The War Against Sin
The beginning of 1 John 3 is one of the Bible passages we can find the most uncomfortable. Verse 6 is bad enough, but at least it has the condition of abiding in him, so we tell ourselves maybe we aren’t ‘abiding' enough. However verse 9 has no condition, it is a stated fact for all true children of God: ‘no one born of God makes a practice of sinning’.
John leaves no room for compromise and nor should we. We do of course need to take it alongside all John says in 1 John, but the main point is obvious; the true child of God cannot continue to sin and he gives us at least 5 reasons:
The Christian cannot sin because it is sheer rebellion against God.
In verse 4 he says sin is lawlessness, iniquity, rebellion. Nowadays watching porn, sleeping around, getting drunk, slagging off someone behind their back, pleasing ourselves, being selfish and lazy, indulgent and unthankful. None of that breaks any local laws but it does something much more serious. It breaks God's Law. God made this Universe, and made all of us to obey him and please him so to defy his will is to rebel against our Maker. Furthermore, God is in process putting down this rebellion...
To sin is also to fight against the very purposes of God.
John has structured verses 4-10 in two parallel clauses. Each has an everyone statement, then a statement about why Christ came. Then a no-one statement followed by a concluding statement mentioning children:
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
The statements in v5 and v8 explain why Jesus appeared, or became a man; to put away sin and to destroy the work of Satan. Therefore, when we give in to sin, we are opposing what Christ came to do and continues to do.
Last week we were thinking about the amazing truth that God became a man, and here John explains why he became a man; to beat sin. Like a soldier landing in enemy territory to turn the tide of the war, his coming is the great turning point in the ultimate cosmic war against sin and Satan. And there are only two sides in this war. Jesus himself stated this bluntly “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matt 12:30)
Indulging in sin, or even letting sin fester unchallenged in ourselves or in our friends, is playing into the hands of the enemy. It’s a bit like playing for a team. You may from time to time score an accidental own goal. Regrettable, but understandable. However, to deliberately score an own goal is not acceptable. The manager will be horrified and pull us off the pitch, perhaps permanently, before we cause any more damage to the cause. It is inevitable and regrettable that we will sin, but to choose to live a life of blatant sin is unthinkable for those on Christ’s side.
It gets in the way of our fellowship with God
We have learnt that Jesus came to free us from the grip sin has on us. He does that not by laying down the Law but by winning our hearts. So that we come to love and appreciate him and his friendship more than we love our sin. So we become willing to give up the things he hates, in order to grow closer to him.
We cannot abide in him, v6, if we are sinning. The two are incompatible. That would be like me trying to maintain a close relationship with Jude while smelling sweaty (after I come back from a run). I need to be cleaned to maintain our fellowship, and we need to be cleansed from our sin (1:9) to maintain fellowship with God.
Christ is pure (3v3). In him is no sin (3v5). He is righteous (3v7). We cannot remain close with one so holy without constant cleansing. That’s what the Lord’s Supper is for, maintaining that relationship. Sin so easily creeps in between us and our Lord, and it inevitably brings a distance, but it can be removed if we are willing to walk in the light (1v7).
Our new nature won’t allow us
This section of 1 John introduces a new concept; the new birth. Up to this point we have been enjoying fellowship with God, but God gives us new life, His life, so that we don’t just become his friends but his family. Not just in status or concept but in actual reality; “and so we are” v1.
In 3v9 John is thinking mainly of the impact this new life has on us. That new life brings a new nature, God’s seed, and it will be manifested 3v10. It will eventually show itself. If a wife cheats on her husband the child will be born with the characteristics of the real Dad. John says if we are really God’s children we will eventually show the same characteristics as God. God’s seed remains in us, and this takes the fight against sin to the inside.
We have already thought about how God’s son landed in this world to conquer Satan and free us from sin. When we are born again the war moves inside. We are the enemy territory and God lands in us, through the imparted life, our new nature, and starts the fight with sin. Being born again doesn’t bring us inner peace, the very opposite, it starts an inner war. The new nature starts to oppose our old sinful nature. Previously we were at peace with sin but our new nature changes all that, and that’s a good thing!
Perhaps a young unmarried couple are living together, sleeping together, and they haven’t a conscience about it at all. Then they become Christians and without even being taught they start to get a sense that they ought to get married.
If I am not at peace at the minute, bothered about a besetting sin, or a wrong attitude, that’s great! That’s a sign of the new nature. It would be tragic if we could sin and not be bothered.
This is how John gives us assurance in this letter. By pointing out the signs of life. Many Christians struggle with assurance because of their struggle with sin, but John is saying that very struggle is a sign of new life.
And God will not fail. He will make us righteous. Verses 9 and 10 are facts not exhortations. John is not exhorting us to act like children of God, he is describing how the children of God can be recognised. A genuine Christian will become more righteous, more pure, and more loving of their brothers and sisters.
The final reason is that sin has no future
Look at 3v3. A Christian is someone who knows a world of righteousness is coming and so will make preparations to live in it. If we are convinced Christ is coming back to rule this world that will change our priorities in life. Our priority becomes purity and the development of a godly character.
We know which side will win and it isn’t sin and Satan. This world is heading towards a glorious day of victory, the end of the long war with sin. When Christ returns to finish our liberation from sin and unveil the children of God (3v2). And this very hope encourages us to continue fighting against sin now. The fight can be exhausting at times, and can feel like we are getting nowhere. It would have felt very much like that to soldiers during the world wars, but it was perhaps easier to keep fighting after D-Day, when the war was already won.
The genuine Christian cannot continue in sin because:
It is sheer rebellion against God.
Sin is fighting against the very purposes of God.
It gets in the way of our fellowship with God
Our new nature will fight it
Sin has no future
Which one of the five do you feel resonates most with you?
