1 John 3:16


"By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Tuesday 1 June 2010

Sin

When love is in our heart, we keep ourselves from sin. We do this for the sake of those we love.

We know that whosoever is born of God sins not, but he that is born of God keeps himself (from sin) and the evil one touches him not (does not bring him into sin). (1 John 5:18).

This is love, that we keep His commandments (1 John 5:2). What is sin? Pleasing our self! Paul lists the manifestations of this in 1 Tim 1:9-11 as those things that are contrary to sound doctrine. “All unrighteousness is sin.” (1 John 5:17). Sin is breaking the law, not the ritual or letter, but the intent (1 John 3:4).

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this reason (sin) was the Son of God manifest, to destroy the works of the devil (sin). (1 John 3:6-8).

John gave ways by which we will know if we are in Him. These are: we believe on the Son of God and abide in that doctrine (1 John 5:11-12); the witness of the Spirit within us (1 John 3:24) i.e. inner faith; the love for the brethren in our heart (1 John 3:14); and that we keep His commandments (1 John 2:3), in regard to who we live for and keep sound doctrine.

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