1 John Chapter 3 Pt. 4 The Seed Of God In The Soul Of Man
Jesus came to destroy Satan's evil works.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Satan sinned from the beginning. Jesus was ordained to destroy the devil's works, from the beginning.
John continues to teach about those who profess to know Jesus Christ, but live in a state of constant sin.
Those who profess faith in Christ but have a life pattern marked by sin, are of the devil.
This connects with the truth that those who say they know Jesus Christ, but do not keep His commands, are liars (1 John 1:6: 2:3-4; 9-11).
The Spirit of God guided John to remind us that the devil sinned from the beginning. This connects with creation and Genesis 3, where Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin. Thus, he sinned from the beginning.
The Holy Spirit also teaches us that Jesus Christ was born as a man for the specific intent of destroying the devil's wicked works.
The Seed of God in us cannot sin, but our old man can.
1 John 3:9-10 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. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
John refers to the seed of God in the heart of man. Our new man is a new creation in Christ, created in us by the regenerating work of God's Holy Spirit.
This is the "seed" implanted in us at the moment of our conversion to Christ. It is our new man in Christ, as opposed to our old man that rebels against God.
The Holy Spirit planted this seed in us that cannot sin, for it is of God. Our old man will still sin, for it has not been eradicated.
Thus, the mark of a born again, child of God is that he or she will do righteousness. Such a person is born of God, because the seed abiding in them cannot sin.
Gnostics said sin did not matter because their spirit was pure.
1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Don't lose sight of John's teaching up to this point. He already taught us that if we say we have no sin, we are self deceived.
If we say we have no sin, then we make God a liar, and His word is not in us.
He then proceeded to give the Christian the remedy God provides for when a believer sins.
We are to confess our sins, and the Father is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us with the blood of Jesus.
John reminds us there are only two types of people in this world: children of God and children of the devil.
There is no middle ground. You are either a born again, child of God or you are a hell bound, child of the devil.
This is why Christians must share the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.
God is not willing that any person should perish. He wants all people to repent of their sins, and by faith, call upon Jesus Christ to save them (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 10:8-15).
Litmus test for a true child of God.
1 John 2:9-11 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
John already addressed the issue those who profess faith in Christ, but hate their brothers.
Those who hate their brothers are still living in darkness. This is a mark of a child of the devil.
Thoughts to Ponder...
We learned that our new man in Christ is God's new creation in us. This seed of God in us, cannot sin because it is born of God.
We learned that our old man and our sinful flesh will be driven by lust and sin. Our Gracious God has made a wonderful provision for our cleansing and forgiveness.
The Holy Spirit included several spiritual litmus tests in First John, because we need them.
How do we know that we are born again? Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, keep His commandments (1 John 1:6-8; 2:3-5).
Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ will not walk in darkness. Rather, we will walk in the light because God is light.
Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ and hate their brother, are self deceived. They are children of the devil.
We learned that there exist only two types of people. We are either saved or lost; children of God or children of the devil.
May the words of the Psalmist encourage us as we walk through this life with our Lord.
Our Father is full of grace and mercy. He is slow to become angry and He does not give us what we deserve because of our sins against God.
Bob
Psalm 103:8-15 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
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