If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8–10)Another one shows up in the things that seem priorities. While Christians can fall into this trap too, it will fade away when confessed:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)For certain, the mark of a true Christian is not about church attendance but the way we live:
You may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. . . . Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.Righteous is demonstrated by love. “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” and “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Love is expressed in obedience. Those who know God have a rapport with one another, but those who are not are not very interested in what true Christians have to say.
While true Christians have the Spirit and confess that Jesus is the Son of God, this love is not always perfect. For that reason, He works to change our lives, and to cast out all fears so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
The Lord also works to change His children, giving them the ability to overcome the pull of the world by increased faith. If someone has new life, it is because they have Jesus.
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11–12)PRAY: This encourages me for I know several people who puzzle me with righteous living yet I’m not sure if they belong to You, Jesus. For this, You tell me if I see sin in others, I should pray for them: “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and You will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; and You do not say that I should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.” (1 John 5:16–17 personalized) Praying for others to grow in their faith is as important as praying that they have faith. May Your Spirit and Your will shine in the lives of all, particularly those that are a puzzle to me. Amen.
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