3 Sin Has Acquired Consequences

A third assurance of salvation is enshrined in 1 John 3.6-9, but at first sight it appears to dash the hopes of a seeker for salvation. It reads:

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 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.

How can the apostle say this? He has just taught that if we say we have no sin then we are most certainly not saved, and now he seems to say the opposite, that if however, for he obviously means that the born-again person we are saved we cannot sin. There is no contradiction cannot sin comfortably or easily. He cannot sin without consequences for his spiritual peace. He is no longer a natural or an easy sinner. Yes, he still sins, and is guilty before God, but now it strikes and even torments his conscience, and this is what makes him feel he is unsaved.

He is now the most uncomfortable, uneasy, unhappy person in the world because he has offended the Lord. That is the effect sin has on him. In that sense, he cannot sin easily or happily. He cannot sin without repercussions because he has the precious seed of life in his soul and his conscience jars within him and cries out. If we cannot sin comfortably, there is probably life in us, or a work of grace is in train. That is the message of John.

4 The Family Bond

Another comfort in times of doubting salvation is implied in 1 John 2.9: “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” This is echoed in 1 John 3.14 by the words, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”

This great comfort we comment on only in passing, as there are powerful but little-known evidences of salvation yet to cover. The words tell us that a child of God has a spiritual-family instinct placed within him at conversion, a bond with others who are the Lord’s. It is a new regard for fellow-believers, and a deep sense of closeness. If Satan should tempt us to doubt our salvation, there remains within us a strong realisation that believers are those with whom we belong. It is a great instinct and the apostle holds it up as a mark of grace.

to be continued