Sin in the beliver's life

Sin - ugh.... The thought of sin in my life torments me. I grapple with the question of why do I continue to sin? Do you? As a believer, we still have that ugly sin nature a part of us, but the Bible tells us that we have been given a new nature to follow righteousness. 1 John 3:9 tells us that we cannot keep on sinning because we have been born of God. How is that true? The next couple of days we will be talking about this verse. But here are some reasons we give as to why Christians cannot continue to sin: 1. Sin is incompatible with the law of God which believers love (Psalm 119:97, Romans 7:22). 2. Sin is incompatible with the work of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). 3. Christ came to destroy the works of Satan (1 John 3:8). 4. Sin is incompatible with the ministry of the Holy Spirit who has imparted a new nature into the believer (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Devil

1 John 3:8 helps us understand the devil and gives us HOPE as we seek to follow Christ rather than Satan. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil and in that truth believers can have HOPE! We do not have to live in bondage to sin. Our question for verse 8 is: What do you learn about the devil and how does that help you in your spiritual battles? We would love to hear how God has helped you overcome the devil in your quest for spiritual growth and Christlikeness.

The Victory Plan

Today we begin discussing The Victory Plan as we seek to do what is right. Listed here are the points that we will cover over the next several days. These points can also be found on the study notes. 1. Meaningful devotions (James 1:22-25) 2. Faithful involvement in a good local church (Hebrews 10:24) 3. Develop Godly friendships (2 Timothy 2:22) 4. Institute Accountability (Hebrews 3:13, 14; Romans 12:10, 16) 5. Proper diet, rest and exercise (1 Timothy 4:8, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Ecclesiastes 5:12) Book suggestion: Love to Eat Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick 6. Commit to serve others (Matthew 20:25-28) 7. Use your time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-16) 8. Avoid certain people, places and practices (1 Corinthians 15:44, Psalm 1:1, 1 Corinthians 10:12).

What does it mean to do right?

1 John 3:7 says"Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous." So what does it mean to do right? We will spend the next couple of weeks answering this question. We will also introduce you to the "Victory Plan." Please share any thoughts you have.

Am I different?

In our study of 1 John 3:6, we are asking ourselves this question: How is a person who lives like Christ unusual?" Over the next 5 days we will be answering this question. As a Christian, are YOU different? In what ways can unbelievers see the difference in you? We hope you will study along with us!

What is lawlessness?

Over the next several days, we will be discussing lawlessness. This word, "lawlessness," used in 1 John 3:4 is not a word we often use, yet Scripture uses it to be clear that it is an intentional rebellion against God's will. Lawlessness does refer to sin, but the meaning behind the word is so much more - it truly gives the idea of one's choice to rebel against God's plan. Through this word study, the ladies will be answering the question "What is lawlessness?" The answers they give with Scripture text are listed on the online study notes. How has this study helped you to understand lawlessness?

Sanctification

In the study of 1 John 3:3, the ladies talked today about sanctification. What is God's part in our sanctification and what is our part? God's Part 1. He eliminated the authority of the flesh in the life of believers. Romans 6:6-14 2. God illuminates the Word of God in the mind of believers. 1 Corinthians 2:12 3. God instills the fruit of the Spirit in the life of believers. Galatians 5:22-23 Our Part 1. We need to mortify the flesh. Romans 8:13 2. We need to mediate on God's Word. Psalm 19:14 3. We need to manifest Christ's likeness. Ephesians 5:1 What is the hardest part in sanctification for you? What struggles do you have? How might you overcome these difficulties?

Questions for Reflection

As the ladies reflect today on 1 John 3:2, they asked these questions. How might you answer them? What verses would you use to guide you in your answer? 1) Why don't I act like the world? 2) Why don't I cheat on my time card when other's won't find out? 3) Why do I strive to treat others better than myself? 4) Why would I get up on Sunday morning when I could sleep in? 5) Why do I give money to the church rather than spending it on myself?

God's Love

As the ladies discuss today 1 John 3:1, we can see that God has given us His love. The best example of His love for us is found in John 3:16 - that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sins. He died for YOU because He loves you! How does God's love for you affect you? Have you accepted His love, His salvation? Has there been a difficult circumstance in your life where God's love has been a comfort to you? We pray that you will find comfort in God's love and that if you haven't accepted His free gift of salvation, that you will do so today!

1 John 3:1-3

Today, the ladies begin discussing chapter 3 in 1 John. Study notes are on the right of our blog if you are interested in printing them and following along. The first question in this section is this: What has the Father lavished on us (or given to us) and how does that affect us? (verse 1) Please share your thoughts as we look into the many blessings the Father has given to us. If you'd like to share a personal testimony - that would be an encouragement as well. Have a wonderful weekend!