1 John 5:18 NASB95
We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
Let me give you a good grammatical paraphrase of what this scripture is saying. “We know that no one who is born of God (Jesus) lives continually sinning, but He (Jesus) who was born of God continually keeps us, and the evil one continually can’t even touch us.”
For the believer, victory over sin is not a how-to but is instead a “who to.” Walking in freedom from the reign of sin in our lives and over our personalities is not the result of any kind of formula or disciplined self-effort. Victory is the result of abiding in Christ and allowing Jesus to enforce, step-by-step, the victory over sin’s reign over us, which He accomplished 2000 years ago at the Cross. Jesus did not come just to set us free from sin’s penalty. He came to set us free from sin’s power holding sway over our personality. We don’t have to live being controlled by moods, and dispositions, and attitudes. We don’t have to live in defeat because of situations or circumstances. We don’t have to live being always conscious of spiritual warfare. Jesus makes it very clear in this verse that He’s the One who lives a sin-free lifestyle, and if we will just trust Him moment by moment to be our victory, that is to live His life through us, then the enemy can’t even touch us. Don’t settle for less than Jesus paid for and accomplished at the Cross. Don’t settle for living in misery and despair and depression, or fear and anxiety. Instead, rest in the One who is able to continually keep us from sin’s reign and destruction. It is also freeing to know that if we do fall, there is no mystery why we did. It was because we stopped looking to Him in faith to be our victory. Getting up is simply acknowledging that fact and then take the next step thanking Him once again for being our victory.