Introduction:
Dr. Henry Clay Morrison a Methodist Evangelist , editor, and president of Asbury College taught the doctrine of holiness, and it was said that he came closer to practicing it than most folks do. Someone once said jokingly to Dr. Morrison, “Dr. Morrison have you gotten to where you cannot sin?” Dr. Morrison said, “No, my brother, I have not yet gotten to where I cannot sin, but I have gotten to where I cannot sin and enjoy it.”
That be the testimony of every truly born again child of God. There’s a humorous story from the early days of football having to do with the Dallas Texans, who eventually became the Dallas Cowboys. They were the first attempt at professional football in the state. They lasted one year, 1952, and had a record of 1 win and 11 losses. Their training camp was in Kerrville, Texas. Willie Garcia was the equipment manager. He had one wooden leg. The first time a football bounced off the field into tall grass nearby, no one would go after it because of fear of snakes. Willy volunteered to retrieve the ball commenting, “I’ve got a 50-50 chance that the snake will go for the wrong leg.”

On our own, there’s always a chance of getting “bit” by the devil. But because of the cross, we need fear him no longer! By the provision of the Savior, our life need not be dominated by sin and Satan!

A true Christian does not habitually sin because of the love of the Father and….
II The Sacrifice of the Son (3:4-8)

1. God’s love for us does not stop with the new birth. It continues throughout our lives and takes us right up to the return of Jesus Christ! Jesus died to save us from our sin; but what is sin? John gives us the clearest description of sin found in the Bible: Whosoever coinmitteth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (3:4). Most people don’t like the word sin. Whenever we sin we say, “I made a mistake.” A mistake is a fault in understanding or a misinterpretation. Sin is not a mistake. It is knowing God’s law and breaking it. Transgresseth = the idea of breaking; or contempt and violation of law. John here defined the mission of Jesus Christ at its most basic root – to take away our sins. The angel Gabriel promised Joseph regarding the ministry of Jesus: you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin (Matthew 1:21).

2. True believers will want to live a righteous life because Jesus died to take away our sins (3:5b). We can never forget why Jesus died on the cross. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:27 that Jesus want to receive His church holy and without blemish. So, to know of His sacrifice and then to keep on sinning “depreciates” the death of Jesus on the cross. Not only did Jesus die to take away our sins, but He also lived to give us an example to follow because in him is no sin (1 Jn 3:5c). If we really appreciate what Jesus did for us on the cross, we do what we can to avoid sin in our lives

3. An unbeliever who sins is a creature sinning against his Creator. A Christian who sins is a child sinning against his Father. The unbeliever sins against law; the believer sins against love.
This reminds us of the meaning of the phrase so often repeated in the Bible: “the fear of the Lord.” This phrase does not suggest that God’s children live in an atmosphere of terror, “for God hath not given us the spirit of fear” (2 Tim. 1:7). Rather, it indicates that God’s children hold their Father in reverence and will not deliberately disobey Him or try His patience.

Illustration:
A group of teenagers were enjoying a party, and someone suggested that they go to a certain restaurant for a good time. “I’d rather you took me home,” Jan said to her date. “My parents don’t approve of that place.” “Afraid your father will hurt you?” one of the girls asked sarcastically. “No,” Jan replied, “I’m not afraid my father will hurt me, but I am afraid I might hurt him.” She understood the principle that a true child of God, who has experienced the love of God, has no desire to sin against that love.

4. In verse 6, the word “sinneth” is in the progressive present tense in Greek verb implied habit continuous, ongoing action. John is referring to “habitual, continual sin. John is referring to iso¬lated incidents of sin, which were part of the lives of even the greatest Bi¬ble characters. For example: Noah got drunk, Abraham lied, Moses got angry, David committed adultery and murder, and Peter cursed and denied the Lord. However, these sins were only sporadic incidents in their lives and were contrary to their normal lifestyles.

A true Christian commits occasional acts of sin, but no true believer keeps on sinning because whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. If we habitually, continually sin, we are not abiding in Christ. We need to check for sure our salvation.

5. Apparently, some false teachers were claiming they knew God, but they were living unrighteous lives. Therefore, John writes: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous (3:7). Jesus, in Matthew 7:16a, tell us we can recog¬nize false teachers by their fruits.

6. John makes this point very clear: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (3:8). There are only two kinds of people in the world-children of God and children of the Devil. Jesus illustrates this truth to the religious leaders in John 8:44.

III. The Indwelling Holy Spirit vv.9-10

1. The Bible puts it like this: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (3:9). When we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives. Ephesians 1:13 describes this fact and 1 Co. 3:16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
2. John is referring to this when he writes God’s seed remaineth in him. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit enters our lives and a new life begins (2 Cor. 5:17). In Christ we are new persons; the old life is gone, a new life has begun because God’s seed remains in us.
3. If a pig and a lamb fall into a mud puddle, the pig will be content to stay there and wallow in the mud, but what will the lamb do? He will get out of the mud because it is not a sheep’s nature to stay there. In the same way, a believer and an unbeliever can fall into the same sin a true be¬liever will not be content to wallow in sin because it is not his or her na¬ture to do so.
A person who has God’s seed, the Holy Spirit, cannot live a life of habitual sin. When true Christian’s sins he or she will feel guilty, dirty, remorseful & will pray as David in Psalm 38 & 51 a prayer of repentance and cleansing.

4. That’s what all true Christians should pray when they sin. John sums up this passage: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God (3:10). John here is simply emphasizing what it means to be born again. It means that a change comes into our lives – it is a change that will be worked out into every area of our lives as we grow in Christ, but it is a real, observable change.

5. According to the last phrase of this verse an unloving attitude to your brother reveals one is not a child of God. This is sin because it violates the second greatest commandment
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen

This we will take uo at length next time. For now a true Christian cannot habitually sin because of the spectacular love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the indwelling seed of the Spirit.

Conclusion:
If you are a Christian you should act like one. Eph 5:8-15…..
The question is, “How do you react when you sin? Do you give into the repetition of sin, and let it dominate your lifestyle? Or do you humbly confess your sin, and do battle against it with the power Jesus can give?”
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.