The First Epistle of John

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The First Epistle of John

• Sin and the Child of God
• 1 John 34-9

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Review

• We are called children of God (31-3)
• As children of God, we need to
• Keep our hope fixed on seeing Jesus
• Purify ourselves
• Discussing purity brings up its opposite Sin
• John moves from mentioning purity to discussing
  sin
• 1 Jn 34-9

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Defining Sin

• 1 Jn 34
• Sin, Gk hamartia to miss the mark
• An archery term for missing the bull's-eye
• So sin is failing to meet the goal set by God
• Rom 323

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Defining Sin

• 1 John 34
• sin is lawlessness (NASB) or transgression of
  the law (KJV)
• Lawlessness, Gk anomia not lawful
• Sin is breaking a law
• Example Stealing when the law says do not steal
• So sin occurs when you DO WHAT IS FORBIDDEN (sin
  of commission)
• Or when you DO NOT DO WHAT IS COMMANDED (sin of
  omission) Jms 417

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Defining Sin

• Sin (by commission or omission) is failing to
  meet a certain standard (missing the mark)
• The standard is the word of God
• Designed to help us in all relationships
• With God
• With other people
• With ourselves
• All commands positively affect one or more of
  these relationships
• So sin is going to negatively impact those
  relationships

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The origin of sin

• 1 Jn 38a
• Sin is of the devil
• Jesus made a similar statement, Jn 844
• Therefore, those who sin are of the devil
• Sinning (by commission or omission) shows whose
  influence is most prevalent in our lives
• Move from children of God to being children of
  the devil

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The Defeat of Sin

• 1 Jn 35, 8b
• The purpose of Christs coming
• Take away sins and destroy the works of the devil
• Jn 129
• Even at great cost to Himself (1 Pet 118-19)

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Abiding and Sinning

• 1 Jn 36
• Whoever abides in Him does not sin
• John already said everyone sins (1 Jn 18, 10)
• So John is talking about making a practice or
  habit of sinning
• They abide in Jesus words (1 Jn 224)
• They walk as Jesus walked (1 Jn 26)
• They practice righteousness (1 Jn 37)

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Sin and the child of God

• 1 Jn 39
• No one born of God practices sin
• (Not saying never sins, but not making it a
  practice)
• Because His seed abides in him
• His seed is His word (1 Pet 122-23)
• If you have His word in you, you wont continue
  in sin
• Instead youll repent, confess and be forgiven of
  sins

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Conclusion

• A child of God must always be on guard against
  sin
• Best tool we have is the word of God
• Abide in it
• Know it
• Practice it
• When sin happens, dont let it remain unforgiven
• Repent and confess

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