He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:8,9, NKJV.
Dear Heavenly Father, as we continue to look into Your Word, and learn more about Your will for our lives, we are very grateful that You, the Holy God, is willing to own us, sinful as we are, as Your children. You are willing to have us carry Your name. Now we pray that Your seed will remain in us and keep us from practicing sin. In the marvelous name of Jesus the Christ we humbly pray. Amen and Amen.
Continuing with the topic of sin and answer to prayers brings us to a rather interesting topic: our spiritual genealogy. Whose seed are we carrying around in our bodies? Our Scripture for today speaks of those who are of God and those who are of the devil. Notice the same type of distinction as in our text yesterday. One group practiced righteousness. The other group did not practice righteousness. There was no crossing of the lines. There were no gray areas.
There are those who practice sin, and those who do not practice sin, because God’s seed is in them. Today we have another element to add to our understanding of the matter: The new birth. Practices begin at birth. A baby cries, mom or someone else picks up baby. Baby stops crying. Later, baby begins to cry again. Someone picks up baby. Baby stops crying. Whenever baby has a need to be held what do you believe baby will do? Cry, of course. It has become a practice that brings the results baby enjoys. It becomes baby’s “way of life.”
In the case of someone who is born again (John 1: 12, 13; 3:3, 5-7), that person undergoes an entire change in his or her practices; their way of life. Prior to the born again experience comes repentance that is God-inspired: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4)? Repentance comes as an acknowledgement that our former behavior or practice was wrong. When we desire that change in behavior or practice, the same God who inspired the desire for change will now enable it: “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13. Emphasis provided).
Let us apply the formula. The Bible says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45. Emphasis provided). When one is born again he or she does not practice their own desires. Paul said that he had been put to death with Christ, and the life he now lived was not his own, but that of Christ who lived in him (two bodies cannot occupy the same space simultaneously). So if Christ is doing the living, practicing sin can no longer be your way of life! Herein is made manifest what seed we have within. It is seen by the lives we live; by what we say and do. When we speak our heart goes on exhibition, and we catch a glimpse of who is sitting on the throne.
Yesterday’s text said that “if [we] regard iniquity in [our] heart the Lord will not hear.” Perhaps it is now clearer why God does not answer some prayers. The evil treasure (practices) of our hearts send forth only evil. When God destroyed the antediluvian world, it was because “every intent of the thoughts of [humankind’s] heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5b). God did not tolerate evil then. He is the same God today. He has no delight in answering prayers that are evil in content that proceed from the evil treasure of our hearts. God loves the sinner, but He hates the sin.
And yet He is a God who delights in mercy. I am sure He wants to answer our prayers. May we determine that by God’s grace we will not allow anything to hinder the answer to our prayers.
Tomorrow we will look at the other side of the story.