Over the past 3 days, I have been reflecting on the subject of dealing with sin in the new birth. Today is probably a close on this series of reflection, but the beginning of the deep conviction in my heart of God's blessed assurance and redemption. How then, shall a born again Christian deal with sin in their lives?
The answer can be found clearly in 2 key points of John's teachings through the letter in 1 John. The following are them:
1) John warns against hypocrisy (claiming to be born again when your life contradicts it)
2) John celebrates the Advocacy and Propitiation of Christ for sinners.
There are 2 ends of the spectrum of which a born again Christian may live in. One end is in presumptuous frame of mind about one's sinfulness and/or indifference towards righteous, holy living. The other end is in fear and discouragement or even despair of one's love for the people and the fight against sin that are never good enough.
The response to the first end of the spectrum (Presumption) is that when the born again Christian experiences the presumptuous frame of mind, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Word ("No one born of God makes a practise of sinning") - 1 John 3:9 pours cold water on the person, awakening him to the perils of his condition, propelling him to run to the Advocate and Propitiation begging for mercy, forgiveness and righteousness. Confession of sin ensues and the union of His relationship with the Advocate is restored, His hatred for sin is strengthened and the Joy of the Lord is bestowed.
The response to the other end of the spectrum (Despair) is that when the born again Christian experiences such hopeless inadequacy and total inability in the fight against sin, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Word ("My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, but if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous") - 1 John 2:1 tenderly comforts the person, bringing an unsurpassed peace of mind in the Righteous Advocate who stands in his behalf as his righteousness, rescuing him from despair.
The new birth in the Born again Christian empowers him to use the Word helpfully and redemptively! The Holy Spirit within each Christian discerns the proper use of Scripture to redeem the person from both entangling ends of the spectrum.
The new birth does not make use of the Word "We have an Advocate..." to justify one's cavalier indifference to continue to live in sin, neither does it use the Word "No one born of God makes a practise of sinning" to stampede and crush the spirit in despair.
May God the Redeemer, grant us all the spiritual discernment to use His Word helpfully and redemptively! To the glory of His Holy Name! Amen!
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