Lying in Evil or Living in Authenticity

I John 5:18-21

Polycarp was a disciple of John. When he was an old man, he was arrested for being a Christian. As the story goes, when the soldiers came to arrest him, he welcomed them into his home. He served them refreshments and then asked permission to spend some time in prayer. Then he willingly went with the soldiers. When on trial he was ordered to recant his faith, he responded, "Eighty and six years have I served Christ, nor has He ever done me any harm. How, then, could I blaspheme my King who saved Me?....I bless Thee for deigning me worthy of this day and this hour that I may be among Thy martyrs and drink the cup of my Lord Jesus Christ." He went to the stake to be burnt, but it seemed the fire would not touch him. He sang a hymn while the fire danced around him until someone ran him through with a spear. Many Christians have been executed with fire, but that is the worst we may fear; unlike those who martyr us.

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We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

I John 5:18-21

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In this present life, we have to contend with two natures. There is what the Bible refers to as the flesh, which is our sin nature. Then there is our new nature, the spirit, which we receive when we are born again. That new nature is the one that does not sin. John is not contradicting himself here. In this life we have to train our bodies to obey the new nature, rather than the old nature that we are accustomed to following.

Notice the end of verse 18. John wants us to know that the "wicked one" does not touch us. A Christian cannot be possessed by Satan or his demons. They cannot cause us harm. We may be lured into sin by them, but they can never physically attack us. When the Holy Spirit moves into a believer, He puts up a "No Vacancy" sign. He will not dwell with Satan or his followers.

I'm not sure why the translators of the NKJV (the translation above) chose to change verse 19. The Greek literally says that the world lies in wickedness or evil like the KJV translated it. All one needs do is look at the world around us objectively and you can see that the world is far more than swayed by evil. They have made their bed in evil, and they are more than content to lie in it. Christians on the other had must "know" that they are "of God". We are different, and that must show.

Jesus came and gave us understanding of who He calls us to be. We are to know Him because He is truth. The Greek word translated "true" here is the word from which we get our word "authentic". Jesus is the real thing, unlike Satan who is a counterfeit, imposter, and imitator. It is Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross that paid the price for our sins, that allows us to be in the Father. We can be in His presence, in fellowship with Him, and in His family as children.

While the last verse seems out of sync with the rest of this passage, it actually fits perfectly. In the pagan world of John's time, idol worship was a part of everyday life. There was a temptation to return to that which was familiar. John is telling his readers to leave their old life behind them. Do not look back. As Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). May we remember who we are in Christ, what He saved us from, and who He has called and equipped us to be!

Father, sometimes we lose focus of eternity and get drawn into the things of this world. Things that are not real in light of eternity. Help us to remember what is authentic. May our lives be found in You, and may we be fully dedicated to living for Jesus.