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Heed the scathing words of the Apostle of love. ìHe who sins is of the devil.î 1 John 3:8 NKJV He then made it very clear that those who are born of God, do not commit sin. 1 John 3:9 Thus, we have a standard of righteousness established whereby we may determine our goal for a life in Christ. Every spiritual work accomplished in the person who has come to Christ is a step toward that new life which is to be found in the Lord Jesus. We are to be new creatures, not a make over of the old, in Christ Jesus. The old life becomes obnoxious when we begin that new life in Christ. The old life, the life of sin is to perish, to die, to pass away. To develop the new life is to become the dominant desire and drive of those born of God. 2 Cor. 5:17
Living for Christ becomes difficult only when we are double minded. Wanting the things of the Lord but at one and the same time desiring the beggarly elements of this world, will create an unstable Christian life. Again it is the Apostle of love, John who in a straight forward manner established a distinct separation between the things of the Lord and the things of this world. Emphatically he proclaimed that if a person loves this world the love of the Father is not in him. There is very definitely no compromise in such a statement. We are not left wondering just exactly what his meaning might be. 1 John 2:15 Then, just so that none reading his letter would be left wondering about the point which he was making, he defined what the scriptures mean by the ìworld.î 1 John 2:16
John listed three categories under which all sin may be gathered. The lust of the flesh. Those things which satisfy the natural, carnal man. A burning desire to participate illegitimately in actions which are contrary to a clean life. It is the craving of the carnal man until he is able to satisfy that burning desire, usually when he has taken action of some kind. The strange thing about sin, is that it never satisfies. The desire is not quenched. Those participating must move on to the next opportunity to try to satisfy that inward craving. The lust of the eyes. How often it is stated, I must have that. They see, they crave and then there is a strong drive in the heart to acquire that which is lusted after. The pride of life. A subject covering almost every element of the nature of mankind. Pride was the downfall of that beautiful creature called Lucifer. Pride will control every portion of the life of those who fall victim to its deadly influence. Where any or all of these three are in any measure of control there is a need for cleansing and freedom from their influence. 1 John 2:16.