I John 3:8-9 (Part 4)

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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:

Yesterday, we looked at the aspect of being born of God and making a practice of sinning found in the first part of verse 9. As we read this verse, 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!

First, John understands that whoever is born of God makes a practice of NOT sinning because God’s seed abides in that person. The word seed is defined as descendant, child, or offspring, but in this manner seed (Sperma) is referring to the very Nature of God. This goes with the previous statement, makes a practice (poieo – to do). John is stating the fact that someone who has been reborn of God, the very nature of God is in them. This is not to be the evidence of “once saved always saved,” but the idea that God’s faithfulness remains inside the believer. If the relationship with God is broken, it is a result of the person’s actions, not Gods.

The second reason is the person has been (born of God) radically changed. This phrase is almost identical to the one found at the beginning of this verse. But the reason John refers back to it is because of its significance. If you are given birth from God (9a) then from God we are given birth (9b). God created us (birthed us) and because of sin we are in need of a rebirth which is offered by God through Christ.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding that as a believer in Christ the very nature that dwells inside of us is that of God. With that seed we have the power (through the Holy Spirit) to NOT sin. This doesn’t mean we CANNOT sin but that we don’t have to.

CONCLUSION:

          Let this be our prayer today:

 “This the secret of the holy,

 Not our holiness, but HIM:

  Jesus! empty us and fill us

 With Thy fullness to the brim.”^[1]

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.