1 John 3:4-6

"Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.  But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins.  And in Him is no sin.  No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.  No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or know Him."  1 John 3:4-6

I read a few verses like this and say, "What!  Does this mean that if I sin, I am not a follower of Christ?"  These verses can be very confusing.  What is John saying?  First, remember that John already affirms that a Christian can sin in 1 John 1:8-10 and 2:1.  I doubt if John is contradicting himself.  John is dealing with the tension a follower of Christ has between sin and holiness.  God is holy and without sin, and we were saved and empowered to move in that direction.  The words in the Greek seem to indicate an ongoing habitual rebellion.  Its highly unlikely that John is meaning "one sin" but rather a habitual rebellion against God.  This passage challenges me, because it emphasizes God's desire for us to be holy, and that is what we are to be striving after.  If your not or simply don't care, then you obviously don't know God!  This direct challenge was necessary in addressing the Gnostics and their teaching.  They were teaching that the spiritual part of life was important and the physical part was evil, therefore, it doesn't matter what you do in the body.  This teaching gave folks a license to live an immoral life!  John is making the point that what we do in the body does matter, and if you think it doesn't then obviously you don't know God.  What is you attitude toward sin?  Does it matter to you?  Are you willing to choose God over your own wants, desires, and passions?  This is the point!

God, I choose you over my own sinful and selfish wants and passions!  You are holy and perfect in all you do.  As a follower of You, I want to be like You because this is what you have called me to do.  May your glory reflect from my obedience and love for You and other people!

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