3:8-9 (cont.) 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.
Verse 9 is one of those “problem passages” like Hebrews
6:4-8. If you allow the verse, its context and the Bible speak for itself
however I really don’t believe this is a difficult verse at all. The verse
plainly states that a Christian cannot sin because God’s seed remains in him.
Now we must at once rule out a Christian’s inability to sin as far as capacity
is concerned. I know in myself that I am more than capable of sin, and can
still be led away by my lusts and enticed, James 1:13-15. Many verses in the
New Testament agree with this notion, including several verses in this very
epistle. John wrote more than once already that Christians can and do still sin
after they are born again, 1st John 1:8, 10; 2:1.
What does this verse mean then? Simply that a Christian
cannot have sin legally imputed to him any longer after he is saved. In simpler
terms: when you have been born again sin no longer can separate you from God in
a judicial sense; you will never go to Hell because you sin as a Christian. The
dynamics of the relationship one has with the Father alter once one is saved.
You are now a child of God and inherit His amazing promises about the
believer’s security in Christ, John 6:37; Romans 8:38-39; 1st Corinthians 3:15;
2nd Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; 2nd Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 13:5; 1st Peter 1:5; Jude
1:1, etc.
When we sin the Holy Spirit is grieved, and if we sin
enough we can silence Him and dull our conscience, Ephesians 4:30. We may
suffer the loss of all of our works, 1st Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:25-27; Hebrews
6:4-8; John 15:1-8. We may be called the least in Heaven and given a less
honorable place, Matthew 5:19; Luke 14:10-11.
We must focus on the word “seed” used in verse 9. We find
in a parable given by our Lord that Jesus states, “the seed is the word of God,”
Luke 8:11. James uses similar terminology when regarding the gospel of our
salvation when he writes, “receive with meekness the implanted word
(the gospel), which is able to save your souls,” James 1:21. The result
of hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ is our immediate salvation
and the reception of God’s Holy Spirit. “In [Jesus] you also trusted, after you heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed,
you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13. The
Greek word for “sealed” is “sphragizo” and means “to stamp for security and
preservation.” It also indicates a state of permanency. It is used thrice of
the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of New Testament believers after Pentecost,
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2nd Corinthians 1:22. The Holy Spirit of “promise”
indicates that the promise of our redemption in Christ (see 2nd Corinthians
1:22; 5:4-5) will be faithfully and fully realized in His time.
The idea of God’s seed remaining in us is one of
permanency. We cannot sin and provoke God in the sense that a penal action will
occur (i.e., we will forfeit our salvation and go the Hell) since His seed (His
promise that what He began He will finish, Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:2)
remains in us. To further clarify and remove confusion John adds that such a
one cannot sin since he is born of God. The usage of the word “cannot” is
interesting, since this suggests that Christians after all, cannot commit sin. At
least a superficial reading of the passage would suggest this. But we have
already sufficiently shown that Christians can sin after being born again. How
then does one reconcile this passage? Earlier John says Christians can sin (1st
John 2:1) and now he says anyone born again cannot sin! If you believe in
falling away this is a very hard passage to reconcile. But it is easy to
comprehend if you accept the Biblical teaching that Jesus died for the sin of
the world, and if God punished Christ in your stead to satisfy His justice then
He cannot punish the believer too. The issue of sin determining one’s eternal
destination was settled at the cross for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t die for our sins, He died to put sin (sin itself; the totality of
all sin ever to be committed) away by the sacrifice of Himself, Hebrews 9:26.
We are then left with the plausible and entirely Biblical
concept that believers cannot commit a sin that separates them eternally from
God ever again; though Christians can commit sin leading to the penalty of
physical death, James 5:20; 1st John 5:16; 1st Corinthians 11:30. Here is the
meaning of John’s statement that we do not sin because God’s seed remains in
us, and we cannot sin because we are born of God. The simplicity of grace
astounds us and is often resisted for fear of its implications. But the text,
left in its context, reveals the simple and wonderful truth that we are “kept
by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,” 1st Peter 1:5.
Great job, Ian. What a blessing the doctrine of Eternal Security is. What a curse it would be to live one's entire life never sure that one would make it to heaven. Isn't it funny how many who don't believe in it call it the "damnable Doctrine?"
ReplyDeleteIf there is one topic I could convincingly argue all into agreement over this might be it, dfish. It grieves me to no end that eternal security is passionately denied by not only RC's, but by orthodox, fundamental Christians. It's one reason why I write so frequently about it.
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