There's a radical idea: someone who knows Jesus should not only act like it, but also stop acting like they're immune from the consequences of sin. I wonder why we have such a hard time understanding this principle.

I can usually expect a challenge from some people when I suggest they should be changed from what they were before they knew the Lord Jesus. That's probably because they are caught up in worldliness and have become comfortable with the fact they're cold to the Holy Spirit's convicting fire. One would think I was calling them an infidel to tell them such things, even though I simply use Scripture to admonish them (2Cor 5:17).

One fact needs to be made here. That is the sometimes overlooked fact that those who are redeemed are still sinners. There is no way we can stop sinning because we are sinners by birth; it's in our blood. But what John was saying was that we will not hide our sin, nor defend our right to do it, but instead confess it, ask for forgiveness and repent, or stop doing it. That my friend, is the difference between lost sinners and sinners saved by grace. We may all be sinners, but God gives us desire to be sinless, regret for sinning and intolerance for keeping long accounts of sinful behavior between us and the Lord.

Do you have a good reason for professing faith in Christ, but living in a way you resemble someone born of the devil? When it's put that way, most people will confess their sin, but others will bristle up and become defensive, thereby applying another layer of hardness to their heart. If I were to paraphrase John's words, I'd put it this way: "Christian, don't let sin be your boss. If you do, you render Jesus powerless and have proclaimed another to be lord in his place."

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Dn. 11:1-34 1 Jn. 3:7-24 Ps. 122:1-9 Pr. 29:1 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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