BORN OF GOD/1 JOHN 3:4-10
Most every Birth Certificate issued has the names of the mother and
father listed. Today, each one of us possesses a spiritual Birth
Certificate with the name of our father on it. John has already
introduced us to this point, but now he is going to be more specific
about what it all means. John is going to allow us to open a sealed
record to see who our spiritual father is. John opens up with …
I) AN IMPORTANT CONTRAST—V.4
A) John develops a contrast in this verse between the
"everyone" of verse 3 with the "Everyone" of verse
4. The "everyone" of verse 3 "purifies
himself," i.e. these practice righteousness (cf. 1 John
2:29) because they are righteous through a personal and saving
relationship with Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1, 29). By contrast, the
"everyone" of verse 4 further pollutes himself, i.e.
these practice sin. John then goes on to define sin for us as
lawlessness.
1) John is saying that there are those who practice
righteousness as a lifestyle (1 John 2:29), and these are said to
purifying themselves (1 John 3:3). In other words, these are
growing in sanctification—set apartness unto God as an evidence that
they are truly born again/saved. It is not a purification that leads to
righteousness, but the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ that
demands purification from sin. Get the order right, as your salvation
depends upon it!
2) It is of importance that we define sin biblically lest we
make light of what God says is damning. Sin is not to be understood as a
mere mistake or weakness of character, "[sin] is a deliberate
rejection of God’s standard and a [pursuit of] one’s own
desires." "Sin has its origin in the devil and expresses
itself as a willful act against God. The person who continues to do what
is sinful, concludes John, is of the devil (1 John 3:8)."
These are those John says who practice lawlessness as a lifestyle. No
change, then no proof of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ the
righteous. Let us recall Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-10. John
moves on from verse 4 to …
II) THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHRIST’S COMING AND SIN—Vv.5-6
A) John in this verse brings our attention again to the work
of Jesus at His First Coming. In other words, Jesus came in the flesh
(the Incarnation) for the express purpose of taking away sins cf.
John 1:29. He did this through dying on the Cross and shedding His
blood cf. Hebrews 9:11-12. And, He could do this only
because He Himself was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). In this He is
completely unlike us, yet He became like us to save us.
1) We must be clear on this point: If we disconnect the death
of Christ from His life, then we cut ourselves off from salvation.
Christ is more than an example of a "good man" who lived and
died for a cause. If Jesus is reduced to this, then we are guilty of
idol worship at best. Our understanding of Jesus becomes the test of
genuine salvation.
B) Next, we come upon what seems like a contradiction in verse
6. John says, positively stated, that one who abides in Christ does
not sin. If so, then why all the preaching about and against sin? But,
but ... a closer look will keep us from confusion. John is really
saying, that anyone who practices sin as a lifestyle is not in a right
relationship with God or with His Son. Remember Jesus came to redeem us
from sin, and if He did, then how can we still live in it freely or
unhindered? We cannot!! Plain and simple!! John moves on to point out
...
III) A DANGEROUS DECEPTION–Vv.7-8
A) John does not want his dear children to be deceived in any
way. John’s point is this: Our ability to live righteously is tied
directly to our saving relationship with the Righteous One, and those
who live otherwise–in sin as a lifestyle–are proving their
relationship to the devil, who is all about sin, rebellion, deception,
and destruction.
B) And, what we need to know in light of this is that Jesus
appeared, again a reference to His First Coming, to "destroy the
works of the devil." And, this was foretold in Genesis 3:15.
Let us not miss the importance of knowing clearly of the Person and
Works of Jesus Christ, and our present victory over sin and the devil,
and our ultimate deliverance from the presence of sin when He returns.
What a hope! cf. Colossians 2:8-15. John then returns to the
theme of being "born of God" in verses 9-10. John wants
us to take an inventory of our lives.
IV) AN IMPORTANT INVENTORY–Vv.9-10
A) John looks us in the eye in this text and asks, "What
proof do you offer that you have been saved by Christ? First, to those
"born of God" he says, "You will not go on practicing sin
because God’s seed abides in you." He could say it this way:
"It is impossible for a genuine born again child of God to sin
freely and without guilt, as he has the Holy Spirit abiding within
conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment." In other words,
believers are not comfortable with sin, as sin is an irritant to them to
bring them to repentance. Second, to the rest John says, "Your
lifestyle of sin, and consequent lack of righteousness proves who your
father is–the devil." John is pretty straight and to the point so
we will not miss the importance of what he is saying. The consistent
testimony of our lifestyle reveals who are father is. The documents have
been unsealed to you today. Here’s some great news ... God is still
adopting folks into His family, and that through personal faith and
trust in Jesus Christ to save. Come to Him today, and enjoy the benefits
of being a true child of God!
