Family Resemblance

I John 3:4-9

When I was 19 years old, I moved back home after a year of college. I would work during the day and then spend the afternoon at my parents' house. At times I would answer their phone and often the voice on the other side would say "Tommy..." I would stop them and say, "No, this is Justin". I liked the fact that people mistook me for my dad. That meant that I sounded like him and not like a boy anymore. That being said, I did not want to get stuck on the phone taking his phone calls. I liked the fact that there was a close resemblance to my dad.

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Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 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.

I John 3:4–9

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John is contrasting two different families here. The word "commits" in the Greek has the idea of continual or habitual action, as opposed to a one time action. John is telling the reader that anyone who continues in sin is living in lawlessness. On the other hand, Jesus was manifested (became flesh) to take away our sins. There are two different families contrasted here. There are those who are of their father the devil, and those who have been born again into the family of God.

The key to not sinning is abiding in Jesus. This is not just that we are saved and the Holy Spirit lives within us. To abide in Christ means to have close communion with Him constantly. This requires regular Bible study, meditation, and prayer without ceasing.

Those who continually live in sin (v. 6b) have not seen Jesus, nor do they know Him. If Jesus takes away our sin, we will not continue in habitual sin. This is not saying that we will never sin. As Christians, when we do sin there is conviction and correction. Because of our new nature, we cannot enjoy living in sin. That which violates God's law and His holiness makes our redeemed spirit uncomfortable, and the Holy Spirit living within us lets us know He does not like it.

Those that do righteous works do so because Jesus has saved them and because He has foreordained that we should do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Those who live lawless lives are of the devil. They do exactly what he does. When we who have been born again abide in Christ, we will not sin. We will act like our Father. We will have the family resemblance. So, which family do we resemble?

Father, thank You for the Salvation that comes through Jesus. Thank You that salvation includes being made to look more and more like Jesus. I pray that we would not fight this process. Our flesh desires to keep living, but we are told to "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13). Help us to look like Your children and to make You proud.