“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 KJV)
There is no doubt that believers should strive to not sin. Sin has bad consequences. God still hates sin. However, read in context. Some are thinking if we sin the same sin again that we lose salvation because of this verse. We must remember context. In context of the Book of John, John 5:14 does not teach loss of salvation. Jesus said here “…SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” He did not say anything about losing salvation.
Also, what about what the other statements of Jesus that we read in the book of John? Jesus never contradicts Himself.
Earlier we read John 3,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)
What about these statements as well?
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24 KJV)
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29 KJV)
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40 KJV)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 KJV)
The lesson of John 5:1-15 is that the crippled man believed an angel stirring the water would heal him. It is misplaced faith. We are not to give worship to angels but to God only. In context, this was the sin of this man Jesus says look…I healed you. No angel!! Do not do worship anyone but God. It is just like today where even pulpits preach religious rituals or traditions. It is misplaced faith and can result in the devils schemes for evil against the man.
We should not attribute the work of God to anyone other than Him alone. Apostle Paul warned that,
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8 KJV)
An angel may be an evil fallen angel of Satan ready to deceive you see? And he will scheme evil against you. We are not to worship angels as if they are God. This is the sin that Jesus was telling the man to stop doing. Otherwise something worse will happen. Satan will use it against him.
The lesson for us? Worship God. Trust only God to heal and for everything and every circumstance.
