Today, Friday August 6
“God’s Seed Abides in Us”
1 John 3:9-10 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
John makes it very clear here in God’s Word that we who call ourselves Christians should live holy lives that reflect the character of God to the world around us. Peter said the same thing in his first epistle. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)
For many of us this seems impossible as we personally every day deal with the temptations in our flesh and from the world. But is not only possible, it is a reality that can be experienced because of a miracle that takes place at the moment of our salvation. “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning” (v. 9)
Why? Because we have a new nature within us, and that new nature cannot sin. John calls this new nature, God's "seed." When we receive Christ as our Savior, tremendous spiritual changes take place in us. We are given a new standing before God, being accepted as righteous in God's sight. This new standing is called "justification." It never changes and is never lost.
As a new Christian we also are given a new position: we are set apart for God's own purposes to live for His glory. This new position is called "sanctification," and it has a way of changing from day to day. On some days we are much closer to Christ and obey Him much more readily.
But perhaps the most dramatic change in a new believer is what we call "regeneration." We are "born again" into the family of God. Justification means a new standing before God, sanctification means being set apart to God, and regeneration means a new nature—God's nature (2 Peter 1:4). The only way to enter God's family is by trusting Christ and experiencing this new birth. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1).
Physical life produces only physical life; spiritual life produces spiritual life. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Christians have been born again, "not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23). A Christian's "spiritual parents," so to speak, are the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to convict of sin and to reveal the Savior.
We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). In the miracle of the new birth, the Holy Spirit imparts new life—God's life—to a believing sinner, and as a result the individual is born into the family of God. Just as physical children bear the nature of their parents, so God's spiritual children bear His nature. The divine "seed" is in us. We can live a changed life! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
It is my prayer today that this great truth will be a reality in your life!
God bless!