I received a question this week that I’m going to break into three parts.
- Explain 1 John 3, given that we believe in Eternal Security.
- Explain the modern prodigals who once walked the straight and narrow.
- What can we who remain, do?
1 John 3
1 John is a great book, but it’s best understood as John’s defense of the faith in light of early heresy. In Chapter 1, we see John arguing against a teaching that said believers had no sin. And here in John 3, we see him arguing against a teaching that believers could revel in sin. Unfortunately, the way Greek works, the word for “sin”, hamartia (ἁμαρτία), is simply modified to indicate tense and in English we just have the one word. So unless a translation is willing to add a bunch of words, it’s hard to even pick up John’s meaning. (The person who sent me this question instinctively added “ongoing” to the word sin and she was dead on!) Believe it or not, the Amplified does a really good job of honoring John’s Greek.
“No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him. Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.”
1 John 3:6-9 AMP
So John is talking about pretenders who want to have their cake and eat it too. He is saying “no”, if you were really abiding, if God’s seed were really in you, you could not live this way on purpose – you couldn’t embrace this worldly lifestyle! John was arguing against hedonist Gnostic false teachers trying to slip into the church. He was not talking about Christians who trip up on day to day life as they abide.
Abiding is the sub-text for believers. If one is truly justified, but living like the devil then that person is not abiding and is to be treated like an unbeliever. (1 Cor 5)
Prodigals
If it hasn’t happened to your family, it’s most assuredly happened to a family you know. Adult children, who professed faith as kids, who were active in church, active in Bible clubs, may have served or gone on missions trips, suddenly walk away. Some drift away, others slam the door, but in either case you are left wondering: (a) Are they going to heaven when they die? and, (b) what can I do?
- This is an easy-peasey question to answer, theologically, and a horrible question to answer regarding an individual. Theologically, if a person believes in Jesus for their eternal life there is nothing they can do to become unsaved because it’s no longer up to them. They are already seated in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6); God has reserved their inheritance there as well (1 Peter 1:3-5); He has sealed them with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14) and perfected them once for all (Heb 10:10-14)! Individually, however, only God knows what went on in their heart. Is it possible some kids were insincere in their faith claims? Or are they carnal/fleshly like the people Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; not abiding in Christ (John 15; 1 John), but living like the world. Surely there wouldn’t be so much instruction to the church against worldly living if it weren’t possible? God knows, I’m not sure how we can know – especially from a distance.
- So we can pray. In 1 John 5:14-16, we are told to pray for the strays. There is a place for intervention (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20), but if these are in your family; I’ve no doubt you have intervened ad infinitem. Praying is your assignment now, as it is mine.
Actions/Mindset
As we watch “believers” say and do things that we don’t think “believers” should say and do, we are bothered on so many levels! We can stumble into sin ourselves, or feel offended, or feel confused. What can we read and how should we be thinking?
If they are within the church, I recommend that we study Romans 14 (cf. 1 Cor 8). Both parties who were at odds over meat offered to idols had biblically based convictions.* It’s very easy to be blinded by our own very strong convictions, even if others are valid too!
If they are outside the church, our only concern should be seeing them come to faith. Pray to that end and if you get, or can create the opportunity, share the truth of Christ.
Of course, we live in a very connected world and many are aware through friends and through social media of the lives of those who fall somewhere in the middle. They aren’t part of our local church, they do claim to be Christians, but their choices don’t seem to be on the “idol meat” spectrum. My suggestion is that we look at Matthew 18:15-35. That passage, Jesus’ own words, leave us with two choices. We can confront or forgive. He doesn’t give us permission to discuss, fuss, or start a new Facebook group. We can either take an active role in confronting the sin we see or we can forgive it. In most of these cases the sinner wasn’t sinning against us anyway.
Let’s be careful to take it to God; I’m mindful of the “scene” captured by Luke as Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time. He looked out over the City and wept for it! God understands our grief, Jesus experienced it as a human!
Pastor Scott
* I have judged more than one Christian School debate wherein the topic assigned was “can a Christian drink alcohol in moderation?” I, personally, side with the teetotallers, and we can make a great biblical case; everything from mastery (1 Cor 6:12) to clear headedness (Proverbs 31:4-5). Of course the pro-side has a few verses on their side too, like Jesus’s first public miracle (John 2) and Paul’s advice to young Timothy to stop being a teetotaller (1 Tim 5:23). Who’s the stronger brother and who’s the weaker brother? Perhaps the one who fails to love the other? (1 John 4:7-21)
Stop Gossiping! I know Pastor Jack is more Charismatic than us, it’s his point not his position I’m promoting
Grace Notes 