The Power To Break Sin's Grip

Sunday Service

The Power To Break Sin’s Grip
1 John 3:4-10

THEME: John wrote this letter to the Gentile Christians while he was pastoring a church in Ephesus. These first century Christians were faced with false teaching that was threatening to destroy the fundamentals of their faith. John positively attacks this heresy by reasserting the basics of Christian faith and life. In 1 John 5:13 he makes it clear that he wants to give assurance of salvation to these Christians through a series of tests to measure themselves. True Christians will display the characteristics of genuine Christianity in sound doctrine, faith, obedience and love. Here in 1 John 3:4-10, we find four works of God that have broken the patterns of habitual sin in the Christian’s life. This is the power to break sin’s grip!

TEST: Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life?

1. THE COMPLETED WORK: The work Christ accomplished in His death. (vv. 4-5)

2. THE ONGOING WORK: Christ’s ongoing life in the believer. (vv. 6-7)

3. THE DESTROYED WORKS: Christ’s destruction of the devil’s works. (v. 8)

4. THE REGENERATING WORK: The ministry of the Holy Spirit. (vv. 9-10)

When is the last time you thanked God for the saving, changing power of the Gospel? Has this thankfulness grown in your life as you grow or are you discouraged by the lack of growth?