One Continued Web of Wickedness
A true Christian cannot continue to sin because God's seed of grace and regeneration remains in them.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that those born of God cannot continue in sin, as God's seed resides within them, preventing them from living a life characterized by iniquity. He contrasts the lives of true believers, who do not engage in habitual sin, with those who are unregenerate and live in a continuous web of wickedness, indulging in known sins. Brooks warns that many formal and carnal professors of faith are ensnared in a lifestyle of sin, highlighting the importance of genuine regeneration and the transformative power of God's grace.
Text
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because
God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning,
because he has been born of God." 1 John 3:9
That is, they do not allow themselves in the practice
of any iniquity. Gracious souls do not live in the service
of sin, they do not live in an ordinary practice of any
iniquity. He who has the seed of God, the seed of grace
and regeneration in him--he cannot allow himself in a
way of sin, he cannot give himself over to a voluntary
serving of sin, he cannot make a trade of sin.
But now the whole trade, the whole life of formal and
carnal professors, is nothing else but one continued
web of wickedness; there is no wicked unregenerate
person in the world--but lives in the daily practice of
some known sin or other--but allows himself in some
trade or way of wickedness or other.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of the Born-Again Christian
- Does not continue to sin
- Because God's seed remains in him
- He has been born of God
Key Quotes
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” — Thomas Brooks
“He who has the seed of God, the seed of grace and regeneration in him--he cannot allow himself in a way of sin, he cannot give himself over to a voluntary serving of sin, he cannot make a trade of sin.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- As a Christian, I must recognize that I am not perfect and can still struggle with sin, but I must not give in to it.
- I must be aware of my daily practices and ensure that they align with God's will and not with the trade of sin.
- I must rely on God's seed of grace and regeneration to guide me in living a life free from sin.