However, in the essence of what you have been preaching here, I think that you actually believe that believers cannot not sin and that their lives are characterized by sin.
What I have clearly said is that believers will continue to struggle with sin throughout their lives and so cannot live a life free of sin, but their lives aren't characterized by sin.
If believers can choose not to sin, why would they sin?
Because of the flesh, as I mentioned.
This can be explained in two ways.
1) If we say that we have no sin (not "do no sin") we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. It is speaking of indwelling sin and not practical sinning.
What is the practical difference?
2) 1 John 1:8 is speaking of "if we say that we have no sin" in the same sense that it says that Jesus was tempted in all points yet without sin, in Hebrews 4:15.
I don't see the connection between the two.
In this scenario, 1 John 1:10 is a perfect reiteration of 1 John 1:8.
Apart from the scenario, based on a plain reading of the text, verse 10 is a reiteration of verse 8.
And what substantiates this is Colossians 2:11 (especially in the nlt); as well as the concept in 1 John 3:5 that there is no sin in Christ and the concept in 1 John 5:20 and elsewhere that those who believe are in Christ. Here, it is possible to assert that I have no indwelling sin and yet not be deceiving myself; all that is necessary for me to not be deceiving myself is to acknowledge that I have sinned at some juncture in the past. And in this scenario, it is not saying that we must necessarily commit sin in the present or the future.
And, yet, as I have stated more than once, John's use of "confess" in 1 John 1:9 speaks of continuous action. The translation of this verse given in Wuest's
Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, is: If we continue to confess our sins, faithful is He and righteous to forgive us our sins znd to cleanse us from every unrighteousness.
In fact, if it were saying that, it would be contradicting 1 John 3:4-9; and we know that the scriptures do not contradict each other.
You need to rethink everything since the KJV rendering of that passage doesn't actually capture what the Greek states.
The kjv Bible does in fact say that the one who is born of God "cannot sin".
I suppose that you are here contending that the kjv is not the Holy Bible.
You had better have evidence to support your assertion.
I have never and will never state that "the KJV is not the Holy Bible." I have stated and will state again that the KJV, in this and many other instances, doesn't translate the Greek as it is written. Other modern translations don't in various places either due to issues with translation. Your practical idolatry of the KJV is not good. Some newer versions have the meaning that is in the Greek:
1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 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.
1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (ESV)
1Jn 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1Jn 3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
1Jn 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1Jn 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. (NIV)
1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
1Jn 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jn 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (NASB)
Again, it is about what characterizes one's life, sin or righteousness, and even their feelings towards their sin, not whether or not they sin sometimes or even every day, which every believer does. Besides, John says this close to the end, which supports and is consistent with everything I have said:
1Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. (ESV)
That's just speaking of visible sin, not those in the heart or done in private. If that isn't convincing, although that should put an end to the discussion, there is more:
1Co 3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
1Co 3:3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? (ESV)
1Co 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
1Co 5:2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
...
1Co 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (ESV)
1Co 6:8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! (ESV)
1Co 8:12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. (ESV)
1Co 11:20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
1Co 11:21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
1Co 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. (ESV)
Gal 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
Gal 2:12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Gal 2:13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (ESV)
Gal 5:7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (ESV)
Gal 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (ESV)
There is much more that could be posted but this is more than sufficient to prove that Christians sin because we still battle the flesh and its desires.
You're going to threaten me now? how Christ-like!
How is my statement a violation of the ToS? What # in the ToS is it in violation of?
Nevertheless, I don't have to ever say it again. I have said it; and it will have the impact that the Lord wants it to have. The word of the Lord will not return void.
I said it in love (see Galatians 5:22-23 and Psalms 94:20).
You are implying that I am not saved, in violation of ToS 1.4. I don't at all believe that you said it in love, not that that is relevant.
