Just getting any notions of sinlessness off the table. Which some here promote, surprisingly. I haven't posted here in quite awile. It seems to be a newer wrinkle
Good, I’m glad we’re in agreement here. I think you’ll find more agreement between us than disagreement.
John 3:8 is clear about sin being "of the devil"
I’m thinking you meant to post a different verse here. If not, I’m afraid it’s not so clear to me.
So is
Mark 4:15 likewise clear about sin being of the devil i.e. theft of Word.
Perhaps I’m stuck on your phrase, “sin, being of the devil”. Satan can cause us to sin, but let’s be clear in that we are responsible for our sin. In other words, it’s our sin. I have to add, there are two types of sin and they are willful and Unwillful sin and God treats these sins differently.
Let's presume that random evil thoughts are attributed to Satan/devils. That doesn't mean such things that transpire in us does NOT have repercussions, at least unto the perps. To think we skate for "their" intrusions is probably not true at all. We all pay a price in our own flesh for sin, which is ultimately death, the wages of sin.
Romans 6:23,
Romans 8:10
Random thoughts that enter our mind can be from our own flesh or Satan. You can’t presume every random evil thought is from Satan. Regardless, and It doesn’t matter how debase or evil these random thoughts may be, but these random thoughts are not counted to us as sin. It’s what we do with these random thoughts that either leads to sin / death or we take these thoughts captive to Gods Word which leads to life. If we take these random, evil thoughts captive to Christ, we do not sin. If we meditate or ruminate as if in a daydream on these evil thoughts to satisfy our desires, we sin and if we continue, this sin leads to death. Not all sin leads to death.
As to evil thoughts not being a big deal, Jesus did not cut us that kind of slack
Matthew 15:19-20 Mark 7:21-23 and
Matthew 5:28 all show that
evil thoughts defile us, and it's not presented as optional to have them
I agree, these random, evil thoughts that stir either from Satan our our flesh MAY become a big deal if we feed them. The trick is not to feed them. Take them captive to Gods Word before they cause you to sin. This is serious business.
Big caveat with Jesus, that being "without sin"
I'm not jumping into the "I'm sinless" pool because it's a lie. Why? Because the tempter is jumping in as well, and I'm not cutting that bad actor a spittle of slack or excuse
Like I said earlier, I’m not jumping into that pool earlier. We all sin, everyone of us. Sin is missing the mark, which means there are things we are to do and things we are not to do. Many don’t understand this and get stuck on the “Don’t do that” and still miss the mark and sin not even knowing it.
For example, we are not to lie negative command). But simply not telling a lie does not mean one isn’t sinning. In other words, if I ask a certain question and you refuse to answer, you’ve now broken the positive commandment to be truthful. In short, negative commands show us what not to do and positive commands show us what to do.
If one doesn’t know what to do, then this is unwillful sin and grace is applied to bring about repentance.
If one knows what to do and willfully does it anyway, then justice is applied since grace has been rejected or abused.
But it’s not all about the sin. It’s about what we do once we realize, or once that sin is realized. Look at David, a murderer and adulterer yet Scripture states that David had a heart after Gods. Why? Because of what David did with that sin once it was realized and exposed. David repented, he did not harden his heart and because he repented, his sin was not counted against him in Gods court.
We're forgiven
The devils are not
Therein resides the walk of Mercy in the Grace of God in Christ,, because apart from that, we'd be instant toast
If we walk in willful disobedience, our condemnation is deserved.
Gods righteousness is bound in mercy and when that grace is rejected, justice is applied.
