SIN NO MORE

1 JOHN 3:4-10

      The Gnostics in John’s day believed that sins committed with the body did not impact the spirit. These antinomian philosophers actually permitted and encouraged sin (Rom. 6:1). In clear contrast John told believers to sin no more (Jn. 8:11).

  I. Problem of sin (3:4-5)

      A. Definition of sin (4)

•          Sin is lawlessness (Rom. 4:7, 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 1:9, 10:17; 1 Jn. 3:4).

•          Sin is willful rebellion (transgression; overstepping God’s boundaries) against God (Ps. 51:2).

•          Sin is crookedness (Ps. 51:2–iniquity).

•          Sin is missing the aim or direction, coming short (Ps. 51:3; Rom. 3:23).

•          Sin is going one’s own way (Is. 53:6).

•          Sin is disobedience (Rom. 5:19).

•          Sin is unbelief (Rom. 14:23).

•          Sin is not doing good (Jas. 4:17).

•          Sin is unrighteousness (1 Jn. 5:17).

      B. Deliverance from sin (5; Jesus’ first coming)

          1. Remove (lift, carry)

Jn. 1:29b. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

          2. Righteous (no sinful nature)

2 Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Heb. 4:15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Heb. 7:26. For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

1 Pet. 2:22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 II. Premise on sin (3:6)

      A. Not sin (6a; present active participle–“the one who keeps on sinning”)

Rom. 6:15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

      Constant communion with Jesus makes continuous sin impossible. Smith said, “The believer may fall into sin but he will not walk in it.”

NIV. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

CEV. And people who stay one in their hearts with him won't keep on sinning. If they do keep on sinning, they don't know Christ, and they have never seen him.

ESV. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

MSG. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backwards.

      B. Not seen (6b)

1 Jn. 4:20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

III. Peace with sin (3:7-8)

      A. Deceive (7; 1 Cor. 15:33; Gal. 6:7; 2 Tim. 3:13; 1 Jn. 2:26; Rev. 2:20)

Gal. 6:7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

          1. Imitator of Jesus (righteous)

1 Jn. 2:29. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

          2. Originator of sin (created being–Ezek. 28:15)

Jn. 8:44a. Ye are of [your] father the devil. . . .

      B. Defeat (8; manifest–5, 8)

          1. Bear sin’s punishment (1 Jn. 3:5; Col. 2:14)

          2. Break satan’s power (Lk. 13:16; Col. 2:15)

 IV. Perfection from sin (3:9-10)

Jn. 8:34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

      A. Child of God (9; Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:16-17; 1 Jn. 3:1-2-10)

          1. New birth (Jn. 1:13, 3:3-5-6-7-8; 1 Jn. 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1-4-18)

1 Pet. 1:23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

          2. New nature (seed–Rom. 9:8)

              a. Abide (1 Jn. 2:27)

              b. Able (“cannot go on sinning”)

1 Jn. 5:18. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Summary on the Sin Nature

      Watchman Nee taught, “The trouble lies far deeper than in what we do; it lies in what we are.”

•          Sin began in the prideful will of Satan (Is. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-17; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).

•          Adam and Eve sinned by free choice against knowledge (Gen. 3:1-7).

•          From that point, all mankind became sinners by nature (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3) and choice (Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 3:10-23).

•          All mankind possesses an evil sin nature (Gen. 6:5; Job 14:4; Ps. 51:5, 53:1-3, 58:3; Prov. 22:15; Lk. 11:13; Eph. 2:3; Augustine–“not able not to sin”).

•          By the new birth God gives a new nature to believers (Jn. 1:13).

•          A Christian will experience spiritual conflict from the old nature against the new nature (Gal. 5:16-17).

•          The old nature cannot be improved– instead, it grows more corrupt (Eph. 4:22).

•          The inability to control the old nature by the law (resolutions) brings frustration (Rom. 7:18).

•          Constant introspection on the old nature instead of looking to the cross brings defeat (Col. 2:23).

•          The believer no longer lives under slavery to obey the old nature (Rom. 6:12).

•          Grace cultivates the desire in the new nature to follow Christ (Col. 3:1-5).

•          The believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the old nature (Rom. 8:13). The power of the indwelling Spirit overcomes the principle of indwelling sin.

•          By faith a believer can count himself dead to the sinful impulses of the old nature and live in obedience (Gal. 2:20).

      B. Child of the devil (10; Jn. 8:44)

Acts 13:10. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

          1. Life (Jn. 8:39, 47)

          2. Love (1 Jn. 4:8, 20)

1 Jn. 3:14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.