"go And Sin No More" Series

“Go and Sin No More”

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Go and sin no more”? (John 5:14, 8:11).

I'm persuaded, “He said what He meant, and He meant exactly what He said.” There's no need to reason, to rationalize or to debate. Likewise, what did Jesus mean when He said, "Ye must be born again"? He meant, "You must be born again." (John 3:7). Furthermore, what did he mean when he said, "Abide in me"? (John 15:4).

Jesus was always concise with His instructions. Nevertheless, many Bible expositors would have us believe that "Sin No More" means something else, and that it's not possible to be sinless as Christians. But why would Jesus give instructions to do something that we are not capable of doing?

As Christians, we are empowered by His abiding presence, being daily transformed, into that same image of Christ who lived as a man among the multitudes and was yet without sin. He received His glorious body only after the resurrection. Until then He lived-- touched with the feelings of all our infirmities, and was in all points tempted as we are, yet He was without sin.

Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)

Our ability to live sinless lives grows from our steadfast abiding in Him. "In Him is no sin” and “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.” (1 John 3:5-6). “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps. Who did no sin…. (1 Peter 21-22)

Some have argued, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” But the scripture, read in context, continues…. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9). Once cleansed, we have an obligation to “Walk in the Spirit, so that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16).

Furthermore, Paul writes:

• "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1). Whatever the excuse for falling back into sin, “God forbids, how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2, 6:11, 6:18)

• “Let not sin therefore, reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lust thereof.” (Romans 6:12)

• Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin…” (Romans 6:13).

• “For sin shall not have dominion over you. (Romans 6:14).

"Awake to righteousness and sin not... (1 Corinthians 15:34).

When I was a child, my thoughts, actions and understanding were all childish--I lied, cheated, committed adultery, fornication, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envying murders, drunkenness, revelling, uncleanness, lasciviousness and such like. But when I became a man, (a new man--born again) I put away childish things. I'm now pressing toward the mark, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

However, "Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin…." (James 1:14-15). “It happened unto them (drawn away) according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (2Peter 2:22). Simply put, anyone going back to a life of sin is like a dog eating its vomit.

Like the Hebrew boys, we must take a stand against all sin. Refuse to bow. We must be determined to stand, regardless of the consequences we may face. For, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). “In all these things we are (not just conquerors, but) more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37).

Moreover, the scripture says “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (Hebrews 12:4). The truth is we give in too easily with excuses like the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We must stand for something or, we'll fall for anything. Now, where do you stand?

Others have argued that this was Paul’s struggle-- “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24) The answer to this question is in the very next verse, where Paul says, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord… and then he continues in Chapter 8:1. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”