“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
TEXT — 1 John 3:9-12
Message
Two theological students were walking along a street in the White chapel district of London, a section where old and used clothing is sold. “What a fitting illustration all this makes!” said one of the students as he pointed to a suit of clothes hanging on a rack by a window. A sign on it read: “SLIGHTLY SOILED – GREATLY REDUCED IN PRICE”. “That’s it exactly,” he continued. “We get soiled by gazing at a vulgar picture, reading a course book, or allowing ourselves a little indulgence in dishonest or lustful thoughts; and so when the time comes for our character to be appraised, we are greatly reduced in value. Our purity, our strength is gone. We are just part and parcel of the general, shop-worn stock of the world.” So it is today, once we get soiled in sin, our kingdom citizenship is removed.
In today’s passage, we see the conclusion of all that the apostle has been teaching right from the previous chapter, that anyone who continues to sin is “of the devil” (verse 8) and “is not of God.” In summary, Apostle John clearly describes righteousness and love as the two distinguishing characteristics of those who are born into the kingdom of God as contrasted with the children of the devil. This clearly refutes any doctrine that says that one can be out of fellowship with God, continue to sin, do the works of the devil, love the world, do harm to others and yet still be a child of God.
To become Kingdom citizens, we must be “born of God” through the Holy Spirit and receive the new life. Being born again is more than turning a new leaf or starting afresh; it is a rebirth, receiving a new identity based on Christ’s death on the cross. This makes us to be forgiven and totally accepted by God.
Thought for the day
Righteous living is the identity of Kingdom citizens.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Can you please stop matching the Daily Manna 🔗 with Higher Everyday Devotional and Sincere Milk? This has been on for a long time now! That is confusing.
God help me to live righteously at all times
Can you please stop matching the Daily Manna 🔗 with Higher Everyday Devotional and Sincere Milk? This has been on for a long time now! That is confusing.