“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32)
Jesus said that discipleship was proven by a continuance in His Word. Likewise, it is not enough to say we are born again. What is the proof of being born again? What is the evidence we are new creatures? A walk in newness of life. (rom. 6:3).
John the Baptist told those who came to the Jordan river: “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8). One can claim they have turned to God, but where is the fruit that accords with that repentance? Likewise, where is the fruit of the Spirit that attests that we are born of the Spirit? If we claim to be light in the Lord, we are then to walk as children of light, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)” (Eph. 5:8,9)
If our faith is genuine, who we claim to be must be substantiated by the reality of our works. The Apostle John does not establish a “reality” where the believer will and must sin. He establishes the very opposite. He makes a clear distinction between the children of God and those of the devil.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:4-10)
Those who said they “have no sin” in 1 John 1:8 were those claiming to be pure without the need for “the blood of Jesus Christ” that “cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). They were those who sought some other way to be right with God apart from faith in Christ. They were those who continued to walk in and justify sin, instead of walking and growing in righteousness. John, and the other apostles, did not tell believers that sin would be inevitable in their lives and they just better get used to it. God forbid!
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1,2)
Contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). Let the Spirit of truth guide you into all truth. What is that truth? “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:34,36).
If the “truth” you are believing is not establishing you in the freedom that Christ purchased for you on the cross, you do well to question what truth you have received. The gospel truth is a freedom FROM sin, not a freedom TO sin.