It Is Possible to Not Sin

A few years ago, I was talking with a young Christian woman.
We were talking on the subject of sin and confession, and I mentioned that
Christians do not have to sin. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

She brought to my attention that 1 John says that everyone
sins. Yes, it does. It also says, “Do not sin.” God commands us to not sin—in
other words, He has made it possible to not sin, because God does not
command us to do impossible things. God will also forgive us if we sin and
confess, but He has made it possible for us to obey His command: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin”
(1 John 2:1).

How is this possible? It is very simple. Avoid temptation.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Positively obey God (by keeping
His positive commands, e.g. to rejoice always, in everything give thanks,
etc.). Keep your sins confessed up-to-date so that when the tempter comes, you
do not have unconfessed sin in your life (which can set you up for sinning
again easily).

If we are indeed born of the Spirit, that is how we obey—we
obey God by the Spirit of God.

This post coordinates with today’s reading in the To
the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,
please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.