According to the apostle John, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

In other words, no one stays the same after the new birth. Being born of God is like being raised to life from death, being transferred from darkness to light, being delivered from slavery to freedom, being released from guilt to peace, being cured from blindness to see sin for what it is and hate it. A regenerated man cannot keep on going in the same direction.

Christian, is the change visible in your life? Are you tending the imperishable seed sown by God in your soul? Are you putting away all filthiness so that you may receive the implanted word? Are you watching closely so that the cares of this world don’t choke the word and keep you from being fruitful? As one who is born again, are you practicing righteousness more reliably, loving the brethren better, and confessing your sin more eagerly? By these behaviors it is evident who are the children of God (1 John 3:10).

Though it ought to grow better by grace, our practice of righteousness and love of the brethren isn’t perfect. We do not say we have no sin. We will always be in need of an Advocate. That’s part of the reason for our corporate time of Christian confession: if anyone does sin as God’s child, he has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).

He caused us to be born again that we might not keep on sinning. But if we do sin, He promises forgiveness and cleansing when we confess our sins. Honest confession itself is one sign of being born of God.