We Know Victory Over Sin

John finishes his first letter, by telling us what we, as Christians, know. Four times in these four verses Jesus uses the phrase, we know. We know we have victory over sin. We know that we belong to God. We know that Jesus is the true God. There’s an idea in some Christian circles that doubt is a virtue, doubt is a good thing. That the more we doubt, and the less we know, the better it is. That’s a pretty stupid idea, and John smashes it here. We know, we know, we know.

So, look at verse 18 with me. We know we have victory over sin. Why? Because Christians can not keep living in an unbroken pattern of sin. When I say ‘unbroken pattern’ I mean sin that is never repented of, a sin you’re happy to indulge in, a sin you keep going back to with no battle or remorse. Christians don’t live with sin in this way, because Christians love God’s law and can not live, and don’t want to live in violation of it. Christians look like Jesus, and Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, came to destroy sin. Christian’s don’t continue in unbroken sin because the Holy Spirit lives in us, and slowly but surely gains more and more control over our heart.

That’s not to say that Christians ever get to the point where they never sin. That’s why John tells us to confess our sin, and that Jesus advocates for us when we sin. We still sin, but we are not slaves to sin, sin does not own us. Jesus owns us.

So that’s what victory is, how do we know we have it? Look at the rest of verse 8 with me, ‘He who was born of God protects Him, and the evil one does not touch Him.’ Who is the one who has been born of God? Jesus! If you’re a Christian, Jesus protects you! Isn’t that an incredible truth! Jesus protects you. He prays for you, advocates for you, represents you, and He protects you from the devil. Remember what Jesus told Peter, the devil has demanded to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. That’s Luke 22:31-32. Jesus protects us so that the devil can not get his claws into us. This is an amazing thing to know. NO matter how weak you feel, no matter how insignificant you feel, your faith will not fail, because Jesus protects you. Paul wrote in Phil 1:6 that ‘He who began a good work in you will perfect it.’ Wow!