Scripture reading: 1 John 3:1-10
When you read 1 John 3:1-10, it is interesting to watch the logical development of the thoughts of God. This is God’s thinking that we are talking about now. God is saying, “NOW we are the sons of God.” He is saying that we are not yet what we will be. So, don’t expect yourself to be all glorious with wings and everything NOW, because you are not yet what you will be. But what we do know, we know it for sure, that when He appears, we will be like Him. Whatever He is, that’s how we will be. How simple it is. He is developing. Then he goes on to say further that anyone who sins is under the law, for sin is the transgression of law. If I ask you if you sin, you are going to be baffled, and some will say, “Well, maybe…” and so and so. But the answer is, “No.” You do not sin. If you are born of God, you do not sin. If you are not born of God, you sin.
Verse 5 says, “And ye know that he (Jesus Christ) was manifested to take away (your) sins…” Therefore, if you have Jesus Christ, He has taken away your sin. But let’s go on, because I am sure somebody still doesn’t understand.
Verse 6, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not (does not sin)…” Whoever abides in Christ does not sin. I will explain that to you. The word “sinneth” is the present continuous tense, like sinning. It is the way that this verse is written in the original Greek text, in the present continuous tense, that means “continues on to sin.” Whosoever continues as a sinner then he, “…hath not seen him (Jesus)” – hath not seen Yeshua, hath not seen God – ”…neither known him (he does not know him)”.
Now, some of you feel that I am condemning you right here with the scripture. But the scripture is right, and we are wrong. So, this is what we decide right now – that the scripture is right.
You notice that it says in verse 7, “Little children…” (“teknion” in Greek). He is not talking about big sons; he is talking about little children. The reason he said little children is because we are struggling with sin. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth…” You notice the word “doeth.” “Doeth” is another present continuous meaning “he that continues to do.” “…he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he (God) is righteous.” And he that continues to do sin is unrighteous. That’s what it says. Now, let’s go on.
Verse 8, “He that committeth (again, continuous present, “to commit”) sin is of the devil…” You notice how gradually he comes to it. He doesn’t just come right out and say, “You are of the devil if you sin.” But he gives you the whole logical sequence coming down and bringing the thought down. This is God’s thinking. “He that committeth sin (continues to commit sin) is of the devil; for the devil sinneth (continues to sin) from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (that is, sin). 9 Whosoever is born of God doth (does) not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil (world)…” That’s where the difference comes in.
We are talking about “committeth.” Now, the word “committeth” in the Greek is what we call an active verb. Active verb is, for example, I go. That means I must do some action to go. I go. I hit. I talk. I leap. These are active verbs. When it says an active verb, it means you must actually, deliberately commit sin. Now, those who are born of God don’t actively, deliberately commit sin. They fall INTO sin. They make mistakes. They stumble. That’s why he said, “Little children.” You know, little children go on, they stumble, they fall, and they get up again. So then, God is saying, “My little children,” it is good for you to know that those who go around committing sin are of the devil. It is good for you to know that the sons of God do not go to deliberately commit sin. Now, I didn’t say they don’t sin, because they fall into sin. They didn’t want to do it, but they did it anyhow. They didn’t want to say it, but they said it anyhow. It means that they are careless. But as they grow up and get stronger, they stop stumbling and stop falling. Praise God.
(Excerpt from The Omega Message, July 2005, pg. 1-3)
Thought for today: Those who are born of God don’t actively, deliberately commit sin.
Sonlight Devotional 