Jesus Takes Away

1 John 3:4-10 Everyone who sins is breaking God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
 
IS John teaching that anyone who sins is not in Christ? If so, he is contradicting his teaching to the church in 1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Is this evidence for those who say that the Bible contradicts itself?
    A key to learning here is understanding the English language translated from the Greek language. The phrases who keeps on sinning (verse 6), continue to sin and go on sinning (verse 9), are about having a mindset to sin. One’s thoughts and actions are set continually against God’s laws, opposing Jesus, who came to take away our sins. And he could do so because there is no sin in him.
    John repeats and emphasizes his gospel record of John the Baptist identifying Jesus as “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b) We may think, “Why does John keep saying this?” But remember the mighty opposition to Jesus, the apostles and the church. False teachers and persecutors strongly opposed the gospel truth. Some said there is no sin. Some said no one man can take away our sins. The devil’s disciples were constantly at work to take God’s people to Hell.
    The continual preaching is necessary and urgent. John was exhorting the church to attain and maintain a heart, mind and soul for God’s truth. Yes, we all do commit sin. But we must not have a mindset to sin as a way of life. Our minds are to be set on the things of God.
    Is there some sin you do not confess? Do you not want to give away your unrighteous acts or thoughts to the one who takes them away? Then perhaps you must check your faith. What do you believe? Is your sin more precious than your Savior?
 
Life Thought: Jesus has given himself to take away your sin to a place it no longer keeps you from the Holy God.