July 5, 2009, 1 John 3:4-10
July 5..."The Truth about Sin" 1 John 3:4-10
Icebreaker: What is a good habit that you have developed in the last year?
Sin is redefined, denied and ridiculed. For many believers sin is like a wart on the nose; they learn to accept it as a habit, or one of their imperfections. But what's the truth about sin?
1 John 3:4-10
4Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
John teaches through this passage that sin is totally inconsistent with life that belongs to God.
What four reasons does John give in this passage that shows true Christians cannot habitually practice sin?
In this passage the word practice occurres six times. Read John 15:4-7 and describe the relationship between "remaining" and "practicing". What is the contradiction between belonging to God and sinning as a way of life?
According to this passage, has genuine salvation occurred in the life of someone who habitually sins? Would this apply to addicts as well? See Colossians 3:10, Romans 7:6
How might Romans 8:17 speak to those with addictions?
Brotherly love is important to God. Is it likely that someone who habitually sins looks out for the needs of others? What habits might be getting in the way of you demonstrating brotherly love to others?