“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.” 1 John 3.7-10
It’s pretty clear fro John’s perspective. If you sin you are of the devil (“because the devil has been sinning from the beginning”); and he who does not sin is born of God “because God’s seed remains in them.”
Isn’t it black and white? Like mid-day to midnight. “This is how we know who the children of God are and the who the children of the devil are.” Now this may seem harsh to some and even offend people who believe themselves to be “of Christ.” But could it be any more clear? If you sin, you are of the devil. But if you do what is righteous “God’s seed remains in them.”
Now the truth of the matter is that there is some gray area in this teaching. If my walk with Christ is any indication, and I believe I do have the Spirit — yet sin continues to creep it’s ugly head. The temptations continue (however, not without my feeding it) and so does the sin. For when I sin, the instant conviction of the Spirit is present. I turn, repent, and vow to live a righteous life. Until, my flesh gives in again to anger, lust or envy. But again, God’s seed is within me, His Spirit is my guide and my constant companion and he leads me to repent again.
We don’t have time to go into the struggles Paul write about in Romans 6-7 but that battle is real. I have to believe Christ knew this struggle would remain for some if not for many. And being born of God means we are righteous and that we sin less and love God more. We find hope in the fact that “no one born of God will continue to sin” — we can stop. We can be righteous. We can live as Christ intended in holiness and total sanctification.
It’s obvious on TV or social media that sin is master of so many. Even if you as a believer battle with sin, continue to battle and strive for perfection. Strive for no sin in your life but all God. Strive for his will and not your own. Dive in to his word, allow it to take root in your life. Fight the good fight with that we might reflect his glory and run from the temptations of this world which lead to certain death.
Allow God’s seed to remain in you. Confess, repent and run to the Father. Just as the Prodigal did, so shall we. For we have been born of God.
Thanks be to God!
“O Lord God, reality tells me that I must continue to battle with sin. But your Word says I have been set free from sin, from evil and from the hold of the devil. I believe your Word! I love your name! I am in awe of your grace. That you would be so patient with me as I strive to lead a life of holiness focused upon you and those under my care. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your love anew. Rid me of the attacks of the evil one who wants to lead me astray and wash me with the blood of Jesus. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen