THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today’s passage from 1 John can, at first glance, appear to make it seem that anyone who struggles with any sin can’t really be a Christian. 

Missed

Those that think this way, have missed the whole point of what John has presented already in his message. In the opening of his message (1 John 1:8-2:2), John presented us with the message of God’s grace as poured out on all people through the sacrifice of the Christ. 

1:8 – Everyone is guilty of sin. 

1:9 – Everyone who calls on Jesus Christ by faith is forgiven completely. 

1:10 – If you think you don’t need a Savior, you are in trouble. 

2:1 – As Christians, we should desire obedience. 

2:1 – But when we sin (as Christians), Jesus Christ himself intercedes for us. 

2:2 – On the cross, Jesus took our place, our punishment, and our sin. 

The big idea we need to remember before reading the passage below is this:

·  We are sinners in need of a Savior. 

·  Jesus Christ died once for all sin. 

·  We must receive his gifts of mercy and forgiveness. 

·  When we sin, Jesus continues to be our Savior. 

·  As we grow closer to Jesus, we will want to be more like Jesus. 

·  As our desire for Jesus grows, our actions will change into his image. 

·  None of our failures are greater than the cross.

·  We are forgiven, now we need to live like it. 

With all of that in mind, let us read the next section of John’s letter to the church:

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one 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 them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have 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 God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

(1 John 3:4-10 NIV11)

Pastoral

The key to this passage is not in the stark language of being in or out, good or bad, with God or with the Devil. The real point being made by John lies in the pastoral force of this passage. 

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.

There are loads of people all around you and I trying their best to sabotage your walk with Jesus Christ. Whether they know why they are doing it or not, they are working on behalf of the Tempter as they put weird, wrong, and wacky ideas into your head. 

John is using the most powerful language he can to get the attention of the follower of Christ. He is desperate for us to pay attention to what is real and true. He knows that some will come along in our lives whose goal it is to get us off track with the Lord. 

Attack

One of the ways that this attack comes at us is through the idea that it is perfectly fine for you and I to continue living in sin after we have come to faith in Jesus. 

They might say: 

·  “All sins are forgiven so what does it matter? 

·  “If God’s grace covers all, then your sins are covered as well, so do what makes you happy.” 

But John knows that this is a lie. 

We must reject the old nature and old self that we once served as a slave. We need to see that Jesus has set us free from that old nature. We are now free in Christ and more than that, we are his and his alone for all eternity. 

We must not live like children of the devil while we are in fact children of the Living God through Jesus Christ. That is the point being made and the point that we need for today. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I submit my desire for sin into your authority. I want to live as a child of God who has been set free from sin. I want to live free from sin. I admit I struggle with old temptations and desires, but I am ready and willing to turn away from these areas of sin. I need your Holy Spirit to give me strength and lead me further into your image and grace. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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