Free from sin?

[Orion]

3 minutes ago, Live2believe said:

Did Spurgeon sin? How did the preacher sin?

C. H. Spurgeon knew he was a sinner.  One of his quotes: "It's a good thing God chose before I was born. If He had waited until after,  He would have changed His mind."

[Live2believe]

16 hours ago, St_Worm2 said:

Lastly, ALL true believers, including babes in Christ, are "born again", or they are not/cannot be believers. The "dead" cannot respond in faith to the Lord's call because "dead" people cannot "do", well, anything!

This is why the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that a person MUST be born again to even see the Kingdom of God, much less enter into it .. e.g. John 3:3, 5. 

So, all (true) Christians are "born again", no matter what level of maturity in the faith they are at, be they newborn children (babes in Christ), young men or fathers. If anyone has not been "quickened"/"made alive" and "born again", that person is still dead (spiritually) in their trespasses and sins and unable to come to faith .. e.g. Ephesians 2:1-3. They still need to be "made alive" by God .. e.g. Ephesians 2:4-5.

 

Hi David,

Please analyze these Scriptures:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

 For ye are yet carnal (1 Cor 3:1-3)

 

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:6)

Can you see that the believers in Corinth, "babes in Christ" were carnal or spiritualy dead?

[Live2believe]

15 hours ago, St_Worm2 said:

I meant to reply to this as well, but I don't believe that I did (so I will do so now).

What is in "direct contradiction" (to 1 John 1-2) is your exegesis or interpretation of the verses from 1 John 3 that you just mentioned.

MANY verses SEEM to say one thing (at least at first blush), but upon careful consideration/further study, we realize that what we "thought" they said, isn't even close to what they actually mean 

Here are a couple of other "clear" verses for you to consider.

Luke 14
26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 

1 Timothy 2
15 Women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. 

The obvious problem is that if we decide to take what these two verses appear to say at first blush, we end up with the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul contradicting what they taught elsewhere in the Bible.

Surely you cannot believe that women are saved by their works and by giving birth, or that the Lord Jesus requires us to "hate" our mothers and fathers, wives and children if we want to be His disciples? Likewise, don't do this kind of thing with the verses that you mentioned from 1 John 3, figure out what the Apostle John really means there instead 

God bless you!!

--David

I agree that the true understanding is the key. 

[Live2believe]

14 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I would say yes.  And in the spiritual realm it is certainly true, but we still live with flesh hanging on us.  And Paul tells us in Romans 7 that sin dwells in our flesh. Therefore, this verse in Romans 8:13 comes into play: "If by the spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live."

So if we are walking according to the spirit (which is in union with Christ) we will be in the full reality of not sinning, but if we walk according to flesh, then we are in the realm of sin and death and subject to its dark influence.

Please read these words of the Messiah:

 

³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

³³ They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:31-36).

Don't you think they contradict with what you wrote? When the Son (Yahshua) moved in the house (soul) forever, the servant of sin is evicted.

Please compare with John:

 

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

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 3:8,9).

 

[Live2believe]

19 minutes ago, Orion said:

C. H. Spurgeon knew he was a sinner.  One of his quotes: "It's a good thing God chose before I was born. If He had waited until after,  He would have changed His mind."

How did the preacher sin?

[Live2believe]

33 minutes ago, Orion said:

As I stated in an earlier post, sin is rebellion against God; it is missing the mark or the standard upon which God commands of us. 

I'll ask again: Can you say that you are sinless?

You are very persistent. I stated several times that it is not about discussing me or other people. It is first necessary to have a clarity about what sin is. 

You said, "sin is rebellion against God; it is missing the mark or the standard upon which God commands of us." I appreciate the answer, but it is not clear what is "the standard upon which God commands of us". Could you please explain?

Edited May 1 by Live2believe

[Orion]

8 minutes ago, Live2believe said:

How did the preacher sin?

How do you sin?  How does anyone sin?  The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life.  

[Orion]

Just now, Live2believe said:

You are very persistent. I told you several times that before, or rather than, discussing me or other people, it is necessary to have a clarity about what sin is. 

You said, "sin is rebellion against God; it is missing the mark or the standard upon which God commands of us." I appreciate the answer, but it is not clear what is "the standard upon which God commands of us". Could you please explain?

God's standard is absolute perfection.  

[Live2believe]

2 minutes ago, Orion said:

How do you sin?  How does anyone sin?  The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life.  

Sorry, it is not the answer. In this example with Spurgeon, I honestly don't know how the preacher sinned. Do you know?

[Orion]

Just now, Live2believe said:

Sorry, it is not the answer. In this example with Spurgeon, I honestly don't know how the preacher sinned. Do you know?

Did the preacher offer the other cheek?  No. Did the preacher who claimed to be in sinless perfection do as our perfectly sinless Messiah, and cry out, "Forgive him Father, for he knows not what he does."?  No.