So Can A Christian Sin?

I am answering this question from last week's blog. It's an interesting one that, honestly, I am struggling with. At face value, the Apostle John seems very clear when he says such things as..."No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning" (1 John 3:6) or "No one who is born of God continues to sin." (1 John 3:9) What is he saying? Earlier in this same letter he writes..."My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if you anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." (1 John 2:10) This verse makes it clear that a Christian can sin, but evidently sin was a big issue in the church at the time. Many scholars agree that this letter was written in response to Gnostic teachings which promoted sin. They believed that the flesh was evil and the spirit was good, so it didn't matter what you did in the body. In other words, do what ever you want in the flesh because it's evil anyway. If this is true, then it seems possible and plausible, that John is countering that teaching by making the point that sin is a big deal. He would be explaining to the reader that you can't just go on sinning and anyone with that mindset does not know the true God. When a person comes to Christ their purpose is to glorify God. The best way to bring glory to God is by your obedience to righteousness. Living in continual disobedience does not bring glory to God and is evidence that a person doesn't get it. Personally I believe John maybe trying to move the reader toward a healthy fear of God. God has to punish sin and He did so at the expense of His Son. When you brush off sin as no big deal and come crawling back to the cross because you know God will forgive you...When you abuse the grace of God for your own pleasure...how does God respond? I don't know! Is He angry because you keep stomping on His love and Grace? Is He saddened by your lack of gratitude toward what Jesus did on the cross? I don't know! Maybe a lot of both! There is one thing for certain that John is teaching...SIN IS A BIG DEAL! So I would encourage you to move toward a healthy fear of God when it comes to sin! Sin matters, even if you know Him as Savior. Don't justify, rationalize, or gloss over your sin! Stop sinning! This is the message I believe John is making, after all he says..."I write this to you so that you will not sin."

God, I come to You this morning, knowing that John is writing to me. I have a tendency to gloss over sin at times. I choose to gratify my sinful desires then to embrace to love of Christ. I need a healthy dose of fear! Forgive me for my sin and rebellion! Forgive me for trampling your love and grace. May the words of Your Son ring loud in my ears when he told the woman caught in adultery..."Go and sin no more." In doing so, may I bring You glory and may those around me see what a great God you are. Thank you Lord for the One who speaks in my defense. May I love You with my obedience!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Navigating a Culture of "Pride" as a Christian

 June has been known as Pride Month ever since President Bill Clinton announced it back in 1999, and it has gained more and more steam since, particularly in the last 5 years.  It has made its way into small towns, into schools, and into the faith community as well.  In many ways it has become the loudest voice of the culture we live in, especially in the month of June.  It is a topic all over social media, the film industry, and media itself.  The agenda to normalize issues such as homosexuality and gender identity is pervasive.  You can hardly watch a series on main stream television, much less cable tv, without being confronted with these issues.  Some of the most prominent influences and influencers are now targeting children as their primary audience.  All of this has quickly shaped our culture, and anyone who thinks that the bombardment of these influences do not really have an effect on people, I would challenge them to learn about marketing.  The developments in the past 10 yea
Read more

Humanism in Christian Clothing

 I find myself more and more baffled by some of the things that I see posted on social media and how it seems to connect with so many.  I saw a post that quoted a pastor that said, "When your spirituality denies someone's humanity, it isn't spirituality, it's hatred wrapped up in religiosity."  The post attributes this to Mark Sandlin.  I don't know this pastor, if he really said it, or what the context was surrounding the quote.  However, it would seem reasonable to assume that the individual posting the quote was implying that if your spirituality leads you to conclude that homosexuality, transgenderism, or any other LGTBQ+ issue is sin, and you don't think it is the public schools job to normalize this, then you are denying someone's humanity, thus your spirituality is really not spirituality... it is hatred wrapped in religiosity.  This is a really odd statement for several reasons. 1.  What makes something spiritual?  Who defines what this is?  Is
Read more

Why Israel Still Matters in God's Plan

When someone professes faith in Christ and becomes a Christian, they enter in what the Scriptures calls the New Covenant.  This New Covenant is considered a greater covenant than the Old Covenant or Mosaic Covenant.  The Jewish people related to God through the Old Covenant for thousands of years.  Ultimately, this covenant pointed out one very important truth about life... Mankind naturally turns away from the living God and proves incapable of keeping the righteous demands of a Holy God.  As Biblical history unfolds, we find that Israel quickly abandon God and worshiped the gods of the surrounding nations.  They would have momentary bright spots, but even in those bright spots, the rebellious heart of man was on full display (King David anyone?).  The Law itself pointed out man's inability to keep the law and draws people to see that they need God's mercy.  Summary - Mankind needs a Savior because he sure can't save himself.   This is where Jesus comes in as a mediator of
Read more