HOW TO STOP SINNING
No man therefore who dwells in him is a sinner; the sinner has not seen him and does not know him. 1 John 3:6, N.E.B.
We may approach today's text at least two different ways, depending on our understanding of the meaning of sin.
Some would approach it thinking, Now, sin is an act that I do, like eating too much supper or snapping at the kids. That means if I am abiding in Christ, I will always be temperate at supper time and always mellow with the children. If I do eat an extra spoonful of beans, however, of course, it means I have ceased to abide in Christ. Because of my failure, He has withdrawn from the friendship.
But the situation can also be understood in these terms: sin is, after all, living apart from Christ. It means that I have chosen to alienate myself from Him. So when I choose for Him to become the very center of my life and I resolve to be bonded to Him in loving fellowship, then I am no longer a sinner.
The difference between these two approaches is that the first focuses on sin as an act; the second sees sin in terms of relationship with a Person. But which one did John have in mind when He wrote the passage? The second part of the verse couldn't be more explicit: "the sinner has not seen him and does not know him." No wonder he is a sinner (one alienated from God); he doesn't know the One who wants to be his finest friend.
How, then, do you stop sinning? Do you concentrate real hard on how much you are eating? Do you bite your tongue when the children have pushed you up against the wall? Do you stand in dread of being judged by God as an inadequate friend? Or do you get to know the One whom to know is life eternal?
The exciting thing is that this second alternative is to one that really works in changing our actions. That close relationship, when maintained, does a great healing work in our hearts. Those who are made secure by God's unconditional love no longer need to defend their parental image by snapping at the kids. Having found real joy in union with Christ, they no longer need to seek cheap pleasure in overindulgence. The great principle By beholding we become changed (2 Cor. 3:18) has come to the aid of one fascinated with Jesus!
No man therefore who dwells in him is a sinner; the sinner has not seen him and does not know him. 1 John 3:6, N.E.B.
We may approach today's text at least two different ways, depending on our understanding of the meaning of sin.
Some would approach it thinking, Now, sin is an act that I do, like eating too much supper or snapping at the kids. That means if I am abiding in Christ, I will always be temperate at supper time and always mellow with the children. If I do eat an extra spoonful of beans, however, of course, it means I have ceased to abide in Christ. Because of my failure, He has withdrawn from the friendship.
But the situation can also be understood in these terms: sin is, after all, living apart from Christ. It means that I have chosen to alienate myself from Him. So when I choose for Him to become the very center of my life and I resolve to be bonded to Him in loving fellowship, then I am no longer a sinner.
The difference between these two approaches is that the first focuses on sin as an act; the second sees sin in terms of relationship with a Person. But which one did John have in mind when He wrote the passage? The second part of the verse couldn't be more explicit: "the sinner has not seen him and does not know him." No wonder he is a sinner (one alienated from God); he doesn't know the One who wants to be his finest friend.
How, then, do you stop sinning? Do you concentrate real hard on how much you are eating? Do you bite your tongue when the children have pushed you up against the wall? Do you stand in dread of being judged by God as an inadequate friend? Or do you get to know the One whom to know is life eternal?
The exciting thing is that this second alternative is to one that really works in changing our actions. That close relationship, when maintained, does a great healing work in our hearts. Those who are made secure by God's unconditional love no longer need to defend their parental image by snapping at the kids. Having found real joy in union with Christ, they no longer need to seek cheap pleasure in overindulgence. The great principle By beholding we become changed (2 Cor. 3:18) has come to the aid of one fascinated with Jesus!
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