No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
1 John 3:9-10 NIV
Is there any way to know who is a child of God and who is not? We are often guilty of saying that only God can know that, and there is a certain truth to that. But John does not shy away from telling us, as believers, how to test for being born again. A test that applies to both myself and others.
And that test has to do with sin. It is important to note that John is not referring to an occasional shortcoming. Instead, the test has to do with habitual practice. John makes it clear that the one who has been born of God, not only will not, but cannot continue to live in sin.
John is not saying that we need to try hard not to sin. Instead, he is telling us that the new nature that has been born within us is incapable of continuing in habitual sin. If I have been born again, I will naturally do what pleases God. And I will love my brothers and sisters in the faith. If, on the other hand, I fail to live a righteous life, and fail to love the believers, then, John says, I have not been born again.
It might be tempting to apply this test to other people you know. But I would encourage you to first apply it to yourself. How do you fair when taking this test? Do you pass John’s test, doing what is right and loving your brothers and sisters? If not, I encourage you to surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus and experience the new life that only He can give.
