“The New Birth and New Love”

I John 3:4-10

Assurance of Salvation and the Actuality of Sin
The one who is born of God does not and cannot sin (v. 6, 9).
How are we to reconcile our experience with Scripture?
It is the habitual practice of sin that we do not and cannot do.
The emphasis is not on perfection but direction or trajectory.

Towards A Right Understanding of Sin
We tend to minimize our sin by comparison to others.
We tend to define sin in terms of how it impacts others.
But sin is primarily an offense against God (Psalm 51:4).
When the Bible talks about sin, it never leaves us hopeless.
It always points us to the Savior who knew no sin but became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Purpose of Christ’s Coming
Christ came to take away sins (v. 5).
The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil (v. 8).
Jesus accomplished these things through the cross.
Seeing and knowing Jesus as He is transforms our lives (v. 6).
The power of God’s seed produces life and love.

God’s Grace and the Goal of Grammar
To bring about transformation by the power of God’s Word
Participle: A form of a verb that can be used as an adjective.
“The one doing sin” (v. 4, 8); “The one abiding in Him” (v. 6)
“The one sinning” (v. 6); “The one doing righteousness” (v. 7)
“The one having been born of God” (v. 9)
“The one not doing righteousness” (v. 10)
“The one not loving his brother” (v. 10)
Doing confirms being.
Christ has come in the flesh, so what we do in the flesh matters.

The New Birth Brings New Life and New Love
When we were dead, Christ made us alive (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13).
Don’t throw people back on themselves.
You are what you love: The expulsive power of a new affection
Admit your helplessness.
Pray for God’s help.
Trust that God will help.
Act accordingly by God’s grace.
Thank God for any and all progress.