SIGN OF LIFE #5--The person who has life WILL NOT CONTINUE IN SIN BUT WILL LIVE A
RIGHTEOUS LIFE (1 John 3:7-8).
In the book of 1 John there are some very shocking verses that are often misunderstood. For example:
"Whosoever abideth in Him (Christ) _______________ not: whosoever __________________ hath not seen Him, neither known Him" (1 John 3:6)
"He that _______________ ______ is of the D_________ (1 John 3:8).
"Whosoever is born of God doth not _______________ ______; for His seed remaineth in him: and he ________________ ______, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9).
"We know that whosoever is born of God ________________ _______" (1 John 5:18).
These verses say that the person who is born of God does not commit sin and is not able to sin. They also say that the person who sins is of the devil and has never known Christ! How can this be?
Doesn’t everyone sin, including Christians? If you were to go up to your Pastor or to other mature Christians and ask: "Do you still have a problem with sin?" what would they say?
The verses quoted above even seem to contradict what John has already written in the book of 1 John (although we know that the Bible does not have any real contradictions). What if a Christian should say, "Now that I am a Christian I no longer have any sin and I do not have a sinful nature" (see 1 John 1:8)? Who is this person fooling? __________________ Suppose a Christian should say, "Since I have been a Christian I have never sinned or done anything wrong" (see 1 John 1:10). Is this really true? _____ Do believers need to confess their sins (1 John 1:9)? ______ (If you need to confess something then this means that you are guilty of having done it!) Do Christians need an Advocate (1 John 2:1 and see Chapter 8 of these notes)? ______
What then is the true meaning of these perplexing verses which seem to say that a true believer does not sin? In all of these verses the verb ("sin" or "sinneth" or "committeth sin") is in the present tense. Thus a more accurate translation would be something like this: "Whosoever abideth in him does not keep on sinning: Whosoever continues sinning hath not seen Him, neither known Him . . . He that keeps on committing sin is of the devil . . . whosoever is born of God does not constantly practice sin for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot go on sinning, because he is born of God . . . We know that whosoever is born of God does not continue in sin."
In other words, the life of an unsaved person is characterized by sin and unrighteousness. He can do nothing but sin! Even "the plowing of the wicked (is) sin" (Proverbs 21:4). The life of a saved person is characterized by righteousness (right living, right being, right speaking, right acting, right thinking--see 1 John 2:29; 3:7; 3:10) and by victory over sin because God Himself works mightily in him (Philippians 2:13).
God will not allow a true believer to continue in sin. Instead of continuing in sin, the believer should C _______________ his sin (1 John 1:9) and God promises forgiveness and cleansing. If the believer fails to C_______________ his sin, then God must C____________ him (Hebrews 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 11:32). Also the Holy Spirit who lives within every true believer will be grieved by the sinning Christian and will thus bring conviction to his heart (convincing him that what he is doing is sinful). God uses CONFESSION, CHASTENING and CONVICTION to prevent a believer from continuing on in sin.
What advice would you give an unsaved person (circle the correct answer)?
- "You must stop living continuously in sin!"
(compare Genesis 19:7)- "You need to start living a righteous life!"
- "You must be born again!" (John 3:7).
If a person truly belongs to the Lord (see 2 Timothy 2:19) he will not only name the name of ________________ but he will also _____________ from _________________ (unrighteousness). What do we know about people who keep on doing (present tense) the things listed in Galatians 5:19-21)? ______________________________________________________ What do we know about the person whose life is characterized by unrighteousness (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? _____________________________________________________________
"Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Rom 6:1). How should every Christian answer this question (Rom.6:2)? ______ ________________ (literally this means: "let it not be so" or PERISH THE THOUGHT!). Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:15)? _______ ______________ The natural man (1 Cor. 2:14) thinks this way in his heart: "A saved person should continue living in sin so that everyone will see how gracious and longsuffering God can be towards His wicked children." Is this the attitude a true believer should have? _______ Read Titus 2:11-12 and answer True or False: ____________ The grace of God teaches me that since I’m saved and going to heaven, I can live any way I please!
Is your life characterized by right thinking, right acting, right speaking and right living? Have you departed from iniquity? Are you continuing on in your sin or do you quickly confess your sin and forsake it? Are you enjoying freedom from the power of sin in your daily life? When you were unsaved you could do nothing but sin. Have you noticed a change since you trusted Christ? "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith!" Are you dead or alive?
SIGN OF LIFE #6--The person who has life DOES NOT ENJOY LIVING IN SIN (2 Peter 2:7-8).
If we are to be followers (imitators) of _______ as His beloved children (Eph. 5:1), then we must L___________ the things that God loves and we must H________ the things that God hates! What does the Lord love (Hebrews 1:8-9)? ____________________ What does He hate (Hebrews 1:9)? _______________________ We too are to ___________ the ________________, and __________ the ____________ (Amos 5:15). What are believers to abhor and hate (Romans 12:9)? _____________ Those who truly love the Lord will do what (Psalm 97:10)? ___________ _________ Those who truly fear the Lord will do what (Proverbs 8:13)? ________________________ If we truly love God’s Word then what are three things we will hate (Psalm 119:104,113,128, 163)?
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
When Lot separated himself from Abraham, what city did he pitch his tent towards (Genesis 13:11-12)? _____________ How are the men of this city described (Genesis 13:13)? ________________________ What kind of a man was Lot (2 Peter 2:7-8)? _______________________ What is the one thing that the Lord hated about Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20)? _______________________________ Would God destroy the city if there were found 50 righteous people (Genesis 18:23-26)? _____ Can the righteous Judge ever be unfair (Genesis 18:25)? _____ Would God destroy the city if there were only ten righteous (Genesis 18:27-32)? ______ Did the Lord destroy the city (2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7)? ______ How did He destroy it (Genesis 19:24-25)? __________________________________________________ Since we know that God destroyed the city, what does that tell us about the "righteous" population of the city (compare Genesis 18:32)? ________________________________________________________________
What did the Lord do for
Lot (2 Peter 2:7; Genesis 19:15-16)?
_________________________________________________________________
Did Lot enjoy living in Sodom (2 Peter 2:7-8)? ______ What were two things that disturbed
him and caused him to be troubled within as he lived in that city?
- (verse 7) __________________________________
- (verse 8) __________________________________
What advice did Lot give to the men of Sodom (Genesis 19:7)? _______________________________________ Did this help the situation? _______
When God’s child sins the Holy Spirit is _________________ (Ephesians 4:30) and God must C_________________ him (Hebrews 12:5-11) and the disobedient child of God must ___________________ his _________ (1 John 1:9). What was Peter’s great sin (Luke 22:57)? ________________________________ How do we know Peter was a true believer (Luke 22:62)? ___________________________________________ Did Peter continue to deny the Lord or did he later confess the Lord boldly before thousands of people (Acts chapter 2)? _____________________________________________
What is your attitude towards sin in your life? Are you comfortable with it or are you miserable with it? Does sin bother you? Does sin grieve your heart? Do you enjoy sinning? "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith" Are you dead or alive?
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