Don’t Be Led Astray Series

Don’t be led astray

1 John Bible Study, Part 7

1 John 3:3-10

Introduction

- John refers to the world suddenly not knowing who we are anymore (v1-3)

-- Well, this is actually NOT the first time that this happened in scripture

-- John 1:10-11, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

- The word know/recognize is really the word “dechomai”; means to receive

-- Why is this important? They didn’t recognize because they didn’t accept Him

-- Therefore, if they reject Him, why would they not reject … HIS CHILDREN!

- In the midst of John’s praise of God, he gives us a morsel to really chew on

-- We are children of God; even though we do not know everything about God

- “But we know that when Christ appears …” when He appears we will know

- Read 1 John 3:1-10 / Pray

∆ Point 1 – Our hope is Christ

- Our only hope in life that we strive to be pure, just as Christ is

-- John’s words of encouragement lead us to self-examination as well as hope

-- We have hope in Christ, that He is all that we ever need, so our focus is Him

- John then continues with these short statements he has been making (v4)

-- Breaking the Law is sin, period. There is no way around this.

-- Re: The word sin in Greek is the word “hamartia”

-- It is an archery word which means to shoot at a target and miss

- Sin leads us down roads that we never intended, but nevertheless we are there

-- There is no “good for everything” biblical definition for sin

- Proverbs 24:9, “The schemes of folly are sin”

- Romans 14:23, “everything that does not come from faith is sin”

- 1 John 5:17, “All wrongdoing is sin”

- What John says is that ALL sin is lawlessness; it is against God

-- Sin is the willful opposition to what God has decreed is good, or right

- Paul acknowledges this also in 2 Thess 2:3-4, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

- Sin has to be dealt with in our lives, regardless of how old we are

-- This is why v5 is so pivotal … “you know that He appeared … take away sin”

-- In Christ, there is no sin – He is perfect and Holy; it’s Him we must follow

- Now, look at v6 … “no one who lives in Him keeps on sinning”

-- And he adds: “No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him”

-- APP: This normally causes alarm to the Biblical reader, doesn’t it?

- Important note: I found MANY commentaries about what this section means

-- Many authors have taken cracks at it and many come to different conclusions

-- For me … I take it as face value which prayerfully … I present to you here

- Now, let’s get some obvious things out on table:

• We know that we have sinned

• We know that we still wrestle with sin in our lives

- John has already identified that we sin several times (1:8-2:1; 5:16-17)

-- So, what are we to do with these verses in our lives? How do they apply?

- First, we must identify that we are sinners, but not without hope

- Second, we may continue to sin (sometimes habitually and repeatedly)

- However, the phrase “keeps on sinning” shows us something unique

-- It shows us that within us we KNOW when we are to stop the behavior

-- But will we not adapt the negative, wanton lifestyle of sin, the Bible speaks of?

- Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

- Remember the context of this letter: to correct false doctrine by Gnostics

-- John’s reminder is to call them to live above sin … identify and live above

-- Therefore, no one who really knows Christ continues without knowing it

- Most sin because they have no idea who He is; and frankly don’t want to know