Skip to main content

1 John 3:9: God's Seed Abides In Him


1 John 3:9
[9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. (ESV)

What is your identity?  Many people consider their career calling as their identity.  "I am a farmer." "I am a policeman." "I am a teacher."  For others it is a family distinction. "I am a mother." "I am a Grandfather." "I am my father's son." And still others choose their behavior as their identity. "I am a drunk." I am a playboy." "I am a rebel."

In this verse John is actually speaking of our identity.  He begins by describing the one who is born of God.  I want you to see that he is speaking clearly of identity.  Consider that if someone were to ask you what your identity was, you might say, "I am born of God."  Now, that is a wonderful identity. In fact, that is the identity you should have.

But, imagine us going back to some of the identities I mentioned earlier.  "I am a drunk." "I am a playboy." "I am a rebel." Can a true Christian claim to have any of these identities and yet still claim to have the identity, "I am born of God."?  John says NO. If your identity is being born of God, you cannot keep on sinning.  That is not your identity. Is it possible that a Christian still struggles with sin? Yes. But they do not make a lifestyle of it.  They do not make it their identity. The Apostle Paul will help us understand why:

2 Corinthians 5:17
[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)

You cannot go back.  If you are truly born of God (that is a very important question to consider) then you have a new identity.  You are something brand new and completely different. You have a new character.  A new identity. John tells us, "God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God."

What is your identity? I pray that it is, "I am born of God." If it is you can say goodbye to any identity that glorifies sin in your life.  You may fall at times, but sin will not be your identity. You are a new creation if you are in Christ.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co