Be RealThe Pretenders

I John 3:1-10

• Contrast between counterfeit Christians - “children of the devil (I John 3:10) and God’s children– True child of God practices

righteousness and loves the brethren despite the differences• I John 1-2 deals with the fellowship• I John 3-5 deals with the sonship due to

being “born of God”

– To practice sin is to sin consistently and as a way of life• Not an occasional sin

– Abraham who lies (Gen 12: 10-20)– Moses lost his temper (Num 20:7-13)

– Peter who denied Jesus (Matt 26: 69-75)

• Unsaved lives a life of habitual sin• True Christian knows God while the

counterfeit Christian may talk about God and get involved in religious activities

• Reasons for holy life– God the Father loves us (3:1-3)

• God’s love for us is unique• Salvation begins with God’s love• I John 3:1 tells what we are while 3:2 tells

what we shall be• God’s love continues throughout our life & to

the return of Jesus Christ• I John tells us what we should be

– Relating to Christ’s return we should keep our lives clean

• Salvation is the expression of God’s love– The unbeliever sins against the law while the

Christian sin against love– Unbeliever sins against the Creator while the

believer sins as a child against the Father

• “The fear of the Lord” – not living in terror, but holding God in awe & reverence & not deliberately disobey God

– God the Son died for us (3:4-8)• Christ appeared to take away our sins (4-6)

– Sins» “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom 14:23» “The thought of foolishness is sin” Prov 24:9» “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,

and doeth it not, to him it is sin James 4:17

» “All unrighteousness is sin” I John 5:17» Sin as lawlessness I John 3:4» Sin as defilement I John 1:9-2:2» Sin as defiance I John 3:4-6

– Emphasis on sin, not sins» Sins are the fruit, sin is the root

– God’s love– “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we

keep his commandments” (I John 2:3)– “And whatsoever we ask of him, we receive of him,

because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (I John 3:22)

– “By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments” (I John 5:2)

– God’s children are free (Gal 5:1-6) and not to be lawless (I Cor 9:21)

– Sin is the mater of will; rebellion is the root of sin

• Abide in Him: identification with Him who is sinless

– In fellowship with Jesus– Sonship brings union while fellowship makes

communion with Jesus possible– “Whosoever abideth in him” does not practice sin

(3:6)

– God the Holy Spirit lives in us (3:9-10)• “Whosoever is born of God does not practice

sin”• Believer has a new nature within him• New standing: being acceptable as righteous

in God’s sight which is justification• New position: being set apart for God’s

purpose to live for His glory which is sanctification

• New nature by trusting Jesus and experiencing a new birth (5:1)

– “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:23)

– Spiritual parents: Word of God and the Holy Spirit– Saved by faith (Eph 2:8-9)– Faith by hearing (Rom 10:17)

• Christian has an old nature & new nature– Old nature New nature– “our old man” (Rom 6:6) “the new man” (Col

3:10)– “the flesh” (Gal 5:24)“the Spirit” (Gal 5:17)– “corruptible seed” “God’s seed (I John 3:9)

(I Peter 1:23)

• The old nature produces sin, while the new nature lead the person to a holy life

• Needs for both physical and spiritual – Food (Matt 4:4; Rom 13:14))– Cleansing (James 1:22-25; I John 1:9)

» Unconfessed sin, first step in backsliding» Invasion, yield, infection, gradual decline, loss

of appetite for spiritual things, lack of energy and interest, irritable, & finally collapse

» Remedy: confess & forsake and turn to Christ for cleansing & healing

– Exercise (I Tim 4:7); “exercise thyself… unto godliness”

» Balance» Inclusion of sharing Jesus with others, doing

good works, & helping to build other Christians» Temptations: “carried away” & “enticed”

(James 1:14)

» Yielding to sin: the mark of the children of the devil

» Deceiving God’s children thinking that a person can a Christian and practice sin (3:7)

» Old nature is not the body; the body is neutral (Rom 6:12-13)

• How to overcome the desires of the old nature?– Yield his body each day to God– Spending time in reading and studying God’s Word– Taking time to pray– Depending on the power of the Holy Spirit in the

inner man– If sinning, confess to God for forgiveness– Claiming God promise: There hath no temptaton

taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it>

• Sunday School teacher on two Adams• Look at 5 questions on page 118 and answer

honestly