Marks of Blessed Assurance: Sin And The Saint

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. 11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN ()

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 living in “lawlessness.” ()

1 John 3:4a NLT

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

1- πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ,

πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ,

B- Sin’s definition is lawlessness. ()

1 John 3:4b NLT

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

1- καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία.

καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία.

C- Sin’s destructive power required extreme measures. ()

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.

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

II- THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SAINT ()

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 3:6a 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.

B- The person who chooses to live in sin does not know Christ nor understand who he is. ()

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.

C- The work of Christ in a person’s life is clearly manifested. ()

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.

III- THE SURITY OF CHRIST’S WORK ()

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 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.

B- The heavenly truth: Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work. ()

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.

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

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.