We Know! (Part 1) (I John 5:18)

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

THE STUDY:

          In the last part of this epistle, John shares three things the readers should have learned. Over the next few days we will be looking at these three things. All three are presented with the beginning statement, We know! This phrase is a favorite of John’s being that it is found in over 17 verses.

          The first thing John’s readers have learned is regarding SIN! The practice of sin is broken by the abiding results of the new birth not by some later experience. John allows for no “sinning religion” here.

Freedom from sin is an ongoing and relational matter. Christians do not habitually sin. They do not live in sin. But living without ongoing sin is not automatic. It requires meaningful moral decisions. Not sinning is a divine and human joint enterprise.

In regard to the phrase, but he who was born of God protects him, this can be somewhat confusing. We need to look at the grammar in this phrase. The grammar seems to indicate that the one born of God—that is, the Christian—is also the one who keeps safe. But what does that mean?

Some manuscripts attempt to solve this enigma by reading himself rather than him. This would call for the translation keeps himself safe. Neither variant reading is fully satisfying.

Regardless, John’s meaning seems clear enough: Christians are protected, whether by God/Christ or by themselves.^[1]

My personal opinion is looking at the fact that as a follower of Christ (a chosen will) it is through this decision we protect ourselves.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the idea that as John concludes this epistle he is recapping the important points he wanted to make. The first one is concerning sin. We can live a life that is free from sin and its snares. We do this through a personal, ongoing, relationship with the one whom defeated sin: Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

          I have come to a personal conclusion that WE KNOW when we are sinning. I believe it’s in our very DNA to the fact that when we go against God’s will, nature, or character our body, mind, and soul detects it. I recall hearing a doctor say, “So long as a diseased appendix hurts there is hope for a safe removal. The danger period is when it stops hurting. It may mean the appendix has burst, spreading poison throughout the entire body.” So be glad that when you sin, your conscience still hurts and leads you toward repentance.

          If, today, you know that something is not rights between you and God, ask Him to forgive you and get that under the blood so you can continue on in this wonderful walk toward eternity with our heavenly father.

         

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (172). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.