Sin No More – John 5
“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” — John 5:14
After thirty-eight year of being disabled, the man from the pool of Bethesda was now healed. He could walk. He could work. He could run. He could do so many things he had wanted to do for a long time.
He could also take his newfound freedom and abuse it. He could go out and sin. That’s why Jesus came to him in the temple and said, “Behold, thou are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee.”
This instruction to “sin no more” is similar to what Jesus said to the adulterous woman in John 8:11, “Go, and sin no more.” It also reminds us of Romans 6:1-2, “…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid…”
When Christ healed the man, He was expecting more than just physical healing. He wanted the man to believe on Him, be saved, and be spiritually whole. This would lead to a changed life including not sinning any more.
Christ expects the same thing for us. The grace that saves from sin’s penalty also saves us from sin’s power and gives us victory each day. Titus 2:11-12 puts it this way, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
So what sin are you committing as God’s child that you shouldn’t. He has saved you and set you free. Sin has no more dominion over you. You now have the power of God’s Spirit to help you obey. So, by faith, trust God to help you live in the freedom that is already yours in Christ. Sin no more!