“Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This Gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You: for You hast heard me, and have become my salvation” (Psalms 118:19-21).
There is much confusion in the Christian world as to whether a born-again believer continues to sin or not. Skeptic’s Annotated Bible presents what may appear to be two sets of irreconcilable declarations from the Scriptures about whether or not a believer sins.
Do Christians sin?
No one is without sin.
1 Kings 8:46 – There is no man that sinneth not.
2 Chronicles 6:36 – There is no man which sinneth not.
Proverbs 20:9 – Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 – For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
1 John 1:8 – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10 – If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Christians are sinless.
1 John 3:6 – Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.
1 John 3:9 – 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 5:18 – We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.
3 John 11 – He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (source)
There is no contradiction, however. Romans 7:25 explains the apparent conundrum: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25 MKJV).
The Scriptures declare that all men are born sinners. Sinners who are born of His Spirit receive the Mind of God and the power of a new life to walk in godliness. We who receive His Spirit become new creatures in God:
“So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 MKJV).
By faith we abide in Him, our Head, and don’t sin, because He doesn’t sin. It’s His righteousness at work!
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1-2 EMTV).
There it is. If you read no further, you already have the answer – Christians, those in whom Christ is formed, who walk in His Spirit, do not sin. And if, during their spiritual sojourn into godly maturity, they do sin, Jesus Christ forgives, corrects, and cleanses them:
1 John 2:1-6 MKJV
(1) My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
(2) And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.
(3) And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments.
(4) He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
(5) But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.
(6) He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.
And we know that He walked without sin.
If you have any questions or objections, or would like to know more about the wonderful work of God in Christ, we continue with portions of letters and conversations that cover many aspects of the reality of the believer’s new life in Christ as taught in the Scriptures. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20 MKJV).
Amazingly enough, the most vehement opponents of this truth are those who profess to be Christians. The very ones who should be thankful for, and solicitous of, the victory in Christ are the ones who protest the loudest against it. Why is that? Because they walk in their own righteousness and can’t help but sin. Christ’s righteousness testifies against their righteousness and works, which they won’t repent of, so they rise up against Him just as Cain did with Abel.
Answering Those Opposed
We respond to those who walk in the spirit of Cain and argue against the victory of Christ over sin in those who have His faith (segments from Imperfection Tries to Argue Against Perfection). Bob is such a one:
Bob: Their web site [The Path of Truth] says this, “Those who are the Lord’s and choose to remain His will not, do not, willfully sin.” I think it’s clear that Paul and Victor believe they belong to God… so from this statement we can infer that they also believe they do not sin.
Paul: We, contrary to your accusations, did not write the Bible. The following are not our words, except that we are 100% in agreement, in spirit, because we’re in the Lord Jesus Christ Who inspired the Scriptures, and we experience their reality:
“No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9 EMTV).
We also agree with His Word regarding those who argue they cannot help but sin:
2 Peter 2:12-16 KJV
(12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
(13) And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
(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:
(15) Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
(16) But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
Bob: Amazing! Truly! I was aware of only 1 person who walked the Earth sinless. He was also fully God.
Paul: Jesus Christ as God, being also the Son of Man, makes a bridge through His cross for man to receive His righteousness and the life of God. So it’s Him, through His Body, still walking the earth in those who believe and take up the cross:
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf” (Galatians 2:20 MKJV).
Here is what the Scriptures say about those who don’t confess to having this life or receive those who have it in Christ:
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7 KJV).
Bob: But Paul the Apostle was not sinless. If he was, why would the Apostle Paul tell us to follow him as he followed Christ?
Paul: That is exactly why! Christ cleansed Paul of his sin and delivered him from the body of death (Romans 7:25). That’s why Paul directed others to follow him, because the Lord had brought him into His sinlessness.
This by no means negates the fact that men need shepherds sent by God to lead them into His grace – it supports and establishes it. Paul called himself a wise master builder. He was prepared and sent of God to bring salvation to the Lord’s people. That’s why he said to follow him as he follows Christ.
Being born again is all about walking in sinless perfection (no longer walking according to the spirit of this world). It’s about receiving the Nature of God, and by His power, overcoming the flesh to die by sin no more (“he that believes on Me shall never die”). It is Heaven on earth.
Didn’t Jesus command us to be perfect, as our Father in Heaven is perfect? Is He a fool to expect this result, or is He able to make it happen?
If a person is in the Spirit of Christ, how can they sin? Is Christ a sinner? Perfection is the purpose of the incarnation of God in Christ and man. Paul made it very clear that he no longer walked in sin, having been brought into union with God through Christ:
Romans 6:1-7 BBE
(1) What may we say, then? Are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?
(2) In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?
(3) Or are you without the knowledge that all we who had baptism into Christ Jesus, had baptism into His death?
(4) We have been placed with Him among the dead through baptism into death: so that as Christ came again from the dead by the glory of the Father, we, in the same way, might be living in new life.
(5) For, if we have been made like Him in His death, we will, in the same way, be like Him in His coming to life again;
(6) Being conscious that our old man was put to death on the cross with Him, so that the body of sin might be put away, and we might no longer be servants to sin.
(7) Because he who is dead is free from sin.
We know that Paul was free from sin because he unambiguously declared he was dead (free from sin) – it was no longer he who lived:
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf” (Galatians 2:20 MKJV).
Why argue in unbelief against the record and deny yourself the blessing of God in Christ, which is the inheritance of those who believe?
Bob: If the Apostle was sinless wouldn’t it be fine for me to just follow him?
Paul: Yes, and that’s why Paul said to follow him, because he followed Christ, the One Who would deliver his followers from sin, as well:
“So that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Among these you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice with you in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:15-16 MKJV).
The saints of God are called to a present blamelessness, for which Christ is more than sufficient. Who’s the liar that will say He isn’t? Is one who walks in blamelessness sinning? Who’s the accuser of the brethren that says he is?
Bob: Don’t like that logic? Then try this: Paul the Apostle called himself the cheif of sinners. He didn’t use past tense.
Paul: Let’s read the whole portion and hear the rest of the story:
“Faithful is the Word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. But for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, as a pattern to those being about to believe on Him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:15-16 MKJV).
Jesus Christ brought mercy to Paul as the chief of sinners and delivered him from his great sin, bringing him eternal life. One cannot enter into life while walking in sin:
“But now having been set free from sin, and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23 LITV).
So what did Paul mean by using the present tense when he spoke of himself as the chief of sinners? Clearly he was no longer doing the same things he had been doing before he was turned. How much more evident can anything as his dramatic change be – from killing saints to blessing and ministering to them? He wasn’t still sinning above all others – he wasn’t sinning at all. But his righteousness wasn’t his own doing. In him, in his flesh, still dwelt no good thing (Romans 7:18). Flesh is flesh, but the spirit is in Christ. And the spirit in Him is where it’s at.
Jesus Christ delivered Paul’s spirit from the corruption and bondage of his flesh, but his flesh still wasn’t trustworthy:
“For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing” (Romans 7:18 HNV).
That’s why Paul said he kept his body under – which tells us he was no longer sinning (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Those not born again of the Spirit don’t know this, because flesh is all they’ve known and walked in. If you haven’t received the Spirit of Christ, how can you know the difference between spirit and flesh? You can’t.
Bob: Look at Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” So, who, I ask, is the hypocrite? Paul and Victor will say it is I, in my “temporary mood and state of being”. Praise God! This body is only temporary!
Paul: While we cannot but expect that dogs will rip and tear the holy things of God, let’s look at the context of this Scripture for the sake of those who will hear and be turned to God, as well as for the judgment of those who won’t:
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:10-12 KJV).
To win the race, one must finish it. No doubt there is a physical resurrection that lies ahead, and Paul was speaking of his persistence and the manner in which he set himself to continue steadfast in faith to attain it. In this, once again, he has provided an excellent example to all saints not to lose hope or faint in the day of battle:
“Do you not know that those running in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And everyone who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Then those truly that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. So then I run, not as if I were uncertain. And so I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest proclaiming to others, I myself might be rejected” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MKJV).
But the prize of Christ is not what those who fight against God will find when they die. Yes, this body is only temporary, as Bob says, but the Lord spells out that not all will find relief being delivered of it:
“Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29 MKJV).
Victor: Paul’s striving for perfection doesn’t suggest he still had sin in his life. There is a perfection of many things, as in understanding, amount and quality of work done, God’s power, and so forth. For example:
“And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 MKJV).
To assume Paul was speaking of perfection from sin in Philippians 3:12 would suggest that Jesus had sin (which He didn’t):
Hebrews 5:7-9 MKJV
(7) For Jesus, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared,
(8) though being a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
(9) And being perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him.
Bob: I certainly am unable to judge your heart. I admit it! So, let’s throw out me and my judgment here.
Paul: One of the only true things you have said. If only you would follow through on it, humble yourself to listen, repent, and lose your life so that you might gain it. But pride is a tenacious taskmaster.
Victor replied to another in the same Blog War:
You ask: “4. On your site you mention that you no longer ‘willfully sin.’ Once again the implication there is that sometimes you ‘unwillingly sin.’ If not, you would have said, ‘we don’t sin.’ So could you give me an example or two of these types of sins? Particularly one you have recently committed. Let us both bring these things ‘into the light.’”
Paul said that in his flesh dwells no good thing, yet he didn’t sin as you count sin. He said:
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25 MKJV).
Paul’s and our brother, John, said, by the Spirit of our Elder Brother:
1 John 3:3-10 MKJV
(3) And everyone who has this hope on him purifies himself, even as that One is pure.
(4) Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.
(5) And you know that He was revealed that He might take away our sins, and in Him is no sin.
(6) Everyone who abides in Him does not sin. Everyone who sins has not seen Him nor known Him.
(7) Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous.
(8) He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil.
(9) Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
(10) In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
I don’t claim righteousness in my own right, but I have experienced the reality of these Scriptures, as have all the saints. Those still in their sins can’t imagine such condition before God, except in theory, which doesn’t count.
Paul adds:
I will say this, however, as the matter of sin has been brought up several times. The Lord always means what He says. When He says He would have us to be perfect, walking in the Light and keeping His commandments, He means just that.
Why wouldn’t He? Isn’t it His will that we come out of death and have abundant life? And if that’s what He wants, won’t He provide what’s necessary?
“Do we then make the Law void through faith? Let it not be! But we establish the Law” (Romans 3:31 MKJV).
For this reason Christ overcame death for us. This is a most wonderful truth.
The natural man doesn’t know what fulfilling the Law looks like. If he did, the unregenerate men who thought to keep the Law wouldn’t have slain Jesus Christ, the Direct Manifestation of the Law Fulfilled. Here is what the Scriptures say about the rejecters of Christ:
“For they, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3 EMTV).
We aren’t trying hard, as Bob put it in his latest post, to keep the Law. The Law is our new nature in Christ. Must a sheep try hard to bleat and eat grass? The Lord has done the work. As He says of Himself, “I Am that I Am,” so “we are what we are” in Him. He is now our life. He lives, and therefore so do we, delivered from sin and death. This is the glorious promise of the Gospel of Christ.
We tried hard to keep the Law after we received the Spirit, as did the apostle Paul (recounted in Romans 7). The self-righteousness of the flesh was not yet overcome; the real battle was only just beginning. (How can one overcome the flesh without His Spirit within? You must be born again.)
We were in agreement with the Law, having the mind of Christ and knowing that it was good, but found that in our flesh and self-confidence, we couldn’t keep it. Therefore the Law was our tutor that led us to Christ, and it was through our humbling and His righteousness that the Law was fulfilled in us. We entered into His rest, ceasing from our own works (Hebrew 3 and 4).
Children must be trained. Receiving the Spirit is only the inception, not the conclusion. At the end of our training, Christ delivers us from this body of death (Romans 7:25). No, this isn’t the physical resurrection. It’s something more important, the spiritual resurrection, without which no person will see the Lord.
In this we have what Paul describes:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1-2 EMTV).
We have been set free from sin and death, but those on this blog keep prodding us to confess that we are in sin, and that we’re under the same condemnation they’re under. If we said so that would be a lie, because we aren’t. It would be a great disservice to everyone, because they need to know that every Word of God is true, and all the promises of God in Christ are “Yes.” He is good to His Word.
Does this mean we aren’t men of infirmities, with all attendant weaknesses? (Infirmities and weaknesses aren’t sins – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.) Of course not. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, as Paul declares, that the excellency of the power might be of God (2 Corinthians 4:7). But don’t think that you can have the victory without the gift and, more particularly, the Giver.
There is much on our site to help those who wish to know more. A good place to begin is Law and Grace.
Delusional Perfection
While the last group scoffed at the reality of Christians not sinning, here’s a professor of Christ who thinks he’s arrived in sinless perfection, but hasn’t. And because of this, he doesn’t understand how we can be sinners saved by grace. To him this means we’re still sinning. He doesn’t recognize that while we fulfill the Law by the power of Christ, he keeps a form of law in his own righteousness.
Greg wrote to us:
As there is much I could write, I will keep it brief. There are only two doctrines to choose from, and only one of them will lead to life everlasting. One doctrine is from man and the other is from Jesus Christ the Son of God:
Man’s doctrine says, “We’re sinners saved by grace.”
Jesus Christ’s doctrine says, “Go and sin no more.”
We responded:
Hi Greg,
You’re right that Jesus commands us to “go and sin no more,” and He gives us the grace to obey. This we wholeheartedly affirm and teach. But we aren’t wrong in saying we are sinners saved by grace, and if you have received like grace, you’ll agree and understand what I say.
I was once a sinner without hope of change, totally unwilling and unable to give up my sin, until the Lord gave me His grace, beginning with repentance. Isn’t this what the Scriptures say?
“For it is God Who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 MKJV).
What I hear you saying is that it is Greg who works in you to will and to do God’s good pleasure. You are walking in your own righteousness, doing works of the flesh according to your will, not works of the Spirit by His grace.
If God is working in me to fulfill His Law, then it’s no longer me doing the works, but Christ in me. Isn’t this what the Scriptures say?
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
Did the apostle Paul say he was the chief of sinners, which is what he should have said, according to your doctrine?
“Faithful is the Word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15 MKJV).
Paul said this after being delivered from his sins, as a born-again, obedient son of God. Therefore there is no contradiction when one walking in the precious salvation of Christ says, “I am a sinner saved by grace.” On the contrary, there is complete harmony. This is the faithful Word of God, proven truth and reality.
Paul also said this:
“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25 MKJV).
What will you do with that? Is he not a sinner if he serves the law of sin, be it in the mind or flesh?
Paul said, “In me, in my flesh, dwells no good thing.” That is always true as long as we are in this present housing. “I keep my body under,” Paul said. Why? What was the need if he was no longer a sinner? He even declares himself the chief of sinners!
Thank God for His righteousness in Christ, which is ours when we believe and walk according to His Spirit. This is salvation! This is Jesus Christ coming in the flesh!
We understand all the Scriptures you gave us, Greg, and there is no contradiction in any of them with what we’re saying to you. What you’re missing is that unless the Lord takes you to the cross and gives you the power to take it up, you can’t deny yourself any more than you can lift yourself off the ground by your shoelaces. You can’t make yourself free of sin – only the Son can do that.
It wasn’t their known sin that was the greatest problem for the Pharisees, but their unperceived sin, that being walking in their own righteousness.
“Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, We see. Therefore your sin remains” (John 9:41 MKJV).
In your insistence that you have no sin, you will come to disillusionment and, by the grace of God, recognize your need for the Author and Finisher of faith, the Deliverer and Savior you have yet to know.
“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” (1 John 1:8-9 MKJV).
Until then, people are going to be forced to bite their tongues and keep their eyeballs from rolling upwards when confronted with your righteousness, Greg, not to mention trying not to feel condemned by it. For our part, we can’t be condemned by you, having had our victory secured in Him. We won’t bite our tongues and we won’t roll our eyes because we understand your lack, and speak what we know to meet it.
More clarification in another letter:
Greg,
The apostle Paul spoke of himself as a sinner, but not because he was still sinning, as he made clear:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2 MKJV)
So why did he speak of himself as a sinner in the present tense, if he was no longer sinning?
He was acknowledging it was not by his own work or righteousness that he was delivered of his sins. He was a dead man, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Paul said these things for the benefit of his hearers, that they might have hope in Christ for the same salvation he experienced. He was saying to them, “This is what I’m all about – I’m not some super saint or hero. Whatever I am now, it’s by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. The glory is His. It’s the same for you. You can’t save yourselves from your sins, but He can, no matter how removed you are from Him. He proved this by saving me, His greatest enemy. By the same grace He will save you.”
Paul openly confessed and acknowledged his wretchedness and unworthiness. But we don’t hear you doing that, Greg. Why? Because you’ve never been delivered from your wrongness. Not being delivered of those things, you haven’t known the grace or glory of God. When you speak of walking without sin, you’re talking about your own works and righteousness. Your righteousness hasn’t exceeded, or differed from, that of the Pharisees, who despised repentant publicans.
Here’s the difference between us agreeing with the saying, “We are sinners saved by His grace,” and you denying it, insisting “I was a sinner saved by His grace.” We know the corruptness and weakness of the flesh, being delivered from it, whereas you don’t, being one with it and glorying in self-righteous works. We walk in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and give Him the glory, whereas you walk in the carnal commandments of men and give yourself the glory.
We who have the New Sinless Nature from the Lord, know that He gives us the grace to fulfill the Law without any merit or works on our part, that we might be, and are, without sin. (Read Grace – The Reality.)
We worship the Lord with the twenty four elders, who cast their crowns before Him:
Revelation 4:9-11 MKJV
(9) And whenever the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sat on the throne, Who lives forever and ever,
(10) the twenty-four elders fell down before the One sitting on the throne. And they worshiped Him Who lives for ever and ever, and threw their crowns before the throne, saying,
(11) O Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and for Your will they are and were created.
It’s all about Him, Who is worthy, and not us, who aren’t. That’s why we say we’re unprofitable servants. That’s not false modesty; it’s the truth about Who is righteous and sinless and who isn’t. We hear you proclaiming in your proud and presumptuous way, “I’m clean! I’m clean! I’m righteous because I have it right by my own might, though I profess to give God all the glory.”
The Word of God says to you:
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:9 MKJV)
Isaiah 65:2-6 MKJV
(2) I have spread out My hands all the day to a rebellious people who walk in the way not good, after their own thoughts;
(3) a people who without ceasing provoke Me to anger to My face; who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on the bricks;
(4) a people who remain among the graves, and sleep in the tombs, who eat swine’s flesh, and broth from hateful things in their vessels;
(5) who say, Keep to yourself, do not come near me; for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in My nose, a fire that burns all the day.
(6) Behold, it is written before Me; I will not be silent, except I will repay; yea, I will repay into their bosom.
You can read the full correspondence here.
Bearing the Image of the Heavenly Man
A letter to a Seventh Day Adventist brings up another point: True Christians are the offspring of God through Jesus Christ. If they are destined to sin all their days on earth, then Christ must have been a sinner in the days of His flesh.
Vanetta, the SDA’s worship “another Jesus,” a concoction straight from the pits of Hell. At the heart of this abomination is the official SDA doctrine that states Christ had a sinful nature. From the Adventist publication, Bible Readings for the Home Circle, page 115 in the 1915 edition, we read: “In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature.”
That isn’t what the Scriptures say of Christ’s Nature:
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35 KJV).
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among nations, believed on in the world, and received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16 MKJV).
Can anyone explain how the Holy and Sinless Son of God had a sinful nature? SDA’s try to, but what comes out is confusing doubletalk. Let’s talk instead with the simplicity of a child, which simplicity SDA’s like to think they have (oh, the contradiction of you people!). Even a youngster knows that a dog will bark and a cow will moo. So do those who are not full of religious hogwash know and admit that a sinner will sin. It is the law of natures. The Sinless One, by His very Nature, will not and cannot sin any more than the sun will produce darkness.
Jesus Christ, the last Adam, was born in the same state as the first Adam before he sinned. And because Jesus Christ was the quickening Spirit of God in the flesh, He never fell as did Adam: “In all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus overcame where the earthy man could not. The earthy man was not meant to overcome, but the Heavenly Man was. As the earthy man could only fail, so the Heavenly Man could only prevail. All those who are born again of His Spirit are quickened to be just as He is:
“The first man was out of earth, earthy. The second Man was the Lord out of Heaven. Such as is the earthy man, such also are the earthy ones. And such as is the Heavenly Man, such also are the Heavenly ones. And as we bore the image of the earthy man, we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly Man” (1 Corinthians 15:47-49 LITV).
God cannot sin, and neither can those born of His Seed, Jesus Christ:
“Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His Seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9 MKJV).
It is objected by SDA’s and many others: “Well, what was the point of Jesus being tempted? Wouldn’t it be a sham, a hypocritical show, if He couldn’t sin?” That is a silly objection. Like putting a well-built car through a crash test, knowing it won’t fail, but to demonstrate and prove it, so Jesus Christ was put to the test to demonstrate that He is Infallible God, Who alone can save us by His omnipotence and infallibility. By standing the test, He proved to mankind that, unlike all those who came before Him, He alone was and is Almighty God, able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him.
God takes a sinful man of flesh and converts him into a son of God, made in His image through Jesus Christ. He takes clay and forms a man. SDA’s take the sinless Son of God and present Him as a sinful man, made in their own image by their damnable religion. They take a lump of clay and form an image of God (in their carnal finite, corrupt minds) and set to imitating it. They have brought Christ down from above, attributing a sinful nature to Him just like their own.
If Jesus had a sinful nature as the Son of God, so Adventists reason, certainly they must be approved by God in their sinful natures as they bow down in the worship and service of “another Jesus,” their idol. How greatly are they mistaken! They have nothing to do with the risen Christ and His resurrection power in a new and endless life. They haven’t experienced the rivers of living water flowing from their innermost beings. At best, they can only try to act as though they do.
Vanetta, have you experienced rivers of water flowing from your innermost being? Have you experienced in your life and being the Personal Reality of Jesus Christ? Have you heard His Voice?
If you haven’t, then how are you able to speak with authority about who are servants of God preaching the true Gospel of salvation, and who aren’t? You don’t know what you’re talking about, because you aren’t a qualified witness. Only those empowered in His Life and appointed by Him are authorized to speak on His behalf.
You need to repent and come down from the high seat of judgment you have assigned yourself. God can’t tolerate White’s diabolical teachings or the organization she founded, and we must tell everyone so. (Read Seventh Day Adventism under “Falsehood Exposed.”)
Mrs. White stands in direct opposition to the Gospel of Christ. She and her organization serve to destroy, not save, men’s souls. For more on His Holy Nature, which is our only hope of salvation, read Could Jesus Christ Have Sinned? But perhaps you are too offended now for your own good. Blessed are those who are not offended in us and what we must declare of God.
You can read full correspondence here.
The New Heart that Seeks to Obey God
Here is a letter written to a man who was worried about having committed the unpardonable sin, in which we show how to tell if you’re a Christian or not, and what salvation is (which all relate to the subject of whether Christians sin):
Lem wrote us:
Hello. I ahve known that Jesus Christ is Lord for many years. For many years I even thought that I had salvation (once saved always saved).
However, I now believe that one can fall from grace. My question is, I knew that adultery was wrong, but for many years I was involved in this horrible behavior.
I just thought well I saved, God will just forgive me for my behavior and all will be well.
After reading Numbers 15:30, Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26-31, 2Pet 2:20-21 & 1John 5:16-18, it appears that I have squandered away grace due to my willful sin.
I have since asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin, an cleanse me from all iniquity, to give me a new heart that seeks to obey Him and to do His will. I am tired of being driven to and fro by doctrine that I cannot discern truth from the lie.
That’s how I came to your website looking for information regarding Darwin Fish and Gino Jennings. They seem to have a lot of truth in their messages, but I sense some falsehood mixed in there also.
We responded:
I don’t believe you committed the unpardonable sin, as you suspect. I don’t believe you ever experienced so much as the first step of salvation, much less the next two (there are three). Here is why:
One, you say, “I have known that Jesus Christ is Lord for many years.” Notice, you didn’t say that you knew Him as Lord, but only that you knew He is Lord. There is a great difference. Devils also know He is Lord, and tremble (James 2:19), yet they aren’t saved, and they don’t obey or willingly, humbly, gladly yield to Him as Lord.
Two, you say, “For many years I even thought that I had salvation (once saved always saved).” Let me tell you this: When one is saved, he knows it; he doesn’t just think it. (This point isn’t strong, I admit, for you could be saying that while you “knew” you were saved in those years, with retrospect you see that you only thought you were saved.)
Three, you say, “I knew that adultery was wrong, but for many years I was involved in this horrible behavior,” and, “I just thought well I’m saved, God will just forgive me for my behavior and all will be well.”
But what does brother John say about that?
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6 MKJV).
“And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4 MKJV).
“Everyone who abides in Him does not sin. Everyone who sins has not seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:6 MKJV).
1 John 3:8-10 MKJV
(8) He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil.
(9) Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His Seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
(10) In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
1 John 5:16-18 MKJV
(16) If anyone sees his brother sin a sin not to death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for those that do not sin to death. There is a sin to death, I do not say that he shall pray for it.
(17) All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not to death.
(18) We know that everyone who has been born of God does not continue to sin, but the one born of God guards himself, and the evil one does not touch him.
These are plain words for plain people who plainly desire the plain truth. John says that those who deliberately and consistently walk in darkness aren’t His. They are liars, like those of whom Jesus spoke in Revelation:
“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews [Christians/believers], and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (Revelation 3:9 KJV).
Four, obviously, you didn’t want to do God’s will. A new nature in Christ does want to do His will, and you reveal that you possibly believe this to be true, because you say (emphasis ours), “I have since asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin, and cleanse me from all iniquity, to give me a new heart that seeks to obey Him and to do His will.” You didn’t have that new heart that seeks to obey Him and to do His will. You were never saved.
You can read the full correspondence here.
God’s Chosen Must Endure to Be Saved
Our final segment deals with the question of whether a Christian can deliberately choose to sin, and highlights the fact that salvation – eternal life overcoming sin and death – is the goal of our faith, and not something accomplished when we first believe.
You ask if those who have been given the grace of God to turn from their sins can consciously decide to “crush the will of God under their feet.”
Whether they know what they are doing or not, men who have known the truth can sin willfully:
Hebrews 10:26-31 MKJV
(26) For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(28) He who despised Moses’ Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.
(29) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
(30) For we know Him Who has said, “Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, says the Lord.” And again, “The Lord shall judge His people.”
(31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
There are those who partake of the Body of Christ unworthily:
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 MKJV
(27) So that whoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, he will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.
(29) For he who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body.
He who has tasted forgiveness and freedom in Christ, yet lives for himself while assembling with other believers, eats and drinks condemnation to himself. If he repents and goes on in faith, he will overcome; otherwise he will be overcome, as it is written:
2 Peter 2:20-22 LITV
(20) For if by a recognition of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they have escaped the defilements of the world, and again being entangled they have been overcome by these, then their last things have become worse than the first.
(21) For it was better for them not to have recognized the way of righteousness, than having recognized it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
(22) But the word of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog turning to his own vomit; also, the washed sow to wallowing in mud.
These are as salt that has lost its savor, which “is not fit for the land, nor for manure, but men throw it out” (Luke 14:35 MKJV). But the one who continues in faith, not going aside for this world or the flesh, “shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 MKJV).
Aren’t the apostles John and Paul telling us that God’s work in His vessels of honor is sure, and will be manifest as righteous altogether?
1 John 3:6-9 MKJV
(6) Everyone who abides in Him does not sin. Everyone who sins has not seen Him nor known Him.
(7) Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous.
(8) He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil.
(9) Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
“You will then say to me, Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will? No, but, O man, who are you who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him Who formed it, Why have you made me this way? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor?” (Romans 9:19-21 MKJV)
If there ever was an excellent chapter in the Bible to refute the false doctrine of free will, it’s Romans 9 (read the entire chapter). Jacob did what he did and Esau did what he did, not because they chose, but because God decided what they would be. It was according to His predeterminate will.
Our only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He gets all the credit and glory, and we get to bask in that glory with His salvation. That’s not so bad, is it?
We think it’s very good!
Final Thoughts
Jesus Christ came to give us abundant life. We can’t have abundant life if we’re sinning and reaping death. So not only has God forgiven our sins through Christ, giving us a clean start, but He also makes the way for us to abide in Him, overcoming sin and death:
“Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new Name” (Revelation 3:12 MKJV).
“And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 MKJV)
Read Diabolical Doctrine: It’s Impossible Not to Sin.
Victor Hafichuk