Pursuing the Savior

Pursuing the Savior Pursuing the Savior aims to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, promote Christian values, and equip th

18 “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, an...
12/06/2026

18 “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

1 John 5:18

“UNTOUCHED BY THE EVIL ONE”

God calls believers to live a life separate from the world, i.e., to live a holy life. We are to fight our sinful urges and overcome them through the power of the Holy Spirit. However, we live in a world ruled by the Devil, whose forces are working non-stop to deceive us. How can we win the battle when we have a supernatural enemy?

We’re only four blogs away from completing our study of the Book of 1 John. And in these last four verses, the Apostle concludes his enlightening message.

In our last blog, we learned that sin is no longer compatible with our new nature. In today’s verse, John begins his closing statement by reminding his readers of the basic truths of the Christian faith.

First, all believers are children of God. Second, Believers do not live in sin. Third, Jesus protects His people. Fourth, the devil has no hold on the saints.

The clause "but he who was born of God protects him" may seem confusing, and different versions give us different translations of the Greek text. The KJV renders it this way: "but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself," which suggests that it is the believer who protects himself. However, biblical evidence and personal experience disagree. We can't protect ourselves from evil. In fact, Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God's deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13). Therefore, it makes more sense that Jesus, the Son of God Himself, is the one who keeps us safe from evil. This is precisely what Jesus says on the night before He was arrested by the Romans:

12 "While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me..."

John 17:12

To refresh our minds, John is challenging his readers to be discerning and not be deceived by false teachers. No matter how eloquent and convincing those frauds may be, their claims fall flat on their own conduct. The Apostle points out that a life of sin is inconsistent with a spiritual life received from God.

This verse shows that John understands the hardship of choosing the path of Christ. The presence of opposing forces makes living as a new creation an uphill battle for a Christian. That said, John puts his confidence in Christ, who is able to protect believers from the fiery darts of the enemy.

Jesus makes us partakers of the divine nature; that is, we now have the strength to do what God wants us to do. But it takes perseverance to keep ourselves untouched by the evil one. Sin should no longer be our lifestyle; it should no longer define us. Therefore, let’s follow the Bible’s instruction: resist the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7).

Pursue the Savior today!




01/09/23

Sin no longer identifies a Christian.God calls believers to live a life separate from the world, i.e., to live a holy li...
12/06/2026

Sin no longer identifies a Christian.

God calls believers to live a life separate from the world, i.e., to live a holy life. We are to fight our sinful urges and overcome them through the power of the Holy Spirit. However, we live in a world ruled by the Devil, whose forces are working non-stop to deceive us. How can we win the battle when we have a supernatural enemy?

Blog comes out tonight at 6.

Photo by Juan Rojas on Unsplash


11/06/2026

Some people argue that they do not need Jesus because they are good enough. They are successful, influential, and accomplished without the help of any form of deity. Is there any truth to this claim? And what are the implications of having such a mindset?


10/06/2026

Why People Reject the Gospel

Acts 7:38-43

The Bible says that the end will not come until the Gospel is preached to all people (Matthew 24:14). While a significant part of the world remains unreached, billions of people have heard the Good News over the past two millennia. But not everyone who was evangelized actually believed, and in this sermon, we will discuss some of the most common reasons people reject God's offer of salvation.


10/06/2026

The Bible says that the end will not come until the Gospel is preached to all people (Matthew 24:14). While a significant part of the world remains unreached, billions of people have heard the Good News over the past two millennia. But not everyone who was evangelized actually believed, and in tonight’s sermon, we will discuss some of the most common reasons people reject God's offer of salvation.

We're going live tonight at 9.


17 “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.” 1 John 5:17 “SIN: A VIEW FROM ANOTHER ANGLE” T...
09/06/2026

17 “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.”

1 John 5:17

“SIN: A VIEW FROM ANOTHER ANGLE”

The Bible says that God is the ultimate Judge. That is to say, people are accountable to Him for their moral failings and evil choices. But how will He render judgment? Does God look at sin all the same? If it takes only one sin to violate the entire law, does it mean that all kinds of sin will be judged one and the same? Will a shoplifter be punished in the same way as a murderer?

Yesterday, we learned that we should care about our fellow believers enough that, when we see them engage in sinful activity, we should intercede for them.

Today’s verse gives us a different perspective on sin. Previously, John defined sin as “lawlessness (3:4). This time around, he says that all wrongdoing (adikia) is sin. The Greek term used refers to injustice.

Could it be that some of John’s readers thought that sin was limited to obvious misconduct and lawless acts? Possibly. However, this belief is inaccurate, and John wants to correct their view.

Therefore, the Apostle says that all wrongdoing is sin, even when God’s children are guilty of it. That said, he also adds that not all sin ultimately leads to death. This statement informs us that there are different degrees of sin—some are more serious than others. For example, some of James' readers were guilty of partiality, but they did not die because of it. Instead, they were verbally rebuked for their sin. On the other hand, Ananias and Sapphira conspired against God by lying about the proceeds from the sale of their land. Both of them died on the same day.

What can we take from this verse? Since John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can see how God views sin. We can see that not only is God gracious, but He is also just in how He addresses sin. He will not chasten a petty thief in the same way; he will fine a convicted murderer. His justice will be appropriate for the sin committed.

As children of God, we are told to avoid all kinds of wrongdoing. Sin is no longer compatible with our new nature; neither is it consistent with our heavenly citizenship. But we still have a sinful nature, and thus have a capacity to sin. And when we give in to temptations, God does not disown us. He distances Himself from us, but never abandons us and revokes our salvation.

May God give us the strength to do His will, especially in overcoming our sinful tendencies.

Pursue the Savior today!


Sin is incompatible with a Christian's new nature.The Bible says that God is the ultimate Judge. That is to say, people ...
09/06/2026

Sin is incompatible with a Christian's new nature.

The Bible says that God is the ultimate Judge. That is to say, people are accountable to Him for their moral failings and evil choices. But how will He render judgment? Does God look at sin all the same? If it takes only one sin to violate the entire law, does it mean that all kinds of sin will be judged one and the same? Will a shoplifter be punished in the same way as a murderer?

Blog comes out tonight at 6.

Photo by Daniel Olah on Unsplash


16 “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those ...
05/06/2026

16 “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.”

1 John 5:16

“LOVE AND INTERCESSION”

One time, I received a phone call from a man struggling with his current spiritual state. He said that he rededicated his life to Christ and wanted to experience the new life that the Bible talks about. However, those around him were not making this possible. Instead of supporting him, he said that they were keeping him from enjoying this new life. It felt like they were dragging him back to his old, rotten life.

In anguish, he said (paraphrased), "I'm trying to get closer to Christ, but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I'm confused. I can't hear Him; neither can I see His plan working out in my life."

If you're in such a situation, what would you do?

In our previous blog, we learned that a growing faith helps us recognize God’s heart and purposes.

The next passage shows John shifting focus. He is now discussing the ministry of prayer. He says that Christians can have confidence in prayer, specifically, when they are praying on behalf of a sinning believer.

Maybe you’re wondering, why bother praying for such a person? Shouldn’t we just mind our own business and pray for ourselves? Does our intercession cause God to change His mind and forgive an erring brother?

Scripture encourages us to pray for one another because we are accountable to one another (James 5:26). Through our intercession, God promises forgiveness, which is expressed here as “God will give him life.”

However, this only applies to sins that “do not lead to death.” What is this, then? Is it an ongoing sin? And what is the sin that leads to death? Is it an unconfessed sin? Possibly, since the Bible talks about some people dying because they partook of the Lord’s Supper without evaluating themselves (1 Corinthians 11:20-30). Is it blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Or is it the sin of apostasy?

The problem is that John does not identify what sin this is. Maybe the closest option is the last one, which best suits the context. Some have heard the Gospel and made a profession of faith, but were never truly saved. These people also began listening to Gnostic teachings and eventually turned their backs on Jesus. The Bible presents apostasy as a serious offense against God. Hebrews 6 names it as a sin that leads to death. But since John does not say, it would be best not to speculate.

Perhaps the main point is that we should care about fellow believers enough that, when we see them engage in sinful activity, we intercede for them. Perhaps God might show them mercy and grant them repentance.

The guy I was talking to wanted to be set free from the shackles of his old life, but either his sinful nature or the forces of evil are pulling him back. What he needs is not condemnation but intercession. I've been praying for him for a while now. I guess that job's not done yet.

Will you help me pray for him and those in similar situations?

Pursue the Savior today!


Christians are to carry each other's burdens.One time, I received a phone call from a man struggling with his current sp...
05/06/2026

Christians are to carry each other's burdens.

One time, I received a phone call from a man struggling with his current spiritual state. He said that he rededicated his life to Christ and wanted to experience the new life that the Bible talks about. However, those around him were not making this possible. Instead of supporting him, he said that they were keeping him from enjoying this new life. It felt like they were dragging him back to his old, rotten life.

In anguish, he said (paraphrased), "I'm trying to get closer to Christ, but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I'm confused. I can't hear Him; neither can I see His plan working out in my life."

If you're in such a situation, what would you do?

Blog comes out tonight at 6.

Photo by Branimir Balogoviċ on Unsplash


04/06/2026

If God loves us, why does He seem silent? Why doesn’t He listen to our prayers?

Address

Arayat

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pursuing the Savior posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Pursuing the Savior:

Shortcuts

Share

Category