Sinning Saint

 

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know  that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him.  If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he  should pray and God will give him life.  I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.  I am not saying that he  should pray about that.  All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.  We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."  I John 5:13-18

 

This is one of those touchy verses that we often like to glide over without really taking in its meaning.  This is a bottom-line verse of Scripture.  If a person has received Christ, they  do not continue to sin. 

 

I have known non-believers who have lived by a higher moral code than some "Christians."  This is not how it is supposed to be!  Being a  "sinning saint" was never what God intended for his children.   His will is that Christians walk blameless in a sin-darkened world.  And in so doing, we shine His light in the world.

 

Now you may be wondering if I am claiming that I no longer sin.  Oh, how I wish that were true! But I fail and fall short too many times to count.  So what does this verse mean?  Once we are born again, we receive the Spirit of God.   He comes to live inside of us and give us the grace and strength  to live a victorious Christian life.  But, unfortunately, until we are joined with God in heaven, we will continue our battle with our "flesh."  The flesh is the carnal man, the part of us that always seems to tug us away from God's best for our life.

 

Christians should endeavor at all times to walk in a way that is above reproach.  Our thoughts, speech, manner of conduct, relationships, how we handle our finances, all of it, should be governed by the Holy Spirit.  Every second of every day we should endeavor to  live out the Word of God  in our lives. Because we are human, we are not capable of getting it right all of the time.  But we can work to keep our hearts right.  When the heart is right, the rest follows suit.  A Christian should not have a lifestyle of sin, but rather a lifestyle  of obedience.  I believe Joyce Meyer said it best, "When I was a sinner, I was a full-time sinner.  Sometimes I messed up and did it right.  Now that I am a believer, I am a full-time believer, and sometimes I mess up and sin."  See the difference?  A Christian's slip ups should be the exception, not the rule. Habitual sin has no place  in the life of one of God's children.  When we sin, we must be quick to confess it to God; repent (or turn away from it); and get up and try again to get right back on track with God's plan.

 

Are there areas of your life that you continually make room for sin?  If so, beware!  The enemy of  your soul is at work in your life.  If you no longer feel conviction when you sin, you are not walking in the Spirit!   Do you constantly gossip?  Have fits of anger?  Do you often curse?  Do you watch pornography?  Reflect on today's verse and ask the Lord to show you if you have areas of your life that he is not Lord over.

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Dear Lord, show me any areas of my heart that I have not brought under your Lordship.  Help me to live a life worth of you.  I confess the sin of ____, and ask you to help me to not do it anymore.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Sherri