Marks of the Person Who Has Been Born of God

Each of these marks are known. They known first off by God as He has set the standard for holy living by a person who has devoted themselves to serving Christ. These marks are also known by those of us who have been born again. When we use these words, we need to be reminded why being born again is even possible. Peter includes an explanation in 1 Peter 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are thinking about a person who has accepted the salvation that has been made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This morning we are going to look at the marks of one who has been born of Christ.

One who has been born of God…

Does not keep on sinning

It is important that verse 18 comes on the heels of verses 16 and 17 providing clarity that a person in sin ought to be prayed for. When a person is born again, the actions that they take in their life are changed. There is a discernible difference between the things that they once did and the things that they do now. To be born again means that there is a new spiritual birth, as signified by believer’s baptism. A new birth means new behavior. Of course, a person’s salvation does not instantly remove all sources of temptation or all old habits but one thing does change in an instant: our affections. We go from wanting to please our own flesh and put on a show for the world to desiring to honor God in everything that we do.

We should understand that John is referring here to sin that continues within us. This has to do with patterns in our lives and the desire to put an end to them because we possess a knowledge that these things ought not continue in our lives. It is important that we crush sin at its first symptoms so that these things don’t take root within us.

So when you read verse 18, don’t think that John is saying that a person who has been born again no longer sins; they just no longer keep the habit of sin.

The word ‘everyone’ points out to us that there are no exceptions to this. Each and every person who has been born of God possesses the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of the ways that we might be living that is not according to the holiness that is expected of a disciple of Christ.

Putting an end to the regular practice of sin is a mark of the one who has been born of God.

Next, one who has been born of God…

Is protected by the One who was born of God

There is some debate over the words “he who was born of God protects him” because of the pronouns used. One way of understanding this is that the one who has been saved has the tools and awareness to avoid sinning and thus be protected from sin. I am of the mind that this is a biblical concept, though, I think that there might be too much emphasis on our role in being kept from sin. The point that needs to be understood here is that those who have been born of God have a responsibility to have a watchful eye and be aware.

The other route of interpretation here is that the one who does the protection is Jesus Christ, who defeated sin by rising from the grave on the third day. I prefer this interpretation first off because it is only due to the resurrection that salvation is possible in the first place. I also prefer this route because the tense changes in relationship to being born of God. The human person who has received salvation has been born of God while Jesus was born of God.

Regardless of where we land, protection takes place. It is important to note that a promise of protection is only necessary when there is a threat of harm in the first place.

Insurance

In this case, “is protected” means that there is no end to the protection of the disciple of Christ. In John 10:28-30, Jesus provides for us this promise:

John 10:28–30 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

The evil one does not touch him

Finally, Satan will not be allowed to cause any harm to those who have been born again. This is an important truth but we need to remember that “touch” means to injure or to harm. Listen to Psalm 105:12-15

Psalm 105:12–15 ESV

When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

It is the desire of God to keep them safe from harm. I want to remind you at this point that this does not mean that we are kept from any sort of sin. Rather, God has given the necessary tools for disciples of Jesus to be free from the harm of repeating sin.

Does your life possess these marks? Have you been born again?