Posted on 02/01/2003 1:02:57 PM PST by Ex-Wretch
Can a Christian live without SIN?
By: M.A. Daoud
Living without sin are words which shock many people, but how otherwise can the grand purpose of Christ’s mission into the world be accomplished? He came to save people from their sins. But if Christians cannot be saved from sinning according to the teaching of some defeated teachers and church leaders, then the plan of redemption is a failure.
The New Testament distinctly teaches that the salvation which Jesus has provided includes grace to live without sinning. St. Paul said: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are DEAD TO SIN live any longer therein?” Again he said, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.” These are strong words for a mortal man to use but they were true. The life he lived was declared by the Holy Ghost to be holy and just and unblameable. St. John’s teaching exactly coincides with that of St. Paul. The purpose of his Epistles was to warn believers against sin, and to keep them from it. “These things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” John’s teaching in chapter 3 of his first Epistle is to the effect that as certainly as we may be saved from the consequences of sin by faith in Christ, so may we be kept from sinning by abiding in HIM. Because they need not, Christians must not sin. The possibility involves the obligation. The children of God are manifest and the children of the devil: He that committeth sin (that is, knowingly and willingly) is of the devil. No state of grace in the Christian life and experience permits the committing of voluntary sin. Even the lowest type of Christian does not continue in sin.
Another point is also made clear in this chapter, that permanent sonship and continual sinning are contradictions which cannot be combined in the same character. A person can no more remain born of God and continue in sin, than he can remain honest and steal, or truthful and tell lies.
If peradventure he fell in sin, he immediately cries out to God for forgiveness and shakes himself and gets cleansed forward again … just like a lamb when he falls into a ditch cries out for help … but if a pig falls into a filthy ditch, he enjoys it and keeps turning over and digging his nose in. So a person does according to his nature. A Christian with the divine nature of God imparted in him, will not continue in sin by any means … and if a person, who confesses to be a Christian, continues in sin, then it is evident that that person was never truly born of God, or he lost out with God and God’s Spirit was withdrawn from him as it happened to King Saul and others.
When a soul is truly born of God by the Holy Spirit, a new principle (the love of God) is admitted and takes up its abode behind the will. The attitude of the will can never be hostile or against God’s law, so long as it is swayed by love to the law-giver.
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.” He cannot, because he will not; the impossibility is not physical but moral.
We recognize, of course, to some extent, a difference between sin committed as a result of momentary weakness or lack of watchfulness, and that which is committed deliberately, with set purpose. In an unguarded moment, the best Christian may be surprised into some single act of sin, but this does not involve in gross sins such as adultery or divorcement or lying, unless the person has lost God. But for this surprised sin there is merciful provision in our High Priest above. But even these ‘surprise sins’ as they may be designated are not a necessity. “IF any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.” The “IF” clearly implies they are not necessary or expected! What nonsense it would be to use this word IF, if there were no room for a condition.
God’s word teaches clearly that Christians need not and do not sin, but capability to sin remains. Should one be overtaken in a fault, let him not despair. God in His mercy has made sufficient provision in Christ for his forgiveness and cleansing again if he confesses the wrong he has done.
What is commonly meant by COMMITTING SIN, in the New Testament, is a willing and known transgression of a known law.
Mistakes, infirmities and involuntary offences are inevitable so long as we are in the body. Sins, by the keeping power of Christ, are avoidable throughout every hour of our generated life. He will so energize the will, that it shall be able to stand against every suggestion to act contrary to the will of God. No power on earth nor in hell can compel a man to sin who relies upon God to be kept from it. Christ came not to cover up, make excuses for, or give liberty to sin, but to give us uninterrupted victory, to teach us that by continuous trust in Him we need never know defeat.
Thus was the prophesy of Zacharias: “That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.” “We are more than conquerors through HIM,” and, “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save His people from their sins.”
Through the blood and death of Christ we receive forgiveness, and through His stripes we receive healing; but through accepting the risen Lord, we receive overcoming life.
Dear Reader, this experience can be yours if you present your body a living sacrifice and consecrate your life to Him, and be dead to sin and enter the newness of life.
If you have Jesus enthroned in your heart and life, He will dwell within and subdue all enemies and no strangers will be allowed to come where He occupies. If you have accepted Him as your Saviour from the penalty of sin … accept Him as your Saviour from the power of sin and yield your members to be members of righteousness. Being crucified with Him, be dead to sin and alive unto righteousness and holiness. Christ will come and make His abode in you to conquer for you and through you. Go on your knees and confess your sins and surrender to Him once and for all and accept Him as your conqueror.
If man were left to himself, we should all admit the thing is impossible; but it is not a question of what WE can do, but of what HE can do. Is anything too hard for the Lord? Cannot we by the grace of God live one minute without sin? If one minute, why not an hour? If an hour, why not a day? If a day, why not a year? Shall we limit the Holy One of Israel? There can be no continuous victory over sin unless such victory is expected, and no Christian will expect what he believes cannot be experienced. We are weak, but through Christ Who strengthens us, we are able to do all things.
“All things are possible to him that believeth.”
I will not be able to respond as much as I would like. I'm posting this for the edification of the saints. I'll check in when possible and respond as time and opportunity allow.
This author is wrong to say men can be so Holy they do not sin.
1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Did you read the article? To suggest that to live without sinning is wrong or not possible is to suggest that one live in a sinful state. Why then John's admonishment and encouragement that we "sin not". Or, why would Christ command that we be holy if it were not achievable? Or, why are we told to depart from iniquity if we call ourself a "Christian"?
With man it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.
I believe we are living in the last days. Strong medicine is required. Too many people think they can lean on their own understanding and somehow God will wink at their sin. Time is short. Don't be as one of the five foolish virgins.
1John 1:8-10 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
The problem believing that man can live without sin makes him believe that God is his debtor..He is so good God owes him salvation...
For a man to proclaim himself sinless is vanity.
You beat me to it, but obviously there are many in the churches every Sunday, deceiving themselves, and worse others as well.
If you think you can do anything to add to the work of Jesus on the cross, if you think there is anything that you can do to complete the work of Jesus, then you are not only sinning, but you are committing blasphemy. Hence, you may not even be covered by the blood of Jesus.
Yes, be ye perfect. But don't ever think you are.
Is it possible, for you, to live without sinning for 1 second? Or, does the mere fact that you are conscious and breathing dictate that you live in sin? If you live in sin then you surely are not saved. If you don't believe that you bear a responsibility to yield your members unto righteousness ... I would say that it is you that are presumptuous in your beliefs. Are you a robot?
As you are not perfect, everything you do falls short of the glory of God.
Fact - I am not God. Nor do I imply that I am. What I am is a blood-bought child of God. My salvation was purchased with a great price. I do not take it lightly. Nor does my heavenly Father. He sent Jesus to make a way for me. And, not just me, but anyone who will seek it, take up their cross and lay down their (old)life for it. Nothing has changed, surely not God. What He has done is provide a way to get power over the devil, the flesh, the world and sin. No sin, no condemnation. Do you desire to stop your sin(by His grace) against a holy God? Or, are you just too defeated to even want to get the victory in your life?
Hence you probably sin a hundred times a day without even realizing it.
God forbid! Trust me, if the Holy Ghost dwells within you, then you want to please God with a holy life. The Holy Ghost quickens you at times of temptation so you can recognize that your adversary is near.
Romans 6:15,16 - What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
If you think you can do anything to add to the work of Jesus on the cross, if you think there is anything that you can do to complete the work of Jesus, then you are not only sinning, but you are committing blasphemy. Hence, you may not even be covered by the blood of Jesus.
This is akin to being told of a great, hidden treasure and being handed a treasure map to find it. I MUST BELIEVE that the treasure exists and I MUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS to make the treasure mine in reality (since I had already grabbed it by faith)! There is nothing I can do EXCEPT 1)accept the fact that I was lost and His enemy, 2)earnestly seek His forgiveness, 3)repent with a godly sorrow of all my sin, 4)believe that by doing so He does indeed forgive and pardon me for all I have done to offend Him, 5)purpose to love, honor, serve, obey and live for Him as He requires, 6)trust that He will provide all my needs and make a way of escape when strong temptation presents itself, 7)tell others what He has done for me.
Enter 1 John 2:1 - "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ..."
I am to be a soldier in the army of God. Simply put, I have an enemy that I am to resist steadfast in the faith and, he shall flee. I never had this ability before I was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. THIS is why Jesus came and died, that I may now have a way back to the Father, by His grace ... not my goodness or worthiness, but by HIS POWER. I just trust(faith), and obey(follow His directions).
Full-gospel, Holiness preacher, teacher and evangelist based in Texas, I believe. He and his wife(deceased now) spent years in east Africa and the sub Asian continent doing the Lord's work.
Yes, I have sinned. No, not recently(by God's grace :) In the context and timeframe of my entire life, yes, I am a sinner. In the context and timeframe of the last xxx number of seconds/minutes/hours/days/weeks/months/years ... no, I am not a sinner, but a saint of God. One cannot be a sinner and a saint simultaneously. A sinner is one who sins(continues in it). Consider the thief that was converted and has been an honest man for the last 15 years. Would you call him a thief still? (i.e. is a thief or was a thief?)
Now, lest any of you judge me unrighteously, ask yourself a question. Would God, who is fair and just TO THE MAX, command us to be holy(as He is holy - that would be not to sin) ... if it were not possible to do so?
No excuses please.
Yes.
Great article and this is the perfect description. The converted person will ask Christ to show them their sins. When he does, the converted person asks Christ to help him eliminate, or overcome, that sin. The goal is to overcome our sins, not continue in them.
Is that your final answer? God is not Pharaoh :)
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