Continuing our study of 1 John, we pick up at verse 18 of Chapter 5. Under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit the Apostle writes:
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe , and the evil one cannot harm them.” 1 John 5:18
John had just said in the previous verse, (5:17) “All wrong doing is sin”. He had said earlier in his letter, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (verse 1:8) Certainly we do things wrong, and obviously we sin. So what is John saying when he states “anyone born of God does not continue to sin”?
When we become a child of God through accepting Christ Jesus as the Way to this Holy Spirit born again experience; when we are born of God, we are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When Father
God looks at us, He only sees perfection. He sees us as He sees Jesus. The Word says, “For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14) He said, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)
This does not give us a license to do things that we know are wrong. It gives us a heart to ‘want’ to do things that are right. The Holy Spirit is within, and without, on us and in us, working with us in love as a parent, a teacher, a counselor, a giver of truth making us more like Jesus every day. The things that we are doing wrong today, things that we may be excusing and justifying but are wrong, will be moved out of our lives as we continue to walk with Him. Through a way that He will choose, light will be shone on it. It may even take a while, but when we do see it we will ‘not continue in it’. We will look back on it with disgust that we had allowed that in our life as it is revealed to us, and never allow it in our lives again through His healing power. We shall praise Him for His grace and mercy, and love as we are freed.
Be blessed as you walk in His goodness, God’s Beloveds. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Poppa B.