1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5: And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6: Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Introduction

In this epistle, we have seen that the apostle John lays out three tests to show the marks of Christians. He gives us three tests to know if you and I are true Christians, namely, the doctrinal test, the social test, and the moral test. The doctrinal test examines what we believe. This is the test of true belief. Do I believe? This is a test that pertains to the person of Jesus Christ. Do I, as a professing Christian, believe and accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came in the flesh to be our Messiah? Then he gives us the social test or relational test. This test examines our relationship with others. This is the test of true love. Do I love? Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ? Do I love the church whom Christ died for? But then he also gives the moral test. The moral test examines how we live. This is the test of true obedience. Do I obey? Is there evidence of real righteousness in my life? Do I love and seek to keep God’s word? Throughout this epistle you will see John uses these three tests and his goal in presenting these three different tests is to assure Christians while exposing the lies of the false teachers and false professors.

As we look at our texts today, it is very important for us to remember that John is not telling us how to become a Christian. No, what John is telling us is how a person shows that he or she is a real Christian. And how does a person show he or she is a true Christian?

1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

According to John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a true born-again Christian has a new relationship with righteousness and sin. A born-again Christian “doeth righteousness” and “doth not commit sin.” Now, what does John mean by these words? Does he mean that we can only be sure that we are saved if we no longer commit sin? If that is the case, then all of us have no hope of salvation, no hope of Heaven. Please don’t misunderstand John, he is not saying that anyone who is a born-again Christian has stopped sinning for good, and never, ever sin again. Remember what John wrote in the earlier chapter of this short letter, where he said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 Jn 1:8, 10, 2:1)

John recognizes the fact that we who are born-again Christians will never reach sinless perfection until we are with Christ in heaven. Sinless perfection is not what John is writing about. So, what does John mean with these words, “sinnet not” or “doth not commit sin?”

The Greek verb John uses conveys the idea of ongoing, continuous, progressive action and lifestyle practice of sin. John is speaking of those who live in sin, and never having been born again in Christ. Those whose lives are dominated by sin, marked by a continual desire to please the flesh, have not encountered the Lord, nor are they known of Him. The person who has truly been born of God and who truly has fellowship with God is one who does not and will not continually practice a lifestyle of sin, but does and will continually practice a lifestyle of righteousness.

This is the consistent teaching in the Scripture. The apostle Paul also wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

One preacher puts it this way, “Paul, here, mentions sins that are what we might call “life-identifying” sins. The sinner’s lifestyle is so characterized by the continual, ongoing practice of some particular sin, that they become identified by it: they become an “adulterer”, or a “drunkard” or a “thief”. If someone lives in such a way as to become characteristically identified by this sin, then they cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And yet, Paul then goes on to say, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (v. 11). The forgiven sinner is no longer characterized by that “life-identifying sin” because he or she has been saved from it and has repented of it. Paul can now say, “Such were some of you.”

Those who practice unrighteousness will earn the wages of sin which is eternal death. The truth is—believers sadly can and do still commit these sins. But these sins do not characterize their lives as a pattern of life.

David Thompson writes, “If one has truly been born of God, he may get into the pigpen, but he will get out of the pigpen. If a person has a continual life of pursuing that which is sinful, that person has not truly been born of God. If the person were truly born of God, God would either get that person out of the sin or He would take that person home to be with Him. No one truly born of God can continue to persist in a lifestyle pattern of open and blatant rebellion. One truly born of God will not ever be permitted by God to continually persist in a life of sin. Why? Because that one has been given a divine nature, the Holy Spirit which will always bring a true child out of the pigpen.”

In this section, John gives us three arguments showing why someone who is truly born-again and who is abiding in Christ will cease from living a continual lifestyle practice of sin, namely, because of the Nature of Sin, because of the Nature and Purpose of Christ, and because of the Nature of the New Birth.

I – Because of the Nature of Sin

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

John starts his arguments for why someone who is truly born-again will cease from living a continual lifestyle of sin by defining what sin is. You may ask, “Why does John begin here with this?” The answer is, as J. C. Ryle points out in his book “Holiness,” “a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity…. If a man does not realize the dangerous nature of his soul’s disease, you cannot wonder if he is content with false or imperfect remedies.”

In other words, if you and I do not have a biblical view of the seriousness of sin, then we will not see the need for a radical solution to our problem of sin. If we do not have a biblical view of the seriousness of sin, then we will fail to see our need of a great Saviour. Actually, this was the problem that John was facing when he wrote this short epistle. John was dealing with a dangerous heresy called Gnosticism that threatened the early church. One of the errors of the Gnostics is the unbiblical view of sin. They were influenced by philosophers such as Plato. Gnosticism is based on two false premises. First, it promotes a dualism regarding spirit and matter. Gnostics assert that matter is inherently evil, and spirit is good. As a result of this belief, Gnostics believe anything done in the body, even the vilest sin, has no meaning because real life exists in the spirit realm only. Gnosticism proclaims that salvation comes from inside, finding your true identity within. It denies the goodness of the Creator and the glory of His creation. It denies the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and the need for Redemption.

So, in this section, John makes a clear statement about sin to show why someone who is truly born-again and who is abiding in Christ will not continue living a lifestyle practice of sin. So, how does John define sin?

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Sin is the transgression of the law. 

Sin is lawlessness. According to John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, sin is serious rebellion against God. The one who practices sin is in revolt against God. To practice sin is to be in open rebellion against God Himself.

The Gnostics were indifferent to sin. But John makes it clear that sin is a serious problem. It’s not something to be taken lightly. Sin is lawlessness. One who continually chooses to sin is continually choosing a life that says, “I will not submit to the authority and law of God.” As one preacher puts it, “Lawlessness is living as though your own ideas are superior to God’s. Lawlessness says, God may demand it, but I don’t prefer it.” Lawlessness says, “God may promise it, but I don’t want it.” Lawlessness replaces God’s law with my contrary desires. I become a law to myself. Lawlessness is rebellion against the right of God to make laws and govern His creatures… The work of Satan is to tempt us to reject the authority of God and become like God ourselves. Satan works to nurture and cultivate the pride that puts its own desires above the law of God. This is lawlessness; this is the essence of sin; and this is what the Son of God came to destroy in you and me.”

And so, the first argument John gives us for ceasing from sin is because “sin is lawlessness.” It is direct and open rebellion against God and His ways.

Now, the second argument John gives us for ceasing from sin is ...

II – Because of the Nature and Purpose of Christ

The next argument that John brings up for why someone who is truly born-again will cease from living a continual lifestyle of sin is a clear statement about Christ. After defining what sin is, John now starts to describe who Christ is and why He came.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6: Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Who is Jesus Christ?

The apostle John very clearly and simply describes Jesus Christ as “in him is no sin.” This is one of the most important statements in Scripture and this is also specifically declared also by the other apostles such as Peter and Paul. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:22, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” Here Peter tells us that Jesus Christ committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

“Who did no sin”, “who knew no sin”, and “yet without sin” are simple and clear statements about the sinlessness of Jesus Christ. Jesus is never ever guilty of rebellion, nor of missing of the mark, nor of lawlessness. He is the perfect Son of God who is infinitely separated from sin.

Why did Christ come?

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6: Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

The sinless One came to take away our sins and to destroy the works of the devil. Remember what John the Baptist said about Jesus when he first identified Him to the crowds gathered at the Jordan River? John pointed to Christ and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

John boldly declares that Jesus was manifested specifically to take away our sins. Paul’s message is the same in Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Now in light of these truths, that Christ is without sin and that He was manifested to take away our sins and destroy the works of the devil, can anyone who truly believes in Jesus Christ and are in fellowship with Him continue in sin? According to the apostle John the very nature and character of Jesus Christ Himself, and the very nature of His work for us, makes this impossible. The person and purpose of Jesus Christ demands that anyone who is in Him and abides in Him must cease from sin. No one who is in fellowship with Jesus Christ persists in a continual lifestyle of sin. Such a person according to John has not really seen Jesus Christ and doesn’t know Jesus Christ.

John Stott says it this way, “If Christ appeared first both to “take away our sins” and to “destroy the devil's work,” and if, when he appears a second time, “we shall see him” and, in consequence, “we shall be like Him,” how can we possibly go on living in sin? To do so would be to deny the purpose of both his “appearings.”

And so, because Jesus Christ came to take away sin and to destroy the works of the devil, the person who is truly born again cannot and will not continue to practice a lifestyle of sin.

This leads us to John’s third and final argument for why one who is born-again and abides in Christ cannot continue to live in sin. The third argument John gives us for ceasing from sin is ...

III – Because of Nature of the New Birth

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

According to John anyone who is born again “doth not commit sin” and “cannot sin.” Note that both verbs are in the present tense which speaks of the general direction of one’s life. John is not describing our occasional sins, nor is he describing sinless perfection. What he is saying is that a person who is truly born of God, cannot continually live a lifestyle of lawlessness. A person who is truly born of God, cannot continually live a lifestyle of rebellion against God. Why? 1 John 3:9b ... for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

If we are believers, we cannot habitually practice sin, not because of our own power and ability, but because we have been born of God and because we have God’s “seed” in us, and that “seed” abides in us. The “seed” refers to the fact that we have been partakers of divine nature by virtue of new birth. One preacher explains it this way, “The Greek word John uses has the basic meaning of “the source from which something is propagated”; but in this case, it speaks of a “principle of character” - that principle a father passes on to his son through generation, which makes that son look, speak, and act just like his father. Those who have been truly born of God have the principle in them that makes them manifest the traits of their Father.”

Someone who is born of God and abides in Christ cannot continue in sin, because God’s seed abides in him. We cannot help but live like our Heavenly Father. Our new nature prevents us Christian from habitually sinning and gives us power and desire to live godly and righteously. We find that truth set forth according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Then John concludes this section by comparing the children of God and the children of the devil in 1 John 3:10, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Here John reminds his readers that there are those who are true children of God and that there are those who are the children of the devil. The distinction is clear between the two. It does not matter what a person may say or claim, a true believer cannot sin habitually, but will actually live a life of righteousness.

These are the three powerful arguments for why one who is born-again and abides in Christ cannot continue to live in sin. The nature of sin, the nature and the purpose of Christ, and the nature of new birth makes it impossible for a true child of God to live an ongoing and habitual lawlessness. How then, do you measure up to these arguments?

Closing Thoughts

Today, our society and sadly even professing Christians may redefine sin or may take sin lightly, but sin remains sin in the eyes of God. We all are sinners and are prone to sin. Sin brings terrible consequences. The wages or the penalty of sin is death. But there is hope and help in overcoming the sin problem we all face. And the Bible’s answer to sin is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the remedy for sin and temptation. Remember what John declares in verses 5 and 8, Jesus Christ was manifested, “to take away our sins” and “that he might destroy the works of the devil.” It is important to see sin as it is, but it is also important to realize there is a remedy. Do you know Christ as your Saviour? Are you struggling with sin today? Do you want God’s forgivenss and be delivered from guilt? If so, look to Jesus Christ. Trust Him. Call upon His name. Believe on Him and His sacrifice on the cross to take away your sins. He alone can pardon and cleanse the sin in your life!

Now, let me speak to those who have been born again. I must emphasize that John does not speak of sinless perfection. Even as born-again Christians, we occasionally fall into sin and that can be very discouraging. But don’t let it discourage you. By God’s grace and strength keep fighting hard against sin. Don’t turn to despair, there is actually great hope in these verses. If you are a child of God, then your fight will be won, you will be finally victorious. So, keep fighting until Jesus Christ comes, because John has already told us that is when sin will be eradicated—then we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is!

AMEN!