WHO ARE IN AND WHO ARE OUT?
“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So, they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”
1 John 3:9-10 NLT
How quick we are to judge people!
“This one is in and that one is out! ” Unfortunately, sometimes our judgment is based on personal prejudice rather than biblical standards.
However, John shows us how to make our judgments based on fruit rather than personal opinions. Just as fruit on a tree is the witness to the nature of the tree, said Jesus, so the fruit of a life is the real evidence of the believer’s “new birth”.
So, what is the fruit of a life rooted in Jesus? John gives us two simple ways by which we can test a person’s confession: righteous behaviour and love for God’s people.
What is doing the right thing? God’s Word is always the measure for righteousness. He gives us His standards, simply and clearly in His Word. No one who claims to be a child of God can use ignorance as an excuse for not knowing what to do in any given situation.
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
God has also given us a personal, indwelling Guide to lead us through our difficulties without succumbing to the pull of the flesh. Grace is always freely available for the asking.
“So, I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.”
Galatians 5:16-18 NLT
Also, included in righteousness is our relationship with fellow believers. Jesus set the stage by washing His disciples’ dusty feet as an example of loving service. Any act of humble service for a brother or sister in need is a gesture of real love. This, above everything else, is a witness to our allegiance to Jesus.
The world takes much, gives little, especially when it comes to fostering harmony in relationships. Not so, God’s children.
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
Philippians 2:1-5 NLT
John’s counsel to his readers is clear. “If you want know who is in and who is out, look at their lives. Do they do the right thing, even when it hurts? Do they care about others more than themselves? Are they givers rather than takers? How do they relate to fellow believers? Do they reflect Jesus by the way they live? “
If they tick all or most of the boxes, then be confident that they are children of God, born of His Spirit, and on the way to becoming like Jesus.
If they do not tick the boxes, then be sure that they have never been born again. They do not belong to God. They belong to the one they serve and resemble.
Monthly Archives: September 2023
DON’T TELL ME, SHOW ME
DON’T TELL ME, SHOW ME
“Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.”
1 John 3:7-8 NLT
This business of sinning or not sinning is a line in the sand. It seems to be a big issue for John because he keeps coming back to it in his concern for his readers.
For John, the issue is not about our odd lapses into sin. No one this side of heaven can live a sinless life. We will always be capable of falling prey to our old sinful nature but, says John, God has made provision for forgiveness to deal with these unplanned departures from His will. He has provided in Jesus both a Saviour from sin and an Advocate when we fail.
However, John is not so much concerned about unplanned lapses as he is about those who claim to be believers but negate that claim. By living in habitual disobedience to God’s Word and will despite His provision of everything they need to grow in grace and holiness, they make a mockery of the cross.
The problem is that they have not grasped the fundamental truth of Jesus’ sacrificial death.
The Old Testament ritual of two goats on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is a prophetic picture of Jesus’ work on the cross. One goat was sacrificed to bear the sin of the people pressed onto it by the high priest, buying ritual forgiveness in its death. The second goat took the sin away by being driven into the wilderness.
Jesus not only carried people’s sin in Himself by His death, but He also took sin away, setting us free from sin’s power over us. We are no longer obligated to obey our old nature because Jesus broke its power over us. In one short sentence, John says it all. The devil deceives people into believing that he has the power over us. John says, “Not true! Jesus broke his power by unmasking his deception.”
Paul’s explanation is somewhat more detailed, but he reaches the same conclusion as John.
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-15 NLT
There is a powerful consequence to what Jesus accomplished by His death.
“Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Romans 6:3-7 NLT
Like Paul in Romans 6, John lays the foundation for God’s people to live lives free from habitual sin by reminding his readers of Jesus’s victory over the devil.
However, this mastery over sin forms
part of a much bigger picture. It’s not just about not sinning because God
doesn’t like it and because Jesus broke sin’s power over us. It’s about God’s
goal for our lives.
“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like
his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and
sisters.”
Romans 8:29 NLT
Sin pollutes, destroys, and dehumanises us. To keep on sinning despite the
lengths God the Father and the Son went to, to rescue us from its effects, is
to short circuit God’s wonderful, amazing, indescribably marvellous plan for
His children, that we are being transformed into the very likeness of
Jesus.
Sin may be pleasant for a while, but its eternal consequences are horrendous.
On the other hand, mastery over sin may be uncomfortable for a while but its
eternal benefits are beyond our imagination.
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they
produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we
don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things
that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the
things we cannot see will last forever.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
We alone can make that choice.
TO SIN OR NOT TO SIN
TO SIN OR NOT TO SIN
“Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”
1 John 3:4-6 NLT
The sin issue stands squarely on the centre of our lives as long as we are in this world. John deals with this matter simply, concisely, step by step, so that we can never be in doubt about what God’s part is and what our part must be.
Step one: Everything that is contrary to God’s character is sin. Get that straight! Since His law is the expression of His character, when we defy Him by disobeying His instructions, we act in rebellion against Him. That is intolerable, no matter how big or small the transgression might be.
Step two: God dealt with our sin by sending His own Son to take away our sin. Jesus became the scapegoat in our place. His death as our substitute allows Him to forgive and remove our sin and our guilt in total. He declares us, legally, not guilty. He wipes the record clean. There is nothing in our “debit” column.
Step three: He has given us a fresh start. It’s up to us to keep our accounts up to date. Those who have been cleared of debt must do everything they can to keep their record debt-free.
However, we still have the possibility of incurring debt again because of the old sin-nature’s presence. God has not removed our old nature. There is still a war going on between the flesh and the Spirit.
“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.”
Galatians 5:17-18 NLT
This battle is real, but God has provided powerful resources to ensure victory over the sinful nature.
He has given us His nature, so now we have two natures, the old and the new.
“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
2 Peter 1:4 NLT
He has put His own Spirit in us to guide and empower us to overcome sin.
” So, I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves…. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses…. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:16, 18, 25 NLT
His Word is always at our disposal. The Holy Spirit continually reminds us of both God’s standards and His promises. We need never be in doubt about what God’s will is since it is, written in His Word.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
God’s peace is a powerful guard against enemy activity in our hearts.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
His grace is freely available to help overcome temptation and keep us steadfast in our faith and faithfulness to Him. Through prayer, we access His grace in times of need.
“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:17 NLT
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:16 NLT
Our faith in God and in His promises is the link we have with Him to overcome the world’s pull on us.
“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:4-5 NLT
His love for us is the power that holds us steady and keeps us going in the face of every obstacle.
“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
Romans 8:37 NLT
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Romans 8:38 NLT
Step four: The question is, “Why do professing Christians continue to live in sin? “ By that, I mean, “Why do people who say they are believers act as though they are not?” John’s response is quite simple. They are not true believers. Their behaviour denies their confession. They cannot claim what they do not possess.
The presence of God’s Spirit is the final guarantee and godly behaviour the proof that true believers belong to God.
SEEN BUT UNSEEN
SEEN BUT UNSEEN
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
1 John 3:1-2 NLT
Children of God! Has this truth ever really sunk in? God’s love for His human family has stretched beyond the limits of our understanding. Despite our fallen state, with our horrendous track record of rebellion, disobedience, filthy talk and vile behaviour, He has loved us, rescued us, and molded us into a family of sons and daughters who are the way to resembling His perfect son.
How did He do it? By revealing the extent of His love that refused to give up on us. Helpless and hopeless as we were, He intervened with a plan so daring that only God could pull it off.
God became man! How is that for humiliation! He not only became man, not a “pretend” man, but a real flesh-and-blood, suffering, pain-feeling, bleeding, weeping, bone-weary, dusty, hungry, thirsty, real man. This man also went to the end of the road for us… death, a criminal’s death, beaten, tortured, bled out to the last drop, completely drained of life, limp, dangling from a pole like an abandoned rag doll. And the Father watched it all happen and approved!
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…
Isaiah 53:10 NIV
“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief…. ”
Isaiah 53:10 NLT
How is that for betrayal… and the Son agreed to the plan!
Love like that must win… and it did. So, now God is building a beloved family, people across time, all over the world, leaving the realm of darkness through faith in the one who took their place, and wonder of wonders, slowly taking on and being molded into the likeness of their Saviour. God’s way of doing things turned enemies into sons.
So, John says, this is all happening behind the scenes. People in the world have no clue about what God is doing. They only see, here and there, people who offend them because they don’t join in with their rebellion. They don’t understand what is happening under their noses because the unseen realm is closed to them.
And what of the future for God’s family? Where is this crazy scheme taking us?
One day, God will rip the curtain aside, like He did on the day Jesus died, and the ungodly world, together with all creation will see what He has been doing behind the scenes.
“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering…. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
Romans 8:19, 23 NLT
So, says John, there us work for us to do, here and now. With a future so bright and glorious, we cannot afford to plod along in spiritual mediocrity. This present life is a partnership venture with the Holy Spirit.
“And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”
1 John 3:3 NLT
God does not want the lives that belong to Him and for which He paid such a high price to be mixed with anything that dishonour Him. He has offered us grace in abundance to overcome the flesh and to live in holy fear.
Paul says the same thing a little differently…
“… Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
There is a goal to pursue which should take up all our energies as we live ordinary lives in a chaotic world. Paul called it “one thing” to which he strained forward with all his focus and motivation. And the prize is….
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
1 John 3:2 NLT
Wherever we are at the end of our earthly journey, God will close the gap when we see Jesus. What a hope and what a prize!
This is the process from earth to glory
“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”
Romans 8:29-30 NLT
And from God’s perspective, it’s a done deal.
THE DIVINE TEACHER
THE DIVINE TEACHER
“I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
1 John 2:26-27 NLT
How significant is John’s reassurance in these days of escalating deception! Jesus warned that His immanent coming would be marked by an unprecedented increase in deception.
Satan’s character, the hallmark of his nature, is to deceive. Jesus called him a liar and the father (source) of all lies. Somehow, he knows that his days are numbered. His desire is to take down as many humans as he can with him. His most effective weapon is deception, lies, twisting the truth in every way possible.
People are vulnerable through ignorance and gullible by choice. The flesh, their old, sinful nature, is always available and ready to be tickled and titivated. Satan knows how to lure them away from the truth by offering many promises without the small print!
For those who are in Christ, His representative, the Holy Spirit indwells us. He is committed to leading us into all truth. Since He is the Spirit of truth and since His Word is truth, He highlights the truth for us in His Word.
However, He cannot remind us of truth that is not already in our minds. Our safeguard against the perils of deception is to soak our minds God’s Word for the Holy Spirit to use to enlighten us and keep us on track with the Father.
John assures us that the Spirit and His work is not fake. We can trust Him to keep us out of harm’s way by teaching us whatever we need to know that is in line with The Father’s character and will.. Human teachers can easily mislead us but never the Holy Spirit. He will always be faithful to the Scriptures.
This does not mean that all human teachers are deceivers. It does mean that we always need to test what they teach by the standard of God’s Word and trust the Holy Spirit to help us understand and hold to the truth.