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NASB | 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God's seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again--who is reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. |
Subject: One born of God cannot sin? |
Bible Note: These are all quotes from Watchman Nee's book "A Normal Christian Life" copyright 1977 Chapter 9 "Romans Seven" pages 155-162. "WHAT THE LAW TEACHES Many Christians find themselves suddenly launched into the experience of Romans 7 and they do not understand why. They fancy Romans 6 is quite enough. Having grasped that, they think there can be no more question of failure, and then to their utmost surprise they find themselves right in the midst of Romans 7. What is the explanation? First let us be quite clear that the death with Christ described in Romans 6 is fully adequate to cover all our need. It is the explanation of that death, with all that follows from it in chapter 6, that is as yet incomplete. We are still in ignorance of the truth set forth in chapter 7. For Romans 7 is given to us to explain and make real the statement in Romans 6:14, that: "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace." The trouble is that we do not yet know deliverance from law. What, then, is the meaning of Law? Nowhere in the New Testament are men of faith told that they are to keep the Law; but it does say it the Law was given so that there should be transgression. "The law came in ... that the trespass-might abound" (Rom. 5:20). The Law was given to make us law-breakers! No doubt I am a sinner in Adam; "Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: ... for apart from the law sin is dead ... but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died" (Rom. 7:7-9). The Law is it which exposes our true nature. Alas, we are so conceited, and think ourselves so strong, that God has to give us something to test us and prove how weak we are. At last we see it, and confess, "I am a sinner through and through, and of myself I can do nothing whatever to please holy God." No, the law was not given in the expectation that would keep it. It was given in the full knowledge that we would break it; and when we have broken it so completely as to be convinced of our utter need, then the Law has served its purpose. It been our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, at in us he may himself fulfill it (Gal. 3:24). 1ST THE END OF THE LAW In Romans 6 we saw how God delivered us from sin: in Romans 7 we see how he delivers us from the Law. Chapter 6 shows us the way of deliverance from sin in the picture of a master his slave; chapter 7 shows us the way of deliverance from the Law in the picture of two husbands and a wife. The relation between sin And the sinner is that of master to slave; the relation between the Law and the sinner is that of husband and wife. This picture is not drawn by me but by the tie Paul. The first husband is the Law; the second husband is Christ; and you are the woman. The law requires much, but offers no help in the carrying out of its requirements. The Lord Jesus requires just as much, yea more (Matt. 5:21-48), but what he requires from us he himself carries out in us. The law makes demands and leaves us helpless to fulfill them; Christ makes demands, but he himself fulfills in us the very demands he makes. Little wonder that the woman desires to be freed from the first husband that she may marry that other Man! But her only hope of release is through the death of her first husband, and he holds on to life most tenaciously. Indeed there is not the least prospect of passing away. "Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass ay from the law, till all things be accomplished" (Matt. 5:18). The Law is going to continue for all eternity. If Law will never pass away, then how can I be united to Christ? How can I marry a second husband if my first husband resolutely refuses to die? There is one way out. If he will not die. I can die, and if I die the marriage relationship is dissolved. And that is exactly God's way deliverance from the Law. The most important point to note in this section of Romans 7 is the transition from verse 3 to verse 4. Verses 1 to 3 show that the husband should die, but in verse 4 we see that in fact it the woman who dies. The Law does not pass away, but I pass away, and by death I am freed from the Law. Let us realize clearly that the Law can never pass away. God’s righteous demands remain forever, and if I live I must meet those demands; but if I die the Law has lost it’s claim on me. It cannot follow me to the grave." These were Watchman's comments, not mine, but I thought they were relevent. Russ |