Week Five Sin-Walking verse Stumbling Walking in sin Read 1 John 3:4-10 Verse four uses an interesting phrase concerning a lifestyle of sin. Practice is synonyms with repetition, habit, system. We get the idea that it is something that has become a way of life for someone. It s part of their everyday routine. Perhaps to the point it s done without a second thought. When I learned to play keyboard, I had to learn the finger position for each new chord I played. It took me a while to get from one chord to the next because I had to put a lot of thought into the next finger position. Two years later, I don t even have to think about my finger position. Practicing the piano has made playing easier. Unfortunately, many people have practiced lying, deceiving, cheating, etc. for so long, it is automatic in their lives. This would be what John was referring to concerning the practice of sin. Practice makes perfect, the saying goes. This is true of sin. The more it is exercised, the more fluent we become in it. This same verse puts the practice of sin and the practice of lawlessness side-by-side. The law refers to God s law. The truth we are to model our lives after. To walk in lawlessness is to walk as if there were no law. To walk according to our own liking, without regards to God s law. We can look at any society and see the repercussions of those individuals who chose to disobey the law of the land. It not only affects their lives, but also those around them. Discuss the importance of laws in society? What can happen if we didn t have them? Give reasons why God gives us laws (the Word) to live by? In verse six, abide means to continue or remain in. We are to remain in Christ. Continue loving and serving Him. Is this scripture saying that if someone abides in Christ, they have ceased from sin? Again, it goes back to verse four the practice of sin. If we remain in Christ, we will not practice sin. We cannot practice sin with a clear conscious. Can you imagine someone
who loves God robbing a store every time he runs out of money? Of course not. He would really need to examine his faith. In fact, verse six makes it clear that habitual, constant sinning reveals the true state of the person. He does not know God. Charles Spurgeon said concerning this subject, Another proof of the conquest of a soul for Christ will be found in a real change of life. If the man does not live differently from what he did before, both at home and abroad, his repentance needs to be repented of and his conversion is a fiction. At the moment of belief, the Spirit of God comes to abide in each believer. Living in sin, with no conviction or act of repentance, is a sign that the Holy Spirit does not abide in an individual. The Holy Spirit moves us forward into holiness. He doesn t leave us in a place of stagnation allowing us to continue in sin. The upward progression in a believer s life is proof of the heart change that has taken place. In verse seven, why do you think John warns this body of believers to be careful they are not deceived concerning this topic? We have to be careful in every generation that we don t become deceived about this same subject. There is a rampant teaching that is misleading many. It gives people the impression that as long as they believe in Jesus they can live however they want because salvation only comes through grace alone. This is the deception. It s a half truth. It s partly right and party wrong. It s true, salvation does only come through the grace of God and atonement of Christ. However, I do not believe we have the freedom to live in sin anymore. To continue in habitual, unrepented sin, is a sign that conversion never happened. To believe in Jesus is not a head knowledge, it s a heart change. We are not dead in sin but alive in Christ! It s through our changed actions that we prove that our conversion was true. Anyone can name the name of Christ, but if there is no fruit being produced, there needs to be a closer examination of one s life. The life of Christ, in us, will produce good fruit. Verse seven and eight explain this truth simply.
If we practice righteousness, we are what? Like who? If we practice sin, we are of who? Read Matthew 7:18-23 In verses eighteen through twenty, we read a metaphor about a tree and its fruit. The fruit identifies the type of tree it is. We identify people by their fruit as well. Sometimes one thing may stand out about someone that we like or don t like. I once heard someone say that you have to look at the fruit salad of someone s life to see who they really are; rather than just one aspect. We can t produce what we are not. Verse twenty says, you will know them by their fruits. What kind of fruit are you producing? Can other see from your actions that Christ abides in you? What fruit have you seen in your life since coming to Christ? In verse twenty-one, we learn it s not he who says, but he who does the Father s will, who will enter heaven. What kind of people will expect to enter heaven, but be turned away? They were obviously deceived to believe something that was not true about themselves, as we ve learned previously. Where do we find the Father s will? God has given His word. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us that He has granted us everything we need for life and godliness, through Christ. A rich young ruler once asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life.
What is the will of God for Christians? (Discuss Romans 12:2) What s the difference between doing the will of the Father and doing good deeds? Sometimes we think they are one-in-the-same. But there is a distinct difference. Evil people can do sincere deeds that benefit another. There are people all over the world who are charitable, but live very ungodly lives. Good deeds can never make someone righteous. Nor should they ever be the measuring stick we use to gage someone s spirituality. The will of the Father is what those that have been born again do because only they can please God. We read in Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. It becomes less about doing good deeds to look good and more about living a lifestyle of doing what we know pleases God. In verse twenty-two Jesus says many people will stand before Him one day with all their good deeds they did on His behalf. Looking at the list: prophesy, casting out demons, miracles, it s quite impressive. We would never question someone s spirituality if they did any of these things, but Christ knows better. However, in verse twenty-three, what does Christ declare to them? They practiced lawlessness. Their lives were not lived guided by the truth of God s word because their conversion was never real. They thought they deserved heaven based on their good deeds. Stumbling in Sin I don t even have to tell you that Christians do still sin. But there is a distinct difference between a believer s sin and a non-believer s sin. A Christian despises his sin. When he is in sin, he is miserable and is convicted at the heart. Sin is not disregarded as no big deal either. As Christians we are taught that sin is dealt with in one way: repentance. What does true repentance look like to you?
It s admitting we were wrong and turning from that sin. And if we fall again, we are to turn to Jesus again. Psalm 37:24 says concerning the one who trusts God, When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. God is holding the hand of His children. When we do sin, we do not stay down. He lifts us up because we depend on Christ. He sees our heart and our desire to live righteous lives. He is full of mercy to those who are humble. In James 4:10 we read, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. The key word is humble. Humbling is purposely submitting yourself to the authority of another. For us to humble ourselves is to submit ourselves to God. To look upon Him for mercy. Our society does not live humbly before God. It has chosen its own standard of righteousness by creating laws that contradict God s ways found in the Bible, and for anyone to stand against them will be hated. The root is pride. Pride says I will not humble myself; I will live my life how I feel is right; Who are you to tell me I m sinning? Read the following verses and answer the questions below. 1 John 1:9 What are we to do when we sin? Confession in Biblical context is to agree with God that our sin is wrong. What is the wrong approach to dealing with sin? We should never defend our sin. We do not hide our sin. We do not live in our sin. Confession is a humble act that finds grace in God s eyes. Proverbs says this about the subject, Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (28:13, ESV). Confession or repentance of sin is an important part of a Christian s life. Bible teacher J.C. Ryle said, True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace - in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ.