Lesson 15: The Privilege of Victory over Sin

“Sin cannot conquer me while I let God’s power work in me.”

To realize that God gives grace for victory over sin.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people… as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets… that we should be saved from our enemies… to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days (from Luke 1:68-75).

► What is our worst enemy?

The devil would have no power over us if we were not sinners. We would never have been separated from God and under judgment if we had not been sinners. The world would not be a place of conflict and suffering if it were not for original sin and continued sins.

Our worst enemy is sin.

God promises to deliver us from the power of enemies that would keep us from serving him in righteousness and holiness every day of our lives.

The epistle of 1 John emphasizes that the main characteristic of a true believer is victory over sin. This characteristic is given as a basis of personal assurance of salvation.

The apostle knew that there will be times when a believer needs assurance. He showed that it is proper for a believer to look for evidence on which to base his assurance, because after giving some evidence for that purpose, he says this is how we can assure our hearts.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him (1 John 3:19).

John gives many criteria for this purpose—he shows that he is giving criteria by repeatedly saying “This is how we know.” Personal assurance is one of the main themes of the epistle. In fact, John said it was his reason for writing:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

The criterion that is most emphasized throughout this epistle is victory over sin. The normal condition of a believer is freedom from sin.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin… (1 John 2:1).

Here the apostle shows that the believer should live without committing sin, and he says that he is writing to show them the importance of victorious living.

…But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).

Here he recognizes that sin may occur, though it is not necessary. He assures us that if a believer sins, the atoning sacrifice (“propitiation”) of Christ can atone for that sin. We should not assume that this sacrifice automatically atones for a former believer when he commits sin. The verse simply says that the sacrifice is available, as it is for the whole world. We know that the whole world is not automatically saved. Repentance is necessary for any sin to be forgiven, whether the sinner was once a believer or not.

The following verses from 1 John show his emphasis that the great distinction of a believer is victory over sin. The phrases in brackets are added comments.

And by this we know [this is an evidence] that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him (2:3-4).

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning [whether he was a believer before or not] also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him (3:4-6).

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. [Righteousness is real, not pretended—the person who actually does what is right is righteous.] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (3:7-8).

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God (3:9).

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. [If he stops abiding in Christ, he will sin. If he sins, he has stopped abiding in Christ.] And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us (3:24).

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments (5:2-3). [Real love motivates obedience. Disobedience shows a lack of love.]

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world [its temptations and spirit]. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (5:4).

From these verses, it seems obvious that the distinctive characteristic of the believer is that he lives in obedience to God. Victory over sin is a great privilege of the believer.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).

Some people argue against the points of this lesson. Try to keep the discussion focused on the scriptures used. Ask the group:

► If you are struggling with a temptation, how would this truth be important for you?

► Ask members to share how conversion brought deliverance and power over temptation.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for deliverance from the enemies that would keep me from serving you, and from the greatest enemy, sin.

Thank you for helping me to reject sin when I repented and came to you.

Help me remember to depend on you for grace every day. I know that with your help I can endure temptation and live in victory over sin.

Thank you for the privilege of living in victory. I want to be faithful and receive the crown of life you have promised to those who love you.

Amen

Study Romans 6. Look for the statements that imply that a believer should have complete deliverance from sin.

The following material will be helpful if a certain objection is brought up.

Sometimes people who deny that a believer can live in victory over willful sin quote 1 John 1:8: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But what does it mean to “have sin”? Does it mean that even believers are continuing to commit willful sin? That would not be consistent with the statements in chapter three that are quoted above. How could John have made those statements in chapter three if he had previously said, “Every person, including every believer, continues to commit sin”? That would not make sense.

The context shows the meaning. In verse seven, a cleansing for sin is promised. This cleansing is for those who walk in the light, which means to walk according to truth, in obedience to God. Those who are now living in obedience to God are cleansed of their past sins by the blood of Christ.

But there may be some people who deny that they have sinned and need cleansing. Those are the ones who say they have no sin, and deceive themselves. They are claiming that they never sinned, or that they solved their sin problem without Christ.

Again in verse nine, forgiveness and cleansing are promised. In verse ten he again says that the ones who say they have not sinned are contradicting God himself.

John was writing to correct the error of those who did not think they needed the cleansing and forgiveness provided by Christ—­those who thought they did not need to be saved. He was not saying that even believers continue to commit sin, for that would contradict his main emphasis and direct statements in this letter.