I John 3:8-9 (Part 3)

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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. 9 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.

THE STUDY:

As we read verse 9, no believer of the faith would argue the statement by John “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning!” John could have ended this statement and moved on to other things but he decided to give two reasons why this statement is true! Before we look at those two reasons we need to understand what it means to be “born of God” and what John is referring to when he says “makes a practice!”

This is the second of ten references to be being “born of God” in 1 John.^[1] Not sinning doesn’t mean it’s the consequence of being born of God but its proof of being born of God. The phrase born of God is characteristic of John, for he uses it repeatedly (2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). It signifies that a person has been born spiritually in the past and continues in the present as God’s child. That is, he finds his origin and existence in God. Whereas the person who practices sin has Satan as his father, the born-again believer knows that God is his Father. The words of Jesus are relevant: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matt. 7:18).^[2]

There are two theories about the significance of this statement “Makes a practice of sinning” (Poieo): (1) it relates to the gnostic false teachers, especially that faction that reduced salvation to intellectual concepts, thereby removing the necessity of a moral lifestyle or (2) the PRESENT TENSE verb emphasizes continual, habitual, sinful activity (cf. Rom. 6:1), not isolated acts of sins (cf. Rom. 6:15).^[3]  What we believe is to be the understanding of Christ and his power is that once we accept Him as our Lord and savior He becomes the very Nature that dwells within us. Our practice becomes that of Christ and not sin!

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• What we walk away with this morning is the understanding that the nature that dwells inside of us is the very nature that will be produced. John is letting the reader know you will no longer be bent toward sin but toward Christ!

CONCLUSION:

          Have you ever said, “Why did I just do or say that?” You said this after all the smoke had settled and you were reflecting on your actions. As a sinner I would ask this question often. The reason I would do the things I did was due to the nature that dwells inside of me. It was not the Holy Spirit so, in turn, it was that of Satan. Now that I have accepted Christ, the question “Why did I just do or say that” is still there but I have a different answer today: JESUS CHRIST!

          Let today be a day we practice Jesus and not sin! Let His nature transfer from our being so that others may see and receive His glory.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kruse, C. G. (2000). The letters of John. The Pillar New Testament commentary (124). Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (303). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Utley, R. J. D. (1999). Vol. Volume 4: The Beloved Disciple's Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series (221). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.