Keeping Ourselves From Sin

Martin Luther said, “Nothing is more familiar or characteristic among Christians than assertion. Take away assertions, and you take away Christianity.” Martin Luther must have read 1st John, because John claims we can “know” Biblical truth. And once we’re sure of our salvation, John presents three more things we can “know” for certain;

The first, from 1st John 5:18 is, “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’ve covered this several times. Remember? The verb tenses indicate a habitual, continuous action. Christians can and do sin. But when we fall into sin, we can’t stay there forever. Our new birth brings new behavior.

Why is that? The answer is in the verse: “He who has been born of God keeps himself.” That puts the responsibility squarely on us. We are to keep ourselves out of sin. God expects that of us.

But, you know, even though the KJV states it this way, some of the other modern translations change the “himself” to “him,” changing it so it says that Christ keeps us. You know what? Both are true. It’s a joint effort. Which is the better translation? I don’t know.

In John 10:28, Jesus said: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Jesus is the one who keeps us.

Then, in John 10:29 he says, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” There is absolute safety in God’s hands. It isn’t up to us to keep ourselves, Jesus will do that. And yet, other places put the responsibility on us. So I guess we have to cooperate with God.