1 John 2:1-6
Today's Passage: 1 John 2:1-6
1 John 2:1-6
In many ways, maturing in the Christian life can be summed up in finding the balance between a growing ability to put sin to death while also putting on and applying the truths of the gospel.
The more you grow to love God, the more you should hate sin. This is a good and right desire!
But your growth in hatred of sin should also be parallel to your love and satisfaction in the gospel.
This will guard you from:
What is the goal? “So that you may not sin…” (v. 1) But John realistically knows that you and I WILL sin (v. 2).
And so the question then becomes: “where do you turn when you sin?” Do you turn to Christ, who is the satisfaction of God’s wrath against sin? Or do you turn to yourself? Your own power? Your guilt and shame?
By God’s grace, let’s strive to keep God’s commandments as an overflow of the gospel and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Written By: Graham Withers
1 John 2:1-6
In many ways, maturing in the Christian life can be summed up in finding the balance between a growing ability to put sin to death while also putting on and applying the truths of the gospel.
The more you grow to love God, the more you should hate sin. This is a good and right desire!
But your growth in hatred of sin should also be parallel to your love and satisfaction in the gospel.
This will guard you from:
- Passivity toward sin. Love and satisfaction in the gospel should never lead to watering down sin.
- Phariseeism. Hating sin and seeking to put it to death in your own power, outside the gospel, is not the answer either. This is why, in verse 2, John reminds us that Jesus is the propitiation (appeasement) for our sin. The goal is not outward behavior modification or a pull yourself up by your bootstraps mentality, but seeing how an ever growing love for God and the gospel leads you to hating sin and putting it to death by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is the goal? “So that you may not sin…” (v. 1) But John realistically knows that you and I WILL sin (v. 2).
And so the question then becomes: “where do you turn when you sin?” Do you turn to Christ, who is the satisfaction of God’s wrath against sin? Or do you turn to yourself? Your own power? Your guilt and shame?
By God’s grace, let’s strive to keep God’s commandments as an overflow of the gospel and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Written By: Graham Withers
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