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FREEDOM FROM HABITUAL SIN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21
1 John 5:18-21
Jude 20-23
 
“… building up yourselves on your most
holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”
 
FREEDOM FROM HABITUAL SIN
 
Faith in Christ and holiness to God is the point the Apostle was stressing in the epistle. He closed with these warnings on sin because sin can spoil all the efforts that had been made to follow God. He qualified believers as those who were begotten of God, and they keep themselves that the wicked one may not touch them. James defined the expected holiness in these words: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). John also agreed with this exhortation to keep one away from habitual sin.
 
Here is a comment from Barnes: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not – Is not habitually and characteristically a sinner; does not ultimately and finally sin and perish; cannot, therefore, commit the unpardonable sin. Though he may fall into sin, and grieve his brethren, yet we are never to cease to pray for a true Christian: we are never to feel that he has committed the sin which has never forgiveness, and that he has thrown himself beyond the reach of our prayers. This passage, in its connection, is a full proof that a true Christian ‘will’ never commit the unpardonable sin, and, therefore, is a proof that he will never fall from grace.
 
Keepeth himself – It is not said that he does it by his own strength, but he will put forth his best efforts to keep himself from sin, and by divine assistance he will be able to accomplish it.
 
And that wicked one toucheth him not – The great enemy of all good is repelled in his assaults, and he is kept from falling into his snares.”
 
 Always remember the cleanliness that God expects of our hearts.
 
THOUGHT: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
PRAYER: “Wash me throughly… and cleanse me from my sin.”

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