• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"He who has been born of God keeps himself..."

Text: 1 John 5:18

THE WORK OF KEEPING OURSELVES

How do we keep ourselves from the power of sin? The Apostle John gives us an important insight in this text!

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin;
but he who has been born of God keeps himself,
and the wicked one does not touch him.”
1 John 5:18

1. “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin”

a) This was a truth that John had written about earlier (1 John 3:9).

b) John repeats this truth here.

c) What he meant: –

i) Having a new nature from God the born-again believer is not a slave to sin.

ii) He can resist sin effectively.

iii) He can overcome sin.

2. “But he who has been born of God keeps himself”

a) This is a truth that must be emphasised.

b) There are two parts that must be borne in mind:-

i) The Lord’s part in keeping us.

ii) Our part in keeping ourselves.

c) Both parts are important.

d) God will not fail to do His part.

e) But we are as responsible to do our part in keeping ourselves.

3. “And the wicked one does not touch him”

a) The wicked one is a reference to Satan, the Devil.

b) He will try his utmost to cause the believer to sin against God.

c) But he cannot make much headway if we do our part in keeping ourselves.

THE PROTECTION OF THE LORD

Thank God for His protection from the Wicked One. But we must not be presumptuous concerning God’s protection!

1. We must not tempt the Lord by putting ourselves in harm’s way.

2. We must not fail to do our part in keeping ourselves! Then will we find that the Evil One truly cannot touch us or harm us in any way!