Dear children,do not let anyone lead you astray.The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
1 John 3.7-8
Ponder this remarkable situation with me. If the Son of God cam to help you stop sinning--to destroy the devil's work--and if he also came to die to that, when you sin, there is a propitiation, a removal of God's wrath, then what does this imply for your life? Three things, and they are wonderful blessings. Think of them like presents.
1. A Clear Purpose for Living
Jesus coming to destroy sin gives you a clear purpose for living. Negatively, it is stated the way: "I write this to you so that you will not sin" (1 John 2.1). "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work" (1 John 3.8).
This is all summed up positively in 1 John 3.23: "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." These things are so closely connected for John that he calls them one commandment: believe Jesus and love others. That is you purpose. This is the sum of the Christian life. Trust Jesus, love people. This is the first gift Jesus offers: a purpose to live.
2. Hope That Our Failures Will Be Forgiveness
Now consider the second implication of the twofold truth that Christ came to destroy our habits of sin and to forgive our sins: We make progress in overcoming our sin when we have hope that our failures will be forgiven. If you don't have hope that God will forgive your failures, then you will give up the moment you sin.
Many of you are pondering some changes in the new year because you have fallen into sinful patterns and want out. You want some new patterns of eating. New patterns for entertainment. New patterns of giving. New patterns of relating to your spouse. New patterns of sleep and exercise. New patterns of courage in witness. But you are struggling, wondering whether it's any use. Well, here's you second Christmas present: Christ not only came to destroy the works of the devil--our sinning--he also came to be an advocate for us when we fail in our fight.
But beware! If you turn the grace of God into license, and say, "Well, if I can fail, and it doesn't matter, then why bother fighting?"--if you say that, and mean it, and go on acting on it, you are probably not born again and should tremble.
But that is not where most of you are. Most of you want to fight sinful patterns in your life. And what God is saying to you is this: Let the freedom to fail give you hope to fight. I write this to you that you might not sin, but if you sin you have an advocate, Jesus Christ.
3. Supernatural Help in the Fight Against Sin
Finally, the third implication of the double truth that Christ came to destroy our habits of the sin and to forgive our sins in this: He will really help us in our fight. He is on our side. Jesus didn't come to destroy sin because sin is fun, he came to destroy sin because it is fatal. It is a deceptive work of the devil and will destroy us if we don't fight it. He came to help us, not hurt us.
So here's your third Christmas gift: Christ will help overcome sin in you. First John 4.4 says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Jesus is alive, Jesus is almighty, Jesus lives in us by faith. And Jesus is for you, not against you. He will help you. Trust him.
This is an excerpt from 'Joy to the World-Daily Readings for Advent' by John Piper.
Comentarios