In verses 9,10 the truly converted saint is described as one who has dominion over sin in that he has died to sin’s (Satan’s) temptations and now “lives (in obedience) to God.” Paul goes on to say that one who is dead (to sin) lives for (in obedience to) God. This is brought out by the Apostle John (1 Jn. 2:6) who, writing under the power of the Holy Spirit, said that he who claims to be one with Christ must “walk as He walked.” Such a one also “purifies himself even as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3). In order to show the exactness of the Lord relative to salvation, we will turn to 1 John 3:4-10. This will also prove that Paul and John heard the same message from their Lord, as did all of the disciples then and now. Verse 4 declares that God’s people obey His Ten Commandment Law. In verse 5 we are told that Jesus came, suffered and died in order to remove sin from our lives and to empower us to resist Satan’s temptations to sin. Here we are also told that “IN HIM” (Christ) there is no sin.” The Words “in Him” are of utmost importance in that they determine who will be awarded eternal life. Proof of this is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 where we are told that only those “IN HIM” will rise to meet Him in the air at His coming. This is not to be confused with the so-called “rapture.” Now back to 1 John 3.

First John 3: 6 states that one who abides in Him does not sin, and that one who sins has neither seen Him nor knows Him. Verse 7 requires us to be righteous as He is righteous. Verse 8 reveals that one who sins is of (spiritually fathered by) the devil. In verse 10 John identifies the difference between God’s people and Satan’s people using only one Word–“RIGHTEOUSNESS.” “Whosoever does not (live in) righteousness is not of God.”

In verses 11-17 the emphasis remains the same–righteousness–but the focus turns from what Jesus has done for us–He made righteousness available–to what we must do of our own accord in order to acquire righteousness. Verse 11 says that we must “recon ourselves dead to sin,” meaning to decide for ourselves to resist Satan. This is the message God gave to Cain after he had sinned: “If you do well (obey Me hereafter) you will be accepted (by Me). But if you do not do well, sin lies at the door for it desires to have you. BUT YOU CAN RULE OVER (RESIST) HIM (SATAN).” Here God was speaking to the unregenerate Cain telling him that he could be righteous. The irony is that the supposedly regenerated church people reject these Words of God, claiming that righteousness on their part is impossible, that sin is inevitable, and that because Jesus knew this, He died so that, no matter how many times they sin, they will inherit eternal life. Like Eve, they believe Satan who tells them that they can sin and they “shall not surely die.” According to the church, sin is as much of the Christian walk as owning a Bible. In other words IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE “IN CHRIST.” Which explains why 1) they will not rise in the first resurrection, 2) they will not join Him in the air, 3) they will not descend to the Mt. of Olives, 4) they will not enter Jerusalem where He will establish the Kingdom of God and 5) they will not rule and reign with Him forever. Not so, says the Institutional Church. Why? Because they have all been “saved” by the very One Whose Words they despise, thereby proving that they despise both Father and Son (Lk. 10:16). L.J.