new Adam” found in Jesus Christ, which is manifested by the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is that new dynamic we possess, and, who possesses us.  Cf. Romans 5:12 – 21.

The other principle stands out due to the  fact  that  we  are  pursuing  new  desires  (v.10).  A child of God not only does not want to continue a lifestyle of habitual sin, he \ she desires to do what is right in the sight of God.  A follower of Jesus does not want to grieve the heart of His God and Savior, nor to quench the leading and working of the indwelling Holy Spirit within one’s life.

George Morrison was a highly respected and beloved Scottish pastor who served the Lord from the latter part of the 1800s through the first two decades of the 1900s.  Morrison was once asked in earnestness by one of his parishioners, “Have you gotten to the place where you cannot sin?”  His reply was, “No, I have not yet gotten to where I cannot sin.  But, I have gotten to the place where I cannot sin and enjoy it.”

Child of God, remember— sin no longer suits you.  The pleasures of sin cannot satisfy you.  Sin does not become you.  Live out your faith in Christ in such a manner that your life is characterized by a genuine lifestyle of obedience and righteousness unto our Lord, and His agape love for others.  “Sin Doesn’t Become You.”

Anchored to His Faithfulness,

Pastor  Allen