In many families we frequently see a family likeness. We see this, not only with physical resemblance, but we can also see it by one’s actions or one’s behavior. Family members often will speak a lot like each other, will respond or act like their parents or other family members. Perhaps you see that in yourself, that you physically resemble your parents or siblings, or that your children are taking after some of yours or your spouse’s behavior, and hopefully that would make you proud. How about the children of God? In our Scripture for today from the Apostle John’s first epistle, we read that this should also be the case.
Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior are God’s children (vs. 1). We are no longer the lost orphans that we once were. Jesus found us as lost sheep. He searched for us as a lost coin (Luke 15:1-10). There are two spiritual fathers in this world - Yahweh and Satan. Those who are born again through the Blood of Jesus Christ are the children of God (John 1:12). Those who reject Jesus as their Savior have chosen Satan (John 8:42-45).
Knowing we are God’s children should encourage us to live as Jesus did. Our behavior, our nature and lifestyle, should be like our Savior’s. Because of this, the world doesn’t know us, we are not the world’s kind anymore. We are truly pilgrims, sojourners, and strangers in this world (Hebrews 11:13; I Peter 1:1; I Peter 2:11).
The moment a person accepts Jesus as their Savior, they become a child of God. Throughout our life the Holy Spirit is working in our life, conforming us into the image of Christ (II Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29). This won’t be completed until Jesus returns (vs. 2). As we grow as Christians, we should desire to be more like Jesus (vs. 3). It is a false belief from the devil that we have to be like the world in order to win others to Christ. Jesus never compromised in order to reach people. He stayed true to God’s Word, and then let the people choose who they would follow, Him or the devil. As Christians, we need to stand for holiness, no matter the cost, no matter whether we are scorned, hated, or have loss of money or property.
As we continue on in verse 4, there are some people who mistakenly believe that this verse says that a Christian will never commit a sin ever again. That is not the case, as we all know that each one of us will occasionally do something wrong. The verb “commit” in Greek conveys the idea of making sin a habitual practice. All Christians do fall into sin occasionally, but that should not be the unbroken pattern of our life. There is a difference between committing a sin and continuing to sin. A Christian who commits a sin will confess and repent of it, as David did. The unsaved continues to sin without regard.
Jesus Christ came to take away sin (vs. 5), which is one reason why His followers should not practice sin. To abide in Christ is to be as though dead to sin (vs. 6). If there is no check against the habitual practice of sin in someone, no desire to turn away from it, then there is no salvation. The one who habitually lives in sin has never been saved.
Instead of a habitual practice, a desire, a lifestyle of sin, there should be a desire, a practice, a lifestyle of righteousness (vs. 7). One way to stop a bad habit we wish to be rid of is to replace it with a different habit, a good one. We should replace that bad habit of sin with a good lifestyle of righteousness, seeking to behave like Jesus.
Sin is of the devil. Jesus came to destroy the devil’s deeds (vs. 8). To do the devil’s deeds is to declare allegiance to him and not to Jesus. The unsaved are under the influence of the devil. Their lifestyle reflects that. As we grow as Christians, we should see in our life an incompatibility with sin. Though we will continue to see sin in our life, and we continue to fall, our desire and aim is to live righteously. We do not remain in a lifestyle of sin. Let us see that every day there is more of a likeness, more of a family resemblance to our Lord Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father.
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