WHY THOSE WHO ARE BORN OF GOD CAN NOT SIN- 1John3:4-9

In today's study we are going to take a detailed look at sin. And specifically how we define sin. And the sin that separates men from God. And that which blinds us to the righteousness unto eternal life.

As a person who sees the problems with the false original sin and sin nature doctrine for the pagan gnosticism that it is. And it's adverse affects on so many who call themselves christian. It is impossible for me to read the scriptures without constantly seeing the distinction between what the scriptures plainly say, and what these have been taught through that false doctrine to believe. A distinction that can be seen being made everywhere from Genesis to Revelation.

It's adverse affects can be seen in all of the doctrines in the Bible. But, none moreso than when looking at the subject of sin in the Bible. Since that pagan doctrine causes people to erroneously believe sin means naughty or bad behavior. While instead it means to miss the mark. And if we are careful in our Bible reading we will see what the mark is that we miss that makes us sinners.

For example, if we believe that when one sins it means he is transgressing the law, we will believe the definition of sin is the transgression of that law. This is why in 1John3:4 John said this is the sin those who were under the law were held accountable for. But, in the next few vs he lays out the contrast between Old Covenant sin atoned New Covenant sin. Sin that is transgression of the law with the sin of no faith in Jesus. Saying that those who have God's seed in them can not sin.

Here in these vs John is making a distinction between how the Jew who is under the law defines sin. And how he is to define sin in to the New Covenant. This is why I have for a long time said the way we define sin shows what covenant we are in. And this is of utmost importance regarding our eternal fate. Because what covenant we find ourselves to be in will determine whether we have eternal life or not.

Because if as Jesus and the apostles taught, in the New Covenant the mark is Jesus Himself. Then to sin is to miss Jesus. So that New Covenant sin is defined as not believing in Him. And has nothing to do with whether or not one keeps the law. This is why we are told that there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved. And that for those who are in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation.

Now those who believe the original sin and sin nature doctrine will say they believe in Jesus. But, because that doctrine is of the spirit of antichrist according to 1John4:3. It is not possible that those who believe it have come to faith in the Biblical Jesus. But, instead have come to believe in a Jesus whose sacrifice was done for Moloch.

This is why it is so vitally important that we understand that in the New Covenant it is not believing in Him that defines sin for the world. This is why in John16:9 Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes to reprove the world of sin He would be focused on the sin of not believing in Jesus. Rather than on the works of the law.

This is why as New Covenant believers our main concern in taking the gospel to the world must also be to help them understand their sin that separates them from knowing God is that they do not believe in Jesus. And has nothing to do with any bad behavior they may have done.

This is also why 1John1, because he was teaching believing Jews who had been under the law, he told them that if they will confess to Jesus their sins they committed while under the law, He would be faithful and just to forgive those sins.

And after saying this John added that they would also be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Showing that righteousness and forgiveness of sins for the Jew are 2 separate things.

The forgiveness of sins for them is accomplished by accepting Jesus' final once for all sacrifice for sin that took away the demands of the law under the Old Covenant. As Eph.2:15 says, Jesus "abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances." Whereas righteousness is their coming into a New Covenant with God by faith in their messiah Jesus.

Now since Paul plainly states in Gal.2:16 that the keeping of the law makes no man righteous. Then John could not have been referring to the cleansing from the sins they committed while under the law made them righteous. So why did he add that they would be cleansed from all unrighteousness after saying they would be forgiven of their sins? If righteousness has nothing to do with law keeping?

It's because the Jew who accepts Jesus' forgiveness of their sins that they had committed while under the law, this showed they had also turned from trusting in the law for righteousness, to faith in Jesus.

And when they trusted in Jesus they were made righteous by the faith of Christ. A faith that says, "nevertheless not my will but thy will be done." Just as Jesus expressed to the Father showing His own righteousness while living as a man on earth. This is why for us to be made righteous just as Jesus was it must be by faith. And can not be by works. Not ours, not Jesus', or anyone else's works.

It is this faith that cleansed them from all unrighteousness. And not the forgiveness of their sins they committed while under the law. Because forgiveness of sins freed them from the Old Covenant. But, it was their trust in Jesus as their messiah and God Almighty that gave them eternal life.

Because their unrighteousness was that they did not trust in Jesus. So that being made righteous came from placing their faith in Him. This is why righteousness has nothing to do with forgiveness of sins based on how well or how badly they kept the law.

If it did then Paul would never have said "there was never a law given that could give life because if it did then surely righteousness would come through the law" in Gal.3:21. If it did then John would not have followed up his statement in 1John3:4 where he told them that sin is the transgression of the law saying "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."

Do you get it? John is saying that a man that is born of God can not not trust in God. Because he is now related to God by birth. So that he can not not know and love God. Any more than a man can not not know his earthly parents. All things being equal.

Making faith in Jesus the righteousness that saved them. This is why if a man is truly born of God Paul says in 2Cor.5:17 "he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold all things have become new".

He is a new creature because he is no longer only natural flesh and blood as Paul said in 1Cor.15:45-48 all men are since Adam was made. He is now also a spiritual being related to God, his Creator, by spiritual birth. A spirit that Rom.8:16 says now has relationship with the Spirit of God bearing witness to him that he is His child.

This is why a man who is truly born again, and not just religious, or 'spiritual', as so many like to refer to themselves today, can not sin. Because his spirit that has been birthed in Him by God is God's seed that remains in him so that he can not not believe in Jesus.

This is why I asked at the beginning, what sin must we as New Covenant ministers of grace be concerned with. Because if we are focused on sins defined by the law then we show that we are joined to that law. And are therefore in the Old Covenant.

But, in Rom.7:1-4 Paul said the Jew that is joined to the law can not be joined with Jesus.

So our witness to the world about their need for Jesus must not place any emphasis on law keeping. Like Ray Comfort and others do when they show a person's need for Jesus by asking them if they have ever lied, stolen, or any other bad behavior. By doing this they define righteousness as the works of the law. Rather than the faith of Christ. That is, trusting in Jesus as He trusted the Father.

But, when we are focused on sin defined by unbelief, as Jesus said in John16:9 it would be when He left and the Holy Spirit came, then we are focused on Jesus Himself and our relationship with Him based in New Covenant grace. The Jew doing this has turned from the law/flesh/works, to a saving faith in Jesus. The Gentile doing this has turned from idols to trust in Jesus.

This is why Paul said in Gal.5:17-21 that those whose focus is on the works of the flesh shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Because as vs18 says, "if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." So that those Jews who are still under the law are not led by the Spirit, but are instead led by the flesh. And show they have not yet come to know Jesus.

But, if they are led by the Spirit their focus is on their relationship with Jesus. Living by the things Paul speaks of in vs.22,23. Expressing the fruit of the Spirit which is love. Out from which will be derived "joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance." Because faith that brings us all these things works by love.

So that they are not led by the flesh under the law. But by the Spirit under grace. These Paul says have heaven for their inheritance. And for these Paul says "there is no law".

Because being led by the Spirit is to be led by love. And love works no ill to his neighbor. But rather, does good to his neighbor. A good that goes far beyond anything the law ever required Israel to do. As Jesus showed Israel in His parable about the Good Samaritan.

So we see from these vs in Gal.5 that to focus on the flesh is to be focused on the law and works. And it's easy to recognize those who are focused on the law. Because they will define sin according to the works of the law. While those whose focus is on a relationship with Jesus will define sin as unbelief. And they will look on the heart as Jesus said in Mt.12 by hearing the words in regard to faith in Jesus that come out of a man's mouth. Words that will either condemn or justify men.

So when we define sin by the law we have placed ourselves in the wrong covenant. And being in the Old Covenant we can not be in covenant with Jesus. So that our righteousness' are then as filthy rags just as those Israelites Isaiah spoke of. And dung and loss as Paul said Old Covenant works righteousness is in Phil.3:6.

Because then our righteousness is by works and not by grace. And only the righteousness that is by grace leads to eternal life. Only the righteousness that is by the faith of Christ can save us from the power of death to an endless life.

So don't listen to those who would put you under the condemnation of the law. By saying that naughty behavior separates you from God. Don't listen to those who would make works the deciding factor for your salvation.

Instead, believe John when he says whosoever is born of God can not sin. Because being born of God His seed that is the new spirit birthed in you that you never had before is what joins you to God forever as His child. And once we are His child we can not not believe Him.

And as His child your focus will be on Him rather than works. And the ultimate importance that our focus must be on Him rather than works helps us see why God said David was a man after His own heart. And why God said Abraham was His friend.

Because even though these men did some things that are considered bad works or sin. The reason God spoke so highly of them was because their righteousness was that they trusted in Him. And had nothing to do with their works.

And even though Abraham was never under the law. And David was. We see that no matter what covenant a person is in, believing God is the difference when it comes to the righteousness that saves. Because whether under the law or not. And whether keeping the law blamelessly or not. Only those whose trust is in God are considered righteous.

This is also why even though in Luke1:5,6 the Holy Spirit through John said that Zachariah and Elizabeth were both righteous walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, they still needed Jesus. And is why even though Paul said that he was blameless according to the righteousness that comes through law keeping. His righteousness was both dung and loss compared to knowing Jesus.

Because the righteousness that comes by the law does not give life. It was never intended to. Because God wants a personal relationship with all men. A relationship in which men come to know how much He loves them. When we know His love we will desire to be in His presence always. Never fearing His wrath. Because His love casts out fear.

So if your focus has been on works to express your love for God. Always wondering if your life is measuring up to God's righteous standard. Then you need to re-evaluate your relationship, or lack thereof, with God.

Because, even though when we are saved we are called unto good works, good or bad works do not define our relationship with God. Just as they did not define it for Abraham, David, Zachariah, Elizabeth, or Paul.

Only our trust in Jesus defines our relationship with Him. And if we know Him we have eternal life. And if we do not know Him then we do not have eternal life. Because it's not what you do that gains entrance for you into God's kingdom. It's who you know.

This is why to have eternal life we must be concerned with the sin of unbelief. And not works or sins defined by the law. This is why Paul said in Gal.5 that when we are concerned with sins defined by the law we will not inherit the kingdom of God. This is why Paul tells the Jews that only if they are dead to the law are they free to be joined with Christ. This is why John says whosoever is born of God can not sin. Because he that is born of God can not not believe Him.

Because Jesus said sin defined by the New Covenant is "They believe not on me". And if you are a believer Paul said the message of reconciliation we are to take to the world is God does not condemn you for bad behavior. He loves you and wants you to know Him so you can have eternal life and immortality through faith in His Son Jesus.

And if you are an unbeliever the message I want you to hear from all of this is that God does not condemn you. And if like the thief on the cross you too will believe in Jesus you will have eternal life now. And if you will trust in Him for eternal life now, you will be guaranteed immortality at the resurrection.

If you will do this then you will be born again. If you will do this then you will be made a child of God by the birth of a new spirit in you. If you will do this then you will be made an heir to the kingdom of God. If you will do this... then I will see you there or in the air!

This message can also be heard at: https://rumble.com/v3nflq8-why-those-who-are-born-of-god-can-not-sin-1john34-9.html