This week’s episode is a continuation (part 2) of last week’s episode entitled “Why, O Why Do I Sin.” In this episode we discover that we sin not because we have to but because we choose to. Learn how to choose godliness!
Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at http://www.thepuritycoach.com
This week’s episode is a continuation (part 2) of last week’s episode entitled “Why, O Why Do I Sin.” In this episode we discover that we sin not because we have to but because we choose to. Learn how to choose godliness!
Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at http://www.thepuritycoach.com
Do you desire to please God with your life? Do you also struggle with sinful thoughts and habits? In Gal. 5:17 Paul reminds us that the flesh is in conflict with the spirit – and the spirit is in conflict with the flesh. They are opposed to each other making it difficult to do what is right. In Romans 7 Paul talks about how the things he wants to do, he doesn’t; and the things he doesn’t want to do he keeps on doing. Can you relate?
Welcome to the Point of Purity Podcast! I’m your host Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #165 . In this episode we continue our mini-series on Glorifying God as we discover how our thinking impacts our doing. This week’s Episode is simply entitled “You Don’t HAVE TO Sin!”
This week’s episode is a continuation of last week’s episode entitled “Why, O Why Do I Sin.” If you have not yet listened to that specific episode, I’d like to encourage you to stop this episode, listen to episode 164 first, and then come back to this one. I say that simply because it will help give you some context for what we are going to be talking about today.
You see: In 1 John 3:9 the Apostle John writes, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” Let me repeat that, so listen closely ... “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
To be honest, for a while this verse created quite the conflict in my thinking. You see, for over 30 years of my life I battled with what Hebrews 12:1 calls a “sin that so easily entangles.” It was a sinful habit that I chose to allow its control over me. It was a sin that nearly destroyed me, as well as my family. On more than one occasion I had well-meaning Christian men use 1 John 3:9 to try to convince me that since I continued to give in to this particular sinful habit, since it was an on-going issue for me, I must not be saved. “After all,” they would argue, “this verse says that no one who is born of God ‘will continue’ to sin.”
On the surface it would appear that God is saying if you make it a practice to habitually sin you are not a Christian. However, I submit, that is not the message God is presenting here. As we look at this verse carefully there are a few things that are important to note. The best way to make sense of all this is to break this text down into its smaller parts, closely examine those parts, and then put them back together again to look at the verse as a whole. We need to mediate on God’s Word.
OK – so here’s the verse in its entirety: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
First, I want us to take a few moments to examine the phrase “is born of God.” “No one who is born of God will continue to sin. That phrase, “is born of God”, is written in what’s called the perfect tense. In other words, having been completed in the past, being born of God never needs to be repeated, ever again. What a great statement of eternal security. By using the perfect tense, John is saying that if you are born again (born of God), you are saved now and forevermore. It doesn’t matter what sins you have committed or ever will commit, Christ died on the cross for all of them. You see, Jesus “personally carried (all) our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NLT addition mine)
Not a single sin has ever taken, nor ever will take God by surprise causing Him to say, “Oh, I didn’t know you were going to do that. I’m sorry, but your salvation warranty has now been voided.” Praise the Lord our salvation is entirely dependent upon an Omniscient (all-knowing) and Sovereign God and not based upon our own efforts. It’s not by works of righteousness that we have done but according to His marvelous, unending mercy that He saved us (see Titus 3:5). God Himself “has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV’84)
We should also note that the phrase “is born of God” is written in the passive voice, which means it is being done to you or for you, not by you. You are the recipient, not the originator. Simply put, you cannot save yourself. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB’95) When John writes that the Christian “is born of God” he is establishing the fact that this new birth (see John 3:3) happens once and for all, and it is fully accomplished completely by the powerful will of the Almighty God.
Looking again at 1 John 3:9 we note that John says, “no one ... will continue to sin.” Here is where many of us have stumbled into murky waters and get confused. Let me read to you this verse as it is rendered in the King James Version. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” I want us to focus our attention on the word “not” in this verse (“doth not commit sin”). This is a term in Biblical Greek that expresses a full and direct negation. In other words, absolutely not ever. It is a complete impossibility. John is saying that whoever is born of God does not ever commit sin.
Stay with me on this and it will become clear for you in a few moments. You see, John writes this in the indicative mood, which means that this is a simple statement of fact, period. The fact is, that which is born of God will not ever sin. There is nothing here to indicate “habitual sins.” Nothing to lead us to believe that as long as you’re not repeatedly sinning, you’re spiritually safe. That which is born of God never sins – ever.
Please don’t brand me a heretic and shut this podcast down in disgust without first giving me the opportunity to explain. Have you chosen to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so, God’s Word says you are born again. Your old sinful nature has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20), and a new, holy nature has been put by God Himself in its place (Ephesians 4:24).
Have you ever committed the same sin more than once since becoming a Christian? More than a few times? I am going to assume your answer is “yes.” Keep in mind that “there is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NIV’84) So, “if we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” (1 John 1:8 NLT) As we compare Scripture with Scripture, we must conclude that 1 John 3:9 is not saying that if you commit the same sin multiple times you are no longer a Christian. What then is this text actually saying?
To help answer this question, we need to identify exactly what it is that is born of God. Our key to understanding this is actually found in the second half of 1 John 3:9. John goes on to explain how that which is born of God does not sin. It’s because “God’s seed” remains in the Christian; and he (the “seed”) cannot sin, because he (the “seed”) has been born of God. To help you understand, it’s important that we focus our attention on that word “seed.” It is the Greek word “sperma” and refers to an offspring; that which was created by God.
So, here’s an important question: What did God create that is now within you as a born-again Christian? Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 emphasis mine) The new what has come? The new nature that every Christian received at the moment of salvation is what has come. Paul put it this way in Galatians 2:20. “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” That “seed” John refers to is the new, holy nature that God created and placed within you. That “seed remains,” it continues to live within you for the rest of your life.
OK. Now I want us to note what John says about that new nature God created within you. He states that the one born of God will not commit sin “because” God’s seed (the new nature) remains in him. That word “because” points to something that rests upon solid fact. John is declaring it to be a fact, a Divinely inspired Biblical truth that the reason that which is born of God will not ever sin is because that which God placed within you at salvation is what Scripture calls “God’s seed,” His perfect creation. That is what is dwelling within each and every believer. That is why it cannot sin.
John goes on to say that God’s seed “cannot go on sinning.” The word “cannot” is the Greek word “dunamai” and refers to an absence of power or ability. That which is born of God (the new nature within you) does not have the power, the ability nor the capability of accomplishing the task of sinning. If you are a Christian, God says you have a new nature, a holy nature that is “created to be like God – truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:24 NLT) – a holy nature incapable of sinning because it doesn’t have the power or ability to do so.
This is a crucial point we must not ignore as it plays a very important role in the rest of this podcast. Let me reiterate that the moment you were saved, your old nature was crucified; it is dead and gone. In its place God put a new nature, one that is holy and incapable of sinning. That new, holy nature is alive right now within you. It is your true identity. It’s what makes you Teknon Theos (child of God).
“For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6) According to this text you are no longer a slave to sin, because sin no longer has power over you (see Romans 6:14). Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Focus your attention on the words, “for you died.” This is a phrase that refers to that which is consummated and finished. It is totally and completely dead. At the moment of your salvation that old sinful nature died. You are now alive in Christ. You don’t have to sin. You now have a choice because sin has no dominion over you (see Colossians 1:13).
Now let’s put the jelly on the bottom shelf. As you are listening to all of this, you may be thinking, “OK Steve, I now understand that I have a new nature that is holy and incapable of sinning and that sounds great. But I still fell the “Ugh” in my struggle with sin every day!” I’m right there with you. I agree wholeheartedly because I too battle against the temptation to sin almost daily. In fact, that is what Paul is talking about in Romans 7:15-25 when he complains that the things he wants to do he doesn’t, and the things he doesn’t want to do he does. Our struggle is not because we still have an old sinful nature plaguing us, dogging every step of our spiritual walk. As we have learned that nature is dead and forever gone.
Consider this: the “I” that is struggling with sin is your new nature. The entire reason you battle daily with temptation is because you have a new, holy nature within you that is constantly at odds with the sinful desires of the flesh. “For the (flesh) desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the (flesh). They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Galatians 5:17) This is why we still struggle with sin. Only the new nature is going to find sin appalling. Only the new nature is going to see sin as an enemy that must be defeated. It is only in the life of the born-again believer that the new nature will fight against the flesh because it is only within the believers’ new nature that the Holy Spirit dwells. The flesh is daily setting itself against the work that God is doing in your life through your new nature.
An unsaved person may regret a sinful thing they have done and may even experience guilt and the consequences of their sinful choices, but they are not experiencing spiritual warfare. The Christian does. Until the day comes when you are called home to heaven to live for eternity with God, you will exist here on earth as a redeemed child of God living in an unredeemed body – a combination ripe for conflict.
Living a life that glorifies God is not simply a matter of passive surrender (let go and let God). It is a life filled with spiritual conflict and warfare (see Galatians 5:17). This is why Paul says, “We wait eagerly for ... the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23) There is coming a time when Jesus Christ “shall transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:21) Until that day, dear Christian friend, you and I are going to struggle with temptation to sin.
OK. We’re going hit the pause button until next week’s episode as we continue our miniseries on How to Glorify God. Next week’s episode will take a closer look at understanding the heart of our temptations. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about today’s study, or if you’re interested in learning more about The Pure Man Ministry (what we do to help men across the globe find freedom and victory over sexual sin), be sure to visit our website to see the multitude of resources we’ve made available to you – you can find our website at ThePurityCoach.com.
One of those resources I would like to highlight for you here is my newest and latest book entitled “Purely Satisfied: Discover how to live in genuine purity” available right now on Amazon. I have a question for you: When you find yourself sexually “thirsty” – feeling like you’re going to shrivel up and die if your “need” isn’t met, what do you do? Where do you go to find satisfaction? All too often we turn to King Me for the solution. Understand this: Yes, you are “thirsty,” BUT you are not thirsting for sexual fulfillment. You are not thirsting for physical satisfaction. You are not thirsting for a chemical pop or rush that those sexual hormones are providing you. That’s Satan misdirecting you, trying to get your focus off of what your real thirst is for.
Your thirst is for something different, something deeper. Here’s what I mean ... Your soul is searching for something only God can give. This is why lust, porn, and masturbation will ALWAYS fail to genuinely satisfy. This is why you keep going back for more, never having that thirst quenched.
My new book - “Purely Satisfied” - makes it clear that you need to catch God’s vision and plan for your life, and the only way that’s going to happen is when you daily choose to dethrone me and allow God to be King in every aspect of your life. We need to daily develop an intimate relationship with Jesus. This book - “Purely Satisfied” – will help you discover not only how to BE pure, but how to STAY pure.
So let me strongly encourage you to go directly to Amazon.com and purchase your copy of “Purely Satisfied” today.
And, if you have not yet subscribed to this Point of Purity Podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes!
So, until next time this is Author, Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach Steve Etner reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.