Unpacking Jesus’ Call in John 5:14 and John 8:11 to Live Free from Sin
“Sin no more.” Jesus said this twice throughout the Gospels. The first time was in John 5:14, and later He said it in John 8:11.
Jesus obliterates sin!
We receive forgiveness in Jesus’ name, and all of the sin we have ever committed is destroyed and erased. God remembers it no more.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
– Hebrews 8:12 – KJV
Through Jesus Christ, we have a new life and embark upon a new journey. Along the way, we may make mistakes, and God knows this before we do. He is willing to forgive, and we should be obedient to His word and repent in the name of Jesus when we do something that doesn’t line up with the Word of God—whether it is in our words, thoughts, or actions. Repent for our wrongs and sin no more. We should not willingly go back into the sin Jesus freed us from.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
-Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
We cannot allow ourselves to get into a habit of sinning when we feel like it, only to plan to repent afterwards. Jesus said, “Sin no more,” not “Sin when you feel like it and then repent.”
Both sin and righteousness require upkeep; it’s up to you what you spend your time maintaining.
We’ve got to practice righteousness the way we once practiced sinning prior to our new life. We have a new life with Christ, and the more we commit to righteousness, the more we become like Christ—which is what we’re supposed to do. We should become so much like Christ that when we speak, others can hear Christ talking; when we think, our mindset is so aligned with Jesus that it causes God joy daily; and our actions mirror Jesus to the point that they light up the world around us.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
-Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Reflective Questions:
• What habits or thoughts do I keep returning to that Jesus has already freed me from?
• Am I intentional about practicing righteousness daily, or do I let sin creep in when it’s convenient?
• How often do I pause to repent when my words, thoughts, or actions don’t reflect Christ?
• Who or what in my life tempts me to entanglement with the ‘yoke of bondage,’ and how can I stand fast against it?
• Do my actions light up the world around me, or do they dim the reflection of Jesus in my life?
• When was the last time I consciously chose obedience to God’s Word over my own desires?
• How can I align my mindset more closely with Christ’s to bring joy to God each day?
Prayer:
In the name of Jesus, I come before you, Father, and I ask that the Holy Spirit helps me keep focused on committing righteousness. I want to make you joyful, Father, and be a vessel for your pleasures, fitting to use for your purpose, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press