Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Daily Bread
1 John 3:9-10 - "Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin because His seed abides in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God. In this is manifested the children of God and the children of the devi: everyone who does not act righteously is not of God, neither is he who loves not his brother."

The seed or word of God produces a new spirit and heart within the believer (Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:5,6). The new spirit and the new heart that we have received are joined unto the Lord Jesus. It is the Spirit and nature of Christ Jesus that is formed in us through the new birth (Colossians 1:27, Ephesians 3:17; 1 John 3:24, Romans 8:9,10; 13:14; Galatians 3:27; 4:19; Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 4:4). It is because of the new birth that the divine nature resides in us. It is His nature that produces the ability to please God and empowers us with the ability to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:5; Ephesians 4:24). Paul makes a similar connection between Christ Jesus and the word proving that the word of God is in our heart and in our mouth (Romans 10:8). As those begotten of God and ruled by the Spirit of God, the word of God, and Christ Jesus, we cannot sin. As John previously said, the anointing that we have received of Him teaches us to abide in Him, and abiding in Him will only produce righteousness (1 John 2:27). So long as we remain submitted and yielded to His rulership we will find ourselves enjoying His abundant life of purity, joy, righteousness, and peace. In reality, abiding in the word and keeping the word are one in the same. Those who keep His word have the love of God perfected in them (1 John 2:5). Abiding in the word, doing righteousness, and loving the brethren are reemphasized in the following two verses. We may understand from both the preceding and following verses that those who are born of God cannot hate their brethren.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org

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