John makes it clear that Christians do not have to sin. "I am writing these things unto you that you may not sin" (1 John 2:1 NASB).
The secret of victory over sin is found in the phrase "walk in the light" (1 John 1:7)
To walk in the light means to be open and honest, to be sincere - with God, with ourselves, and with others.
But walking in the light also means obeying God's Word (1 John 2:3-4). "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). To walk in the light means to spend time daily in God's Word, discovering His will: and the obeying what He has told us.
Obedience to God's Word is proof of our love for Him. There are three motives for obedience. We can obey because we have to, because we need to, or because we want to.
A slave obeys because he has to. If he doesn't obey he will be punished. An employee obeys because he needs to. He may not enjoy his work, but he does enjoy getting his paycheck! He needs to obey because he has a family to feed and clothe. But a Christian is to obey His heavenly Father because he wants to - for the relationship between him and God is one of love. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15)
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