Bible Study Practically speaking, what does this passage mean to you?

[Hopeful]

I absolutely do believe that we who are in Christ walk in the Light. And I also know that, because we walk in the Light, the Blood CONTINUALLY cleanses us from the sins we commit knowingly or unknowingly as we live each day. Walking in the Light doesn't mean we don't, or can't, stumble. The Deceiver is alive and active, and is continually seeking those he can destroy.

So there is sin in God?
That is what you are saying when you write that there are sinners in the light...which is God.
I can't agree.

But to say you have no sin is itself a sin, because it is a lie. Even Peter sinned when he pulled away from the Gentiles when the Jews showed up, and Paul called him out on it (Gal 2:11-13). Being in Christ doesn't mean we cannot sin. It just means that we strive to not sin with the help of the Holy Spirit, and that we have a continual cleansing of those sins.

What happens when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins? (Acts 2:38)
We are cleansed of sins.
Why can't we say so?
As new creatures, we have everything we require to remain in the light without fault.

What do you think of..."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." (1 John 3:9) ?
Can the seed of an apple bring forth the fruit of pumpkin?
No?
Then why could God's seed bring forth the fruit of the devil?

 

[Hospes]

No, there will be no sin in Heaven, because the Deceiver will no longer be present. He will be in the Lake of Fire for eternity, and we will be free from the physical that was tainted by the Deceiver's lies and man's sin.

So we will not have the choice to sin in heaven because we'll never be presented with the choice by the Deceiver? We will only have the singular choice to always choose what is right? Sounds like we'll be robots, per your way of understanding.

 

[Hopeful]

So we will not have the choice to sin in heaven because we'll never be presented with the choice by the Deceiver? We will only have the singular choice to always choose what is right? Sounds like we'll be robots, per your way of understanding.

How could any now dead fleshly desire stand up to being in the presence of God?
Chocolate milk shapes...or vinegar?

 

[Doug Brents]

So there is sin in God?
That is what you are saying when you write that there are sinners in the light...which is God.
I can't agree.

What happens when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins? (Acts 2:38)
We are cleansed of sins.
Why can't we say so?
As new creatures, we have everything we require to remain in the light without fault.

What do you think of..."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." (1 John 3:9) ?
Can the seed of an apple bring forth the fruit of pumpkin?
No?
Then why could God's seed bring forth the fruit of the devil?

NO. There are no sinners in God.

Those who walk in the light (after salvation) are continually cleansed of the sin they commit. Those who do not continue to walk in the Light after they are initially saved do not receive that continual washing, and so return to their previous lost state.

Look again at Peter. Was it not a sin for him, not only to be a hypocrite and pull back from the Gentiles, but also that his actions caused others, including Barnabas, to pull back from them as well, meaning that they sinned too. Was Peter, an Apostle many years into his ministry, not in Christ? Yet he sinned. So 1 John 3:9 cannot mean that it is impossible for a saved person to sin. But it does mean that the stain of that sin does not taint them, because the Blood of Christ continually and instantly removes the stain, and the penalty, for that sin.

 

[Hopeful]

NO. There are no sinners in God.

Those who walk in the light (after salvation) are continually cleansed of the sin they commit. Those who do not continue to walk in the Light after they are initially saved do not receive that continual washing, and so return to their previous lost state.

If they are not walking in God...the light, they are lost.
You seem to be blending both groups together.
Your "continual washing" isn't necessary for those walking in the light.
The washing occurs before one is in the light, and then it is incumbent on us to remain there.

Look again at Peter. Was it not a sin for him, not only to be a hypocrite and pull back from the Gentiles, but also that his actions caused others, including Barnabas, to pull back from them as well, meaning that they sinned too. Was Peter, an Apostle many years into his ministry, not in Christ? Yet he sinned. So 1 John 3:9 cannot mean that it is impossible for a saved person to sin. But it does mean that the stain of that sin does not taint them, because the Blood of Christ continually and instantly removes the stain, and the penalty, for that sin.

It was not a sin to try and please the visiting Jews.
What Paul cited Peter with was for lending credence to the misconception that the Law still in effect, when it really wasn't.
You've got to remember that the Jews were still "zealous of the Law".
Had the Jews seen Peter eating with Gentiles, they would have been the ones chastising Peter.

1 John 3:9-10 mean exactly what they say.
The fruit, sin or righteousness, indicate from whence one is born.

 

[Doug Brents]

If they are not walking in God...the light, they are lost.
You seem to be blending both groups together.
Your "continual washing" isn't necessary for those walking in the light.
The washing occurs before one is in the light, and then it is incumbent on us to remain there.

I am not blending the groups.
Those who are living in sin, living a lifestyle in opposition to God's will, are lost.
Those who are living a lifestyle of obedience to God are in the Light even though they may stumble.

1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
cleanses
καθαρίζει (katharizei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's Greek 2511: To cleanse, make clean, literally, ceremonially, or spiritually, according to context. From katharos; to cleanse.
An always active, continual cleansing from sin.

It was not a sin to try and please the visiting Jews.
What Paul cited Peter with was for lending credence to the misconception that the Law still in effect, when it really wasn't.
You've got to remember that the Jews were still "zealous of the Law".
Had the Jews seen Peter eating with Gentiles, they would have been the ones chastising Peter.

1 John 3:9-10 mean exactly what they say.
The fruit, sin or righteousness, indicate from whence one is born.

But either way, Paul was right to confront him because Peter was at fault, had sinned. If an Apostle, one of the ones who will sit on thrones in Heaven beside Jesus, could sin, are you (or I, or any other Christian) greater than he that we cannot stumble and sin after we have been washed in the Blood. I don't think so.

 

[Hospes]

How could any now dead fleshly desire stand up to being in the presence of God?
Chocolate milk shapes...or vinegar?

I agree that we will desire only good. That is not my question. My question is if God transforms our desires so that we only desire good, has He not made us "robots" in that we will always only choose good and not in any real sense have the option of choosing not-good?

Truth be told, I grow weary of the "robot" term being thrown at anyone who believes that God can and does work in our desires so that we willingly choose good over evil. If this is wrong and makes us "robots" on earth, I see no reason that in heaven - where I assume we are not "robots" - we won't be able to sin against God.

Philippians 2:13
...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

 

[Hopeful]

I am not blending the groups.
Those who are living in sin, living a lifestyle in opposition to God's will, are lost.
Those who are living a lifestyle of obedience to God are in the Light even though they may stumble.

If they are "stumbling" they were not in the light. (Pro 4:19) They were not living a lifestyle in obedience to God.
The sin proves it.

1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
cleanses
καθαρίζει (katharizei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's Greek 2511: To cleanse, make clean, literally, ceremonially, or spiritually, according to context. From katharos; to cleanse.
An always active, continual cleansing from sin.

Your interpretation of that verse infers that there is sin in God.
Continually requiring more blood from Christ.
I don't buy it.

But either way, Paul was right to confront him because Peter was at fault, had sinned. If an Apostle, one of the ones who will sit on thrones in Heaven beside Jesus, could sin, are you (or I, or any other Christian) greater than he that we cannot stumble and sin after we have been washed in the Blood. I don't think so.

Were the thousands at Jerusalem sinners because they were zealous of the Law? (Acts 21:20)
You have embarked on a road that must find condemnation for everyone, but that only allows you to commit sin with ease.
Jesus freed s from committing sin. (John 8:32-34)

 

[Hopeful]

I agree that we will desire only good. That is not my question. My question is if God transforms our desires so that we only desire good, has He not made us "robots" in that we will always only choose good and not in any real sense have the option of choosing not-good?

You call the fact that fig seeds won't bear grapes "robotic".
Our choices to do only good manifest from whom we have been reborn

Truth be told, I grow weary of the "robot" term being thrown at anyone who believes that God can and does work in our desires so that we willingly choose good over evil. If this is wrong and makes us "robots" on earth, I see no reason that in heaven - where I assume we are not "robots" - we won't be able to sin against God.
Philippians 2:13
...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

I don't care for the robot term either, but for those who do use it, just point out "Whose robot is committing all the sins?"
I don't think there will be anything in heaven that could lead us away from God.
We will be fixed on Him alone.