Is It Possible to be Free of Sin?

[GodsGrace]

The desire to sin, is not what is sinful. The mere fact that person is TEMPTED to commit sin, is a sign of desiring to sin. It is the acting upon it that is sinful. When satan tempts us to sin, that is not sinful, when we do what he tempts us to do, then that becomes sin.



What does Scriptures teach?

Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Joh_5:14 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.

Joh_8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

And there are TONS more verses which all teach the exact same thing. So Yes Scriptures plainly teaches it is possible. Maybe now you are starting to understand why it is a narrow and difficult path that leads to life everlasting and only a very few will find it. If you want to learn more Truths concerning this topic, then it should behoove you to read the following two articles with a lot of Scriptural references:
Sin No More
Keep On Sinning?



i do all things to please Jesus Christ. i could not do it without Him. The #1 thing to fight against all temptations is knowledge of the Word of God. (The reason i have read it cover to cover over 50 times, and listen to it for 8 hours a day at work) If you don't know what it says, how can you use it against satan? Knowing that it is written that Jesus never allows any temptation to be so strong that you can't handle it, and with every temptation Jesus allows a path out of it, is a good starter. So when you are being tempted look for that path out of it.

Praying is a huge benefit when one is tempted to commit a sin. Seeking the Power and Strength of Jesus Christ in a time of weakness when you are being tempted to do something that you know is sinful, He is faithful and will help you. But how many in this generation when they are tempted, want to NOT do that which they are tempted? They would rather just commit the sin, repent afterwards, and think all is well with their souls, time after time after time after time after time after time. ... .. .. .. .. . right? There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. NOT that anyone specifically on this forum are such. (generalizing here)

Also another thing i do is not to quit all sins all at once, if you try to do this, you will be setting yourself up to fail. A person who tries to give up smoking, drinking, cussing, lusting(porn) all at the same time is bound to fail miserably. Take one sin, and get it out of your life. When it is gone, then work on another, then another. God is faithful and will not take you out of this world as long as you are trying to walk in the light as Jesus did. i am where i am today because i gave up smoking (very hard), cursing, porn (hard), anger, drinking, money, sex (celibate now over 10 years), filthy communication, TV, Cable, Satellite, friends, family, my dream of having a wife and kids and white picked fence, my life, and other things. [not in any particular order]. Gave them all up to serve Jesus Christ. Gave them all up one by one, till i am where i am today. If i can do it, i assure you, that you can do it as well.

But you most certainly have to be willing to give up your LIFE. He gave His for you, should you not be willing to give yours for HIM? i surround myself with thoughts of Him. Christian shirts is what i wear. Christian bumper stickers on my car. cross hanging on mirror in car. Pictures of Jesus and Angels other Religious stuff hanging every where in my house. Screen background is of Jesus on my computer. Mouse pad is of Jesus. Yes people call me a Jesus freak, and i LOVE IT. When Peter walked on water, he was able to do that which is impossible to do as long as his mind and thoughts were on Jesus Christ, but the moment he looked away from Jesus and thought about the storm, he sank like a stone. My mind and thoughts are on Jesus Christ from the moment i wake up in the morning till i go to bed at night. Yes very narrow and difficult road that i am on. have no friends, and have lost family as well. i do all things to please Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. i belong to Him, i am His servant, i do not obey His enemy the devil, EVER! Why would i obey the enemy of my Lord Jesus Christ?

What, i am supernatural? NOPE. i am just like you, a mere human being. But how can i walk like Jesus walked, because i have given up my life to be a slave to Him is how. i know what is at stake here, Heaven or Hell. i do all things to please Him.

What sin do you do that you can't possibly cease from? Really, none. The question then is, why are you not ceasing from them?



It is never easy to give up any particular sin that we continue to live in. no matter what that sin may be. But give it up you MUST. For Scriptures plainly and clearly teaches that we are to get rid of the sin that so easily besets us. And it is impossible to get rid of that sin that so easily besets us without the help of Jesus/Holy Ghost.

There are many more things a person can do to overcome sinning. Scriptures teaches us how. Read the two articles above that will be a start.

OH and above all else, while you are trying to walk in Christ, be Loving One Another. Failing to Love One Another is to deny Jesus Christ, for it is written if you do it not to the least of these you do it not to Jesus. When you fail to Love Others, you fail to Love Jesus.

Hi DD,
I see you joined a long time ago but have not posted too much. It would be nice to have your input here.

Your post is really good and is full of good ideas and views.

You said that it's the act that is the sin and not the temptation. I have to agree but it depends on what you mean by temptation. Jesus brought sinning to the heart level...He wants us to change from the inside out.

So...(I use this example because I like jewelry) I go into a jewelry store and the owner leaves a few rings before me and goes to the back.
A. I don't even consider taking one....
B. I think I'd like to take one, but I don't. I stop thinking about it.
C. I don't take one but my heart burns within me and I can't stop thinking about it and wonder how I could do this even though I might probably not...and the thought goes on and on.

Have I ever sinned?

I've also often stated about why the gate is narrow to persons that believe they could sin at will and then still end up with God. So we're in tune there.

I also agree with you that we're to love one another.
Faith, Hope and Charity...which is Love.

The only problem I have is that the road you've chosen is very good for you and no one should try to talk you out of it, as I'm sure many do. It must be kind of threatening to some.

I believe we must have an ear to hear God and to obey Him. I believe we each have our road to travel and take with us faults and weaknesses. I also believe we shouldn't use that as a cop out to sin. It's a fine line...

But God will not be mocked.
We need to be honest with ourselves...

John 14:15

 

[DiscipleDave]

I have a few questions for you DD, based on your teaching (http://discipledave.com/Keeponsinning.html).

First off. Please don't give me credit for something that is not mine to take. It is not my teaching but was given to me by God, therefore His and not mine.

1. Are you sinlessly perfect right now?

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

i am even as this verse describes. i do all things to please Jesus Christ, could not do it without His Power and Strength against all temptations that satan throws at me.

1. Do you still commit sin not unto death, according to 1 Jn. 5:16?

There are 3 different kinds of sins. 1) Sins unto Death. 2) Sins not unto Death. and 3) Sins not forgiven unto men (Blaspheme of the Holy Ghost)
Sins unto Death = Those that are knowingly and willingly committed.
Sins not unto Death = Those that are NOT knowingly and willingly committed.
Sins not forgiven unto men = Those you can't repent of after they are committed.

To answer your question, i do not knowingly and willingly commit any sins. And yes i still commit sins not unto death, because i do not know that i am sinning. Such as eating meat in front of a vegetarian that i did not know was a vegitarian. But once it is made known to me, i will not knowingly eat meat in front of that person, to cause offense.

1. How long ago did you last commit a sin in which your heart condemned you according to 1 Jn. 3:19-20?

If Jesus has forgotten all my past sins, why on earth would i remember them to keep them alive in my mind. i can't answer this question, i don't remember.

1. Could you possibly be committing any sin occasionally that you don't know about (sins of omission, perhaps)? TD

If i am unaware, then they are not Sins unto Death. But if it is made known to me, then i am aware that it is sinful, if then i do it knowing it is sinful, then it becomes a Sin unto Death.

 

[DiscipleDave]

Hi DiscipleDave,

You've given a long list of what you've given up in order to serve God. It is this list that I think could be of use for myself and fellow Christians who are trying to get rid of their sins, or are trying to deal with the loss of certian things (like no friends and loss of family).

There is only one thing that is important in this Life. Just one thing. Where are you going to spend Eternity? Nothing else is more important than that.

It is a hope of mine that as Christians we can help eachother through our struggles, or be able to reach nonbelievers by rescuing them from their sins.

my calling and what i was born for, is not for the unbelievers, or Saving lost souls, but to reprove, rebuke, and exhort Backsliding Christians.

It is a hope of mine that as Christians we can help eachother through our struggles, or be able to reach nonbelievers by rescuing them from their sins. (Not that we'd be doing the rescuing, but if we know the struggle we can help with the knowledge of how we made it through that struggle assoicated with a specific sin).

Amen on that. God has put me in many situation all my life, to experience them. When someone says to me. "Well you have never been Homeless" Yes i have. "You have never been in AA meetings", Yes i have. "Well you have never been in jail" Yes i have (innocent though) The Lord God has put me through a lot of things in my life, to better understand what others are going through, in order to help them even as Jesus helped me during those times.

With that in mind would you mind going into more detail of how you gave up smoking, cursing, porn, anger, drinking, money, sex, and filthy communication.

Oh my! i could write a book on those things. Maybe start a thread "How did you quit smoking" and another thread "How does a person stop looking at porn" and so forth.

Each of these sins comes at us in different ways and from different situtions, and the struggle to stay away from them when that sin is a weakness could be a real ministry to help Christians, and to help nonchristians too.

I think a prison ministry would expecially be of value if as a community we got together and compared notes on certian sins and the path to overcome each one.

Are you aware what world you live in? Who in these last days WANTS to stop sinning? This generation would much rather just hold on to Doctrines that allow them to continue to sin and still get to go to Heaven. ONLY a very few will actually try to cease from their sinning, for who does not love to continue to live in the sins that they love to do?

Of the other parts of life you gave up for service, such as giving up on family and friends for companionship, or on a job or other good aspect people strive for, hope for, and are devastated if they lose it; a ministry to help those going through the same thing and for those who morn and have lost a lot comes to mind.

Each person is born with a void inherently inside them. Every person feels empty with nothing put inside that void. So people think to themselves. if i had MONEY, that is what they try to put in that void, in order for them to be happy. Others try Love, Relationships, Family, sex, music, Lands, Stuff, Work, or whatever else people think "If i only had ____ in my life, then i would be Happy" But what this generation and previous ones fail to realize is that NONE of those things is what the void was created for. That Void can only hold one thing, and that is Jesus Christ. When that is put in the void, then and ONLY then will a person be HAPPY. And what i mean by that is, for example. Since i have Jesus in my void inside of me, it does not matter what happens to me in this life. Lose my Job, Get an incurable disease, lose my Mother, lose my Father, Be locked up in prison falsely for life, Maimed, become Homeless, It does not matter what happens to me, NOTHING can take away my Happiness. i am here but for a short time compared to Eternity, what is it to me if i suffer in this life, especially if it is for Him?
Those who want money, die wanting more. Those who put Family in that void, die being disappointed by them. Those who think Getting to the top of the ladder at work, would make them happy and fill that void, die at the top and alone and NOT happy. Jesus is the only thing that fits into that void. And Him only.

I know this is asking a lot, because it is your life I'm asking for you to share, and be open about. But you said you've successfully given these things up. Going into more detail on giving up any one of these things could help another who is struggling with the same thing.

....if you're willing...

Start a Thread on How to quit smoking and i will give my story there.

 

[tdidymas]

.

It just sounds to me like you are claiming to be sinlessly perfect.
TD

 

[DiscipleDave]

Hi DD,
I see you joined a long time ago but have not posted too much. It would be nice to have your input here.

If the Lord wills it, that would be great.

Your post is really good and is full of good ideas and views.

A big problem that the Lord helped me with, was trying to Love those who do not love me at all. Those who would start a rumor then i am fired. For example i was working (as a Temp) at a Government Center for the Bureau of Child Welfare. my ex wife's boyfriends girlfriend worked there too. She did not like me working there, and started a rumor that i was a convicted child molester. One day i was pulled into an office of my supervisor and she fired me, and told me what was said about me. i then told her that would be super easy to disprove, all she had to do was do a criminal background check on me and it would prove that i am not as the rumor says. She blatantly told me "Well your just a temp, and we just don't want to go through all that trouble, sorry" And that was that, fired because of a lie. How do i love her?

Well the Lord pretty much set me straight how. The Lord taught me what to think when it came to someone who is very difficult to Love.

1. Jesus Loves that person.
2. Jesus went to the cross for that person.
3. How you treat that person, is how you treat Jesus.
4. There is a reason that person is the way they are. Don't take it personally.
5. Feel Pity for that person instead.

So if someone is mean to me, or did something awful to me, and i have every right to hate that person, i think upon those above things. Jesus loves that person, should i hate someone that Jesus my Lord Loves? Jesus loved that person so much that He went to the cross so that person one day may become Saved. That person might have been abused as a kid, or has a spouse that is abusive. Maybe that person just lost someone they love, and are lashing out, Whatever that person did to me, it was not to me, but they did it for a reason that they are dealing with within their self. i should feel sorry for this person and desire to try to help this person, and pray for this person that whatever this person is dealing with that causes that person to act or do the things that person does, that Jesus will help her/him. After thinking all this, it is extremely difficult for me to remain mad or upset or angry against this person.

You said that it's the act that is the sin and not the temptation. I have to agree but it depends on what you mean by temptation. Jesus brought sinning to the heart level...He wants us to change from the inside out.

So...(I use this example because I like jewelry) I go into a jewelry store and the owner leaves a few rings before me and goes to the back.
A. I don't even consider taking one....
B. I think I'd like to take one, but I don't. I stop thinking about it.
C. I don't take one but my heart burns within me and I can't stop thinking about it and wonder how I could do this even though I might probably not...and the thought goes on and on.

Have I ever sinned?

What i say is sin and not sin is irrelevant. But according to Scriptures there is no sin done in the above examples you give. UNLESS that person actually takes the ring(s). satan is always going to be around to tempt each person with the temptations that they are weak against. The person who is A. in the above example does not steal, don't even think about it, therefore satan is not going to tempt that person to steal. satan is not going to waste his time and effort on a person if he does not think he can get them to do it. Person B. above is a Godly person, and it pleases God. Not because they were tempted to do something that they really wanted to do, but that they did not do it and stops thinking about doing it because it is against God. These put satan in his place. Person C. above is struggling. These are they that satan will work overtime to get them to fall, get them to choose to steal. By keeping the thought alive and not squelching it when it arises, you give place to it. NOT that it is sinful just because satan keeps tempting this and won't seem to shut up about it. It is the Act that is sinful, not the temptations.

However, Lusting is a different animal altogether and not like theft. Theft becomes a sin when you actually steal something, not the thinking about stealing it. But Lust on the other hand, it becomes sinful when you are viewing something that you know you should not view and continue to view it anyways, at that very moment, when you know you should look away, but choose to continue to lust, that it becomes sinful.

I've also often stated about why the gate is narrow to persons that believe they could sin at will and then still end up with God. So we're in tune there.

A devil worshiper can end up with God. Judgement Day is when Jesus Returns to the Earth and the Book of Life is opened and if your name is written therein, then on that Day, you are SAVED. A devil worshiper Not Saved today, does not mean he is not Saved tomorrow. As long as a person draws breath, no matter what condition they are living in, they can accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and change.

I also agree with you that we're to love one another.
Faith, Hope and Charity...which is Love.

This is so important that Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, COMMANDED us to Love One Another. This is not something we should try to do, but we are COMMANDED to do it. We should NOT call Jesus "Lord" and NOT do the things that He COMMANDS us to do.

The only problem I have is that the road you've chosen is very good for you and no one should try to talk you out of it, as I'm sure many do. It must be kind of threatening to some.

It's threatening because i live what they say is impossible to do.

I believe we must have an ear to hear God and to obey Him.

In order for a person to hear God, they must first hear Him without hearing Him. And not hear ONLY, but do what they hear. If a person can't obey that small voice that usually says "You should not be doing that, it is against God" then How will they hear God speak to them. If they will not hear and obey that small voice, they will not hear God. (However there are few exceptions to this)

I believe we each have our road to travel and take with us faults and weaknesses. I also believe we shouldn't use that as a cop out to sin. It's a fine line...

satan will not tempt a person who does not steal to steal something. satan does not tempt a person to get drunk who does not drink alcohol. satan does not tempt a person to do drugs who never does any drugs. satan knows each one of us better than we know even our own selves. he knows what are desires are and what are weaknesses are, those are the things that satan uses against each person. You see it is satans main goal to keep us living in sin, it does not matter what sin that may be, as long as a person is living in it.

But God will not be mocked.
We need to be honest with ourselves... John 14:15

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And what are His commandments?

1Jn 3:22-24 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should 1) Believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (Faith), and 2) Love One Another (Works), as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and he in Him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.

This generation does a Great Job doing the first part of His Commandment 1) Believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, but fail is the second part which is to 2) Love One Another.

 

[DiscipleDave]

It just sounds to me like you are claiming to be sinlessly perfect.
TD

What sin do you do that you can't cease from?

Are you saying there is a sin that you can't cease from?

If then you CAN cease from it, then why can't you be Holy as God is Holy, even as we are instructed to be?

If we can't cease from sinning, then the Holy Word of God plainly calls us Cursed Children.

2Pe_2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (Are you saying you CAN'T do this?)

 

[JohnDB]

What sin do you do that you can't cease from?

Are you saying there is a sin that you can't cease from?

If then you CAN cease from it, then why can't you be Holy as God is Holy, even as we are instructed to be?

If we can't cease from sinning, then the Holy Word of God plainly calls us Cursed Children.

2Pe_2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (Are you saying you CAN'T do this?)

Those sins are called transgressions in scripture.
They are ongoing sins that aren't possible to stop right away.
Living with someone you are not married to falls into this category as an example. Having been doing so for years and then one of the two people fall under conviction about the situation.
It will take time to get inside of the law.
It's not as easy as just running down to the courthouse for a license. One of the two may be still legally married to someone else that they haven't seen in years...

People's lives get messy... cleaning up takes time. These sins they can't stop (because of the children or some other equally good reason) are called transgressions. Jesus forgives these too...but they're a very slippery slope. And I'm not advocating a lifestyle of sin is acceptable. True effort must be made....and God, who knows people's hearts, is the judge.

 

[JLB]

Are you aware what world you live in? Who in these last days WANTS to stop sinning? This generation would much rather just hold on to Doctrines that allow them to continue to sin and still get to go to Heaven. ONLY a very few will actually try to cease from their sinning, for who does not love to continue to live in the sins that they love to do?

 

[JLB]

What sin do you do that you can't cease from?

Are you saying there is a sin that you can't cease from?

If then you CAN cease from it, then why can't you be Holy as God is Holy, even as we are instructed to be?

If we can't cease from sinning, then the Holy Word of God plainly calls us Cursed Children.

2Pe_2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (Are you saying you CAN'T do this?)

I know from experience we can indeed stop sinning, however it takes hating that sin and repentance as well as God’s mercy and grace.


The Lord will let you keep the sins and transgressions we love.


The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.



JLB

 

[JLB]

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And what are His commandments?

1Jn 3:22-24 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should 1) Believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (Faith), and 2) Love One Another (Works), as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and he in Him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.

This generation does a Great Job doing the first part of His Commandment 1) Believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, but fail is the second part which is to 2) Love One Another

Amen.


This is called obeying the truth.



JLB

 

[stovebolts]

Good stuff DiscipleDave
I was just talking to our preacher almost about the same thing.

The church likes to point out and put extra focus on what sin is, but we often don't help them to hit the mark, let alone tell them where the mark is and how to hit it.

I liked what you said about starting a thread on quitting smoking etc. We all know it's bad, but some need help getting out of it. Just because you know it's bad isn't enough to get you out of it. Sometimes it takes a community to support each other.

Point in case, smoking is a physical habit. When you stop, your hand are left not knowing what to do. Instead of doing something bad with your hands, they need something good that they can do. This is how bad habits are stopped and good habits are formed. If one stops a bad habit and cannot replace it with a good habit, they will more than likely go back to the bad habit. This is not only a picture of repentance and what backsliding looks like, but it is also human nature.

 

[tdidymas]

What sin do you do that you can't cease from?

Are you saying there is a sin that you can't cease from?

If then you CAN cease from it, then why can't you be Holy as God is Holy, even as we are instructed to be?

If we can't cease from sinning, then the Holy Word of God plainly calls us Cursed Children.

2Pe_2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (Are you saying you CAN'T do this?)

So then, are you sinlessly perfect, or not?
TD

 

[JLB]

So then, are you sinlessly perfect, or not?
TD

What do you call someone who is forgiven of their sins and cleansed of all unrighteousness?



JLB

 

[JohnDB]

You got nuthin on me I tell ya...
I've got the righteousness of Christ...
I'm as innocent as they come...
To accuse me of sin is to accuse Jesus of sin...

 

[tdidymas]

What do you call someone who is forgiven of their sins and cleansed of all unrighteousness?



JLB

I'm just trying to find out where DD is coming from. I read his teaching on the link and I think he is teaching the Christian Perfection idea that John Wesley and Charles Finney taught. But since I don't know for certain, I've got to ask, and I have to start somewhere.

To answer your question, we are forgiven, not perfect. When Paul wrote "whoever is perfect among you..." he was being facetious. If anyone thinks himself sinless, he doesn't understand Paul and John's doctrine, IMO.

Perfection of spirit mentioned by the writer of Hebrews doesn't make a person sinlessly perfect. What spiritual perfection does is powerfully influence the soul, but doesn't guarantee sinlessness. Thus John writes "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves..."

Paul also wrote to the Corinthians to purify themselves of defilements of flesh and spirit, which proves that Paul understood being born again doesn't guarantee even spiritual perfection. As long as the Holy Spirit is doing the work of sanctification in us, there is room for improvement. That need will continue to exist as long as we are alive physically. It is part of spiritual growth to persevere in faith, and that faith is that Christ delivers from sin, and not we ourselves. Not even by so-called "free will."
TD

 

[JLB]

I'm just trying to find out where DD is coming from. I read his teaching on the link and I think he is teaching the Christian Perfection idea that John Wesley and Charles Finney taught. But since I don't know for certain, I've got to ask, and I have to start somewhere.

To answer your question, we are forgiven, not perfect. When Paul wrote "whoever is perfect among you..." he was being facetious. If anyone thinks himself sinless, he doesn't understand Paul and John's doctrine, IMO.

Perfection of spirit mentioned by the writer of Hebrews doesn't make a person sinlessly perfect. What spiritual perfection does is powerfully influence the soul, but doesn't guarantee sinlessness. Thus John writes "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves..."

Paul also wrote to the Corinthians to purify themselves of defilements of flesh and spirit, which proves that Paul understood being born again doesn't guarantee even spiritual perfection. As long as the Holy Spirit is doing the work of sanctification in us, there is room for improvement. That need will continue to exist as long as we are alive physically. It is part of spiritual growth to persevere in faith, and that faith is that Christ delivers from sin, and not we ourselves. Not even by so-called "free will."
TD

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.


I appreciate it.

I see you are an insightful person as well as knowledgeable.


Could you answer my question?


I have a different style of discussing the scriptures than some.


I want to stimulate or provoke you to think in terms of grasping two extremes and finding the balance while maintaining doctrinal integrity.



Solomon said it this way -


It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them. Ecclesiastes 7:18



Question:


What do you call a person whose sins are forgiven and who is cleansed of all unrighteousness?


This question comes from the scripture
1 John 1:9



If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9




JLB

 

[tdidymas]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.


I appreciate it.

I see you are an insightful person as well as knowledgeable.


Could you answer my question?


I have a different style of discussing the scriptures than some.


I want to stimulate or provoke you to think in terms of grasping two extremes and finding the balance while maintaining doctrinal integrity.



Solomon said it this way -


It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them. Ecclesiastes 7:18



Question:


What do you call a person whose sins are forgiven and who is cleansed of all unrighteousness?


This question comes from the scripture
1 John 1:9



If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9




JLB

A saint.
TD

 

[GodsGrace]

It just sounds to me like you are claiming to be sinlessly perfect.
TD

I'd like to know why those who are trying to live as Jesus would want them to, are always being told that they claim to be sinless, or perfect, and how both are impossible.

I believe we should be here to encourage each other to be exactly that...as sinless as possible and as perfect as possible.

And I don't need a teaching on what perfect means in the N.T.
and how we cannot be sinless until our glorification...

What I'm saying is that we should not put down persons that are doing much better at following Jesus and being a disciple of His, than maybe we are---myself included.

I know for sure that they see sin more because they're so close to God. The closer you are to God, the MORE you see, or notice, sin. The more aware of it you are and so you tend to cut more out of your life.

Those that ague with persons like the other member, if I may say so, are probably so far from God that they think Jesus covers their every sin and so they don't even worry about it.

I'd post some verses,,,but I don't know why they'd be necessary.

 

[GodsGrace]

DiscipleDave

Hi DD,,,
I read your post but it's going to require a long reply.
Soon....

 

[tdidymas]

I'd like to know why those who are trying to live as Jesus would want them to, are always being told that they claim to be sinless, or perfect, and how both are impossible.

I believe we should be here to encourage each other to be exactly that...as sinless as possible and as perfect as possible.

And I don't need a teaching on what perfect means in the N.T.
and how we cannot be sinless until our glorification...

What I'm saying is that we should not put down persons that are doing much better at following Jesus and being a disciple of His, than maybe we are---myself included.

I know for sure that they see sin more because they're so close to God. The closer you are to God, the MORE you see, or notice, sin. The more aware of it you are and so you tend to cut more out of your life.

Those that ague with persons like the other member, if I may say so, are probably so far from God that they think Jesus covers their every sin and so they don't even worry about it.

I'd post some verses,,,but I don't know why they'd be necessary.

I'm not arguing anything or putting anyone down. I'm trying to find out where DD is coming from, since he avoids answering simple questions. I read his teaching on the link he provided, and it appears to me that he is teaching the "Christian Perfection" idea that was taught by John Wesley and Charles Finney, albeit there are differences among them. But if you try to tell me that I cannot confront bad doctrine, then maybe you should report me to the moderator. If you want to follow that path, that's your prerogative. I'm here to discuss what the Bible actually says. If I see something contrary to the teaching of scripture, I'm not going to be silent. If you see that as a put down, then I think you have a filter you're looking through. I'm just trying to follow what Jesus and the apostles did by attempting to correct what I see wrong. I'm not trying to disrespect anyone.
TD