Like Father, like son

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7-8 NLT

The world will just scoff at the belief of Christians regarding sin. The world views sin as something that should not be taken seriously but something that should be laughed at. Some would say that it was just a naughty mistake or some imperfection caused by emotional or psychological lapses. Others will explain it away as something that happens because it is natural for humans to commit sin. But the Word of God takes sin seriously for it is an offense to God. It is an affront to God for it is a deliberate disregard of His will. This is why it took God to send His Son so His blood will be shed on the cross for it is only through Christ’s sacrificial death that sin will be forgiven. And by placing our faith in what He had accomplished on our behalf that we are accepted to His Kingdom. This is what John continues to emphasize from the text. He wants the believers to always be reminded by this great truth so that they will not be deceived. He realizes the tenacity of God’s enemy to lead Christians astray in believing that sin and belief in God are compatible. It will be the truth of God’s Word that will help believers to discern the truth. “Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day” (1 Kings 8:61 ESV). We manifest who we belong and our spiritual descent though our actions: like Father, like son. “When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous” (1 John 3:7). We are so grateful to God for the spiritual rebirth that we wanted to reflect His life in us by doing what is right and by walking in His ways. “Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children” (1 John 2:29). It does not mean that a Christian is identical to Christ in every respect for we are still susceptible to commit sin. But God expects His children to sin less and not habitually.

Blessings,