“…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 3:9
You can’t get much clearer than that: “cannot”. Too many professing “Christians” are just plainly not “reborn from above”. They are not really saved. They are into habitual sin, as John says here, “habitually [live a life characterized by] sin”.
They have not yielded their will to God. They are holding back. Like with the rich young ruler to whom Jesus said, “You lack one thing….” (Mark 10:21)
Many “of faith” have a repentance that is in word only – for they cling to their sins instead of yielding to God. That is why John wrote “habitually sin” juxtaposed with “born again”. 1 John 3:9:
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 3:9
“No one” means: not-one-person. No matter who you happen to be…
you can’t get to heaven, you are not “born of God” — if you are “deliberately, knowingly, and habitually” keeping sin as an accepted, active part of your life. Ain’t happenin’, John says.
Our holy, holy, holy God cannot accept a heart that is reserving a place for rebellion against Him. God hates sin. He loves the sinner, but we must come to Him without holding back.
All Christians will be tempted. Jesus was tempted, just as we are. Temptation is not a sin. We all struggle with some areas of living – fighting the temptation to give-in to “the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Yes, Christians in Christ do fall for sin. Till death we are fighting it and struggling against it…. That is not the sin of 1 John 3:9. In our struggles we get stronger, we get better at it, learn maturity. See: Being faithfull – Little by Little
James 1: verses 2-4. 2 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
On the other hand, those who sin and accept the sin, those who “practice sin” as if it is righteous, (“deliberately, knowingly, and habitually”), did not ever get “God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character]… in him” (or her).
That planting of the seed of God (getting born again from above) only happens with sincerity and truth. No two-faced people of faith in heaven.
Source: See the OMGjesus article Sincerity and truth
He hates it, absolutely, when we relate to Him without truth and sincerity.
If I pray to Jesus, but fail to make His ways – my ways, then how true was my “confession” and my promise to follow Him? How sincere was my “repentance”? How true? How sincere? I’d say: not at all! It’s not honest, not sincere – at all.
Do you say, “I am a person of faith”? What faith do you actually follow? Faith without resultant action that evidences that faith – is a fake faith, dead faith, useless – not real. Jesus does not save people of dead faith.
He hates it, absolutely,
when we relate to Him without truth and sincerity.
No person but Jesus can know this, nor say this about you. They cannot see deep inside your insides. But look at yourself:
You can have all the faith you can handle – but if your faith is not resulting in obedience to Jesus (James 2:14), then, well, it means you are the one The Judge will say on Judgement Day,
- Matthew 7:23-24 “23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
- Luke 13:27 I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.
Those who “practice sin” as if it is righteous…
did not ever get “God’s seed… in him” (or her).
From the OMGjesus article: Before a good cup a’ Joe:
Repenting is: yielding your will to God in sincerity and truth
“Salvation is all about the penalty of sin, and what God requires of us to be made free of the penalty. It’s not about how much you’ve sinned, or how much you sin after salvation. God requires sincerity and truth.
The faker, false inside his soul, was never born again and has yet to yield the knee. Still lost and broken, the faker “christian” is a hollow suit, not who he claims to be. His issue is not “sin” or “sins”. The issue for all who birthed from a womb, is: yielding your will to God in sincerity and truth. (See both: Galatians 6:7-8; 1 Corinthians 5:8)
God wants all of me, not some fraction. And fakers fake, giving fractions. At least the transparent Godless sinner is honest about being a sinner! The faker is, well, the biggest loser in the end… because he/she “thought” they were just fine.” – From the OMGjesus article: Before a good cup a’ Joe
If we have been sincere and truthful in our repentance with God, then our life will surely show it.
in the one and only God,
but then observe you
complacently sitting back
as if you had done something wonderful?
That’s just great. Demons do that,
but what good does it do them?
Do you suppose for a minute
that you can cut faith and works in two
and not end up with
a corpse on your hands?”
– James 2:20
The Message version
Your “works” are who you are
Your words are not who you are. Your “works” are who you are. A craftsman actually works his craft. Do you reflect Christ through what you are:
Your actions…
Your non-action, refusals to act…
What you do with your family and friends and neighbors, and what you do not do…
What you do at your job…
How you treat the homeless, the mistreated and those “different” from you, and what you do not do…
How you love your neighbor, and what you do not do…
How you vote, for good or for evil, for what is of God or what is not…
What political issues you support or work on-behalf-of, for what is of God or what is not.
It’s not like as if your “works” are going to save you. They don’t. But if your works do not reflect Christ — then your faith is dead, and you were never saved at all.
If you are not conforming to Christ, then you maybe just might not be “of Him”. Does that not make you tremble and fear? – Source: Following Someone
Are you truly born again? Or are you just lookin’ like it? That will never work with God. He knows your thoughts.
No two-faced people of faith in heaven.
FOR MORE:
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