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1 John 3:9
Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.
Today’s reading is one of those verses in the Bible that can cause people to possibly feel condemned. After all, the Apostle says that whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin. So does that mean that if you sin that you are not born of God? Absolutely NOT!
We have two natures at work within us once we become born again. We have our new nature which is united with Christ and we have remnants of our old nature still at work in our soul and our flesh. Galatians 5:17 describes the battle that is being waged between our new nature and our old one when it says… For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
The truth is that the new nature that lives within us cannot sin. John explains this by saying that God’s ‘seed’ remains in us. The Greek word for seed that John uses here is ‘sperma’ which is the root word for ‘sperm’. God has placed His very own DNA in us so it is impossible for the ‘new you’ to miss the mark.
Once we understand that it is not the ‘new us’ that sins, we no longer have to live under condemnation because Romans 8:1 says ‘there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.’ It is true that the residue from your old nature can still influence your mind, your will and your emotions to cause you to sin. But this isn’t the real you any longer. The real you is joined with Jesus Christ, seated in heavenly places at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2:6).
The more that we live from heaven’s perspective, the freer we will become to live a life led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). The more that we are led by the Spirit of God, the less influence there will be from our old nature. It is our Father’s heart that sin would no longer have dominion over us (Romans 6:14) because we are under grace. That does not mean that we continue in sin… God forbid! He just wants us to know that because we are joined with Jesus, sin has no more power over the new us!
Ephesians 2:4-9
4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast.
Bible References
9 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.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
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