Born of God and Cannot Sin Part 2

 

I John 3:2-9

"He who has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he CANNOT sin, because he has been born of God".

 

Our most recent study discussed "born" as being synonymous with "made".  As we consider that we are being "made of God" as a potter would fashion and form a vessel, this portion of scripture becomes clearer.

 

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness". This reminds me, in the book of Matthew, 7:21-23, where many who prophesied, cast out demons and did many wonders in His name were told: "I never knew you; depart from Me you who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS". These folks were content to pursue spiritual gifts, given to each one for the profit of all, but, it appears they were not eager to let God finish His work in them.

 

"Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him". I Peter 4:1,2 states,"therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, ARM YOURSELF ALSO WITH THE SAME MIND, FOR HE WHO HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HAS CEASED FROM SIN, so that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God". We must not refuse Him who speaks from heaven for as He speaks He is revealing Himself and the Father to us, so that we may know Him and not sin.

 

"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil". The soul of man is a battlefield. With it we "bless God and curse man".  The scripture clearly depicts the salvation of the soul as a progressive work.  The soul that has received the Lord's salvation is Christ-like much like the young person who has received acceptance to medical school is a doctor: all the resources of  heaven, as with the medical college, are at the disposal of the accepted one to reach an expected end; completion in Christ for the soul and the ability to help people in physical need for the physician. In both cases, it takes education and diligent attention to fulfill. As we sin after we have received His salvation, we show that in those areas, Satan still exercises influence in our soul. As we receive Him who speaks from heaven, His ways of doing things overwhelms Satan's temptation and we DECIDE not to sin. We are being MADE OF GOD and WE DO NOT SIN! I am impressed that as we believe in Him through the Word He has made alive to us, we will be one with the Father and the Son, who are one. Jesus desire to be one with His Father was the strength of His sinless life!

  

George Harlow

(609) 312-1178

Born of God and Cannot Sin

1 John 3:2-9

 

 

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we SHALL BE, but we know WHEN HE IS REVEALED, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. WHOEVER ABIDES IN HIM does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you, He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. WHOEVER HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD DOES NOT SIN, for His (JESUS') seed remains in him; and HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD".

 

First of all, we must differentiate between "born again" and "born of God". When an individual is born again, he/she has been forgiven their sins, and made a new creature, a new CREATION in Christ Jesus! One of the definitions of born in this discussion is "to be made". We understand that Jesus has been likened to a potter, we being like clay. The potter fashions and forms the clay into what he desires. We understand that Jesus is "a wise masterbuilder". A wise builder does not build the 3rd floor structure of a building before he builds the 2nd; in fact, he can't. Nor does Jesus. He teaches us, revelation by revelation, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to our newly created spirit. When John says, "Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him", I feel he is saying that whoever practices lawlessness has either rejected His revelation which comes by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit OR has not yet heard in the spirit. If it has not yet been revealed to you, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. As He reveals Himself to us, we KNOW more of Him and are empowered to fall not short. When we sin, we show that, at least in that activity, that we do not know Him. When we SEE what He reveals we are empowered to perform that in righteousness. Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was tempted in every way we are, yet without sin. He wanted nothing more than to be one with His Father. The result: a sinless life.

 

As we seek, knock and ask, His holiness is revealed from faith to faith and we, by necessity, are undone. He reveals Himself to us: we see Him, we know Him and He is making us like Him!