Michael Jordan is one of the most notable basketball players in history. He 's retired now, but his name still gets brought up when people talk about great players. When he was playing professionally, he was always the first person to arrive at practice and the last person to leave. He always practiced the basics over and over again. He was a great player because he was someone who was devoted to practicing and there are similar stories about other great athletes. The only way someone gets great at something is by practicing. Even people who are said to have natural ability need to practice in order to grow and get better. In some ways the same is true for the Christian life. John says that everyone who practices sin is also practicing
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Is he saying that a person who is a Christian no longer sins? Is he saying that if we sin, we are not really Christians, not really saved? That is what it might sound like? If that is what John is talking about then, my guess is that no one reading this is saved. Would anyone say they no longer sin? Even though it might appear that that is what John is saying, it isn 't. Context is always key when reading the scriptures or anything else. Look at 1 John 1:8-2:1. In that text John makes it clear that anyone saying they have no sin is a liar. He then says in chapter two that if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father. John is not going to contradict himself within a few verses. The key to this text is the ongoing nature of sinning. John uses the word "practice" and says the one who "keeps on sinning" doesn 't know Jesus. This is John 's warning against a habitual lifestyle, a way of life. Anyone who practices sin, living a life of sin, doesn 't know God. This has nothing to do with the person who is in Christ and hates sin, renounces it and tries to live a sin free life. We should all want to live a life free of sin. We should all want to be sinless. Which is exactly what God wants and what John wants as well. Remember chapter two and verse one. John said, "I am writing to you that you might no sin". John isn 't addressing that person he 's addressing the person who says "Once saved always saved". The person who doesn 't care about their sin, who …show more content…
You need to practice on your own. Practice every day, not just wait till you get to the Karate school to practice. Do that and you won 't get very far. It takes practice. You have all heard the saying "practice makes perfect". That 's what we 're called to. Practice living like Jesus. Everyday not just on Sunday. You might think of the Sunday worship service like the Martial Art school. You go there for instruction and encouragement. To learn new things and be reminded of old things already learned, but then you need to practice. Every day we are called to practice righteousness. We want to be like Jesus. That 's what we want. The encouragement that John gives us is to say "keep doing that". Keep practicing being like Jesus. You and I able to live like Jesus because he empowers us to do it. It 's not because I 'm great or you 're great it 's because he 's great, because in him you have been born again, you have been given the Spirit to empower you to live a life devoted to God. Will we fail at times? Yes. But when we do, we turn to him to find forgiveness and renewed strength to carry on. Practice makes perfect. You keep practicing being like Jesus and he will one day make you
Is he saying that a person who is a Christian no longer sins? Is he saying that if we sin, we are not really Christians, not really saved? That is what it might sound like? If that is what John is talking about then, my guess is that no one reading this is saved. Would anyone say they no longer sin? Even though it might appear that that is what John is saying, it isn 't. Context is always key when reading the scriptures or anything else. Look at 1 John 1:8-2:1. In that text John makes it clear that anyone saying they have no sin is a liar. He then says in chapter two that if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father. John is not going to contradict himself within a few verses. The key to this text is the ongoing nature of sinning. John uses the word "practice" and says the one who "keeps on sinning" doesn 't know Jesus. This is John 's warning against a habitual lifestyle, a way of life. Anyone who practices sin, living a life of sin, doesn 't know God. This has nothing to do with the person who is in Christ and hates sin, renounces it and tries to live a sin free life. We should all want to live a life free of sin. We should all want to be sinless. Which is exactly what God wants and what John wants as well. Remember chapter two and verse one. John said, "I am writing to you that you might no sin". John isn 't addressing that person he 's addressing the person who says "Once saved always saved". The person who doesn 't care about their sin, who …show more content…
You need to practice on your own. Practice every day, not just wait till you get to the Karate school to practice. Do that and you won 't get very far. It takes practice. You have all heard the saying "practice makes perfect". That 's what we 're called to. Practice living like Jesus. Everyday not just on Sunday. You might think of the Sunday worship service like the Martial Art school. You go there for instruction and encouragement. To learn new things and be reminded of old things already learned, but then you need to practice. Every day we are called to practice righteousness. We want to be like Jesus. That 's what we want. The encouragement that John gives us is to say "keep doing that". Keep practicing being like Jesus. You and I able to live like Jesus because he empowers us to do it. It 's not because I 'm great or you 're great it 's because he 's great, because in him you have been born again, you have been given the Spirit to empower you to live a life devoted to God. Will we fail at times? Yes. But when we do, we turn to him to find forgiveness and renewed strength to carry on. Practice makes perfect. You keep practicing being like Jesus and he will one day make you