1 John 1-5

1 John 5:18

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

There are a lot of verses in today's passage that could read as though somebody has to be completely perfect and live sinlessly to be considered a part of God's family. If I were guessing, I would say that in the original language this really doesn't mean if I commit any sin that must mean I'm not born again. Rather I think this is probably speaking more of continuing in one's old ways, continuing to commit the same habbitual sins over and over again with not effort or progress towards conforming more and more to the image and example of Christ.

Satan wants nothing more that to drag me backwards and cause me to feel defeated. One tool in his chest is to use my sins and mistakes against me. If I let my focus be me and how I've failed rather than looking to the work Jesus did and continues to do in my life, the evil one wins. I need to remind myself that Jesus does keep me safe. His righteousness is what the Father sees when He looks at me. Through Jesus' love, and nothing of my own doing, I am perfected and can stand without fear of punishment before Holy God. And since God doesn't condemn me, the accuations of the evil one have no validity. He has no claim on me. Merry Christmas. Thank you for coming, Jesus.