Do not Keep on Sinning....

1 John 5:18-21 (ESV)
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
[19] We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
[20] And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. [21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning.” Hard to argue with Holy Scripture, it says what it says. So you have to ask what it means. I’m fairly sure I have sinned a few times since being born of God.
Does not keep on sinning. Jesus says “Go and sin no more” to the lady caught in adultery. Hmm. Think she managed that one? I think she managed not to commit adultery again. Today we drum in so much that sin is sin is sin, that we hardly have the ability anymore to tell someone that they really need to stop doing what they are doing. Some sins are gross and manifest and can be avoided too. I’m not talking about personality quirks here, which too can be worked on a bit. But seriously when you are born of God you will not want to continue in sin. Especially such sin as is harmful not only to you but those around you. When you are made aware of the sin you begin to at least try avoid the sin.
Of course the pastor has a hard issue here. I can’t make Christians with the law. Yet at times people here the gospel so as to believe it is perfectly fine to go on living and not repenting of the sin for which they are guilty of, not if it means changing their lifestyle. I have a hard time there. When correcting someone of their sin, and they don’t want to hear it. Well…. Then I do not believe that you do have faith. Faith does not refuse its cross. Faith does not abuse grace, by abusing others. No Christians there are guilty of all vile sin. But the Christian repents, works to amend their ways. Christians, not out of fear, but out of love for all in their lives will work to quit sin, especially when their sin is hurting those around them. Christians strive to love as they are loved, loved by the one who was born of God and protects him, Jesus Christ. Jesus born of God, protects us from the evil one, constantly anew forgiving us our failures to quit sin, even as we strive to love as we are loved.