Sin And The Saint

1 John 3:4-10

1 John 3:3–10 NLT

3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN (1 John 3:4-5)

1 John 3:4–5 NLT

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 3

πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία. 5 καὶ οἴδατε ὅτι ἐκεῖνος ἐφανερώθη, ἵνα τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἄρῃ, καὶ ἁμαρτία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν.

A- Everyone who lives in sin is a law-breaker. (1 John 3:4a)

1 John 3:4a NLT

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

( πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ,)

1- ἀνομίαν = to behave with complete disregard for the laws or regulations of a society—‘to live lawlessly, lawlessness, lawless living.’

(Romans 3:10-12)

Romans 3:10–12 NLT

10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

(Isa. 64:6)

Isaiah 64:6 NLT

6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

B- Sin’s definition is breaking God’s law. (1 John 3:4b)

1 John 3:4b NLT

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία.

1- (Romans 8:7-8)

Romans 8:7–8 NLT

7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

C- Sin’s destructive power required extreme measures. (1 John 3:5)

1 John 3:5 NLT

5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

1- καὶ οἴδατε ὅτι ἐκεῖνος ἐφανερώθη, ἵνα τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἄρῃ, καὶ ἁμαρτία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν.

(John 1:29)

John 1:29 NLT

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

(Hebrews 9:26)

Hebrews 9:26 NLT

26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

II- THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SAINT (1 John 3:6-7)

1 John 3:6–7 NLT

6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

A- The saint who walks with Christ will live a life that is pleasing to God. (1 John 3:3)(1 John 3:6a)

1 John 3:3 NLT

3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

(3 καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἔχων τὴν ἐλπίδα ταύτην ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἁγνίζει ἑαυτὸν καθὼς ἐκεῖνος ἁγνός ἐστιν.)

(1 John 3:6) Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

(6 πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν.)

1-

B- The person who chooses to live in sin does not know Christ nor understand who he is. (1 John 3:6b)

1 John 3:6b NLT

6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

(6 πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν.)

C- The work of Christ in a person’s life is clearly manifested. (1 John 3:7)

1 John 3:7 NLT

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

(7 τεκνία, μηδεὶς πλανάτω ὑμᾶς· ὁ ποιῶν τὴν δικαιοσύνην δίκαιός ἐστιν, καθὼς ἐκεῖνος δίκαιός ἐστιν·)

(Matthew 5:16)

Matthew 5:16 NLT

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

III- THE SURITY OF CHRIST’S WORK (1 John 3:8-9)

1 John 3:8–9 NLT

8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

A- The harsh reality: a person who continues to live in sin belongs to the devil. (1 John 3:8a)

1 John 3:8a NLT

8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

( 8 ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου ἐστίν, ὅτι ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ὁ διάβολος ἁμαρτάνει. εἰς τοῦτο ἐφανερώθη ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἵνα λύσῃ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου. )

(John 8:44)

John 8:44 NLT

44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

B- The heavenly truth: Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work. (1 John 3:8b)

1 John 3:8b NLT

8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

(8 ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου ἐστίν, ὅτι ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ὁ διάβολος ἁμαρτάνει. εἰς τοῦτο ἐφανερώθη ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἵνα λύσῃ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου.)

(John 12:31)

John 12:31 NLT

31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.

(Colossians 2:15)

Colossians 2:15 NLT

15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

C- The hallowed fact: Christ’s implanted nature in the believer rejects any desire to live in sin. (1 John 3:9)

1 John 3:9 NLT

9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

(9 πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἁμαρτίαν οὐ ποιεῖ, ὅτι σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ μένει, καὶ οὐ δύναται ἁμαρτάνειν, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ γεγέννηται.)

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

CONCLUSION:

How does 1 John 3:6 explain the relationship between living in Christ and sin?

According to 1 John 3:8, who do those that continue to sin belong to?

How can we practically keep ourselves pure, as mentioned in 1 John 3:3?

Reflecting on 1 John 3:6, how can you ensure you are living a life that is pleasing to God?

How does understanding Jesus' role in taking away our sins affect your daily life?