Rach, You quoted 1John 1:8-10 doing so I believe as to prove that I just take scripture out of context to make it read the way that suits me. Well read the following.
Jesus has and is personally teaching me about God. I have a job to do, and it is not a pleasant job. I do not make any friends, nor do people like what I say. All that hurts me, but I do as I am told to do.
(1 John 1: 8-10)[sup] “[/sup]If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make himout to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
You need to see John was saying if one says he or she says they have never sinned they are liars.
If one is forgiven of all unrighteousness are they not then sinless? Could they then be liars if they say they are sinless?
John later says:
(1 John 3:3-9) “Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pureas Christ. Any one who sins at allbreaks the law, because to sin is to break the law. Now you know thatHe appeared in order to abolish sin, and that in Him there is no sin: anyonewho lives in God does not sin, and anyone who sins has never seen Him or knownHim. My children do not let anyone lead you astray’ to live a holy life is tobe holy just as He is holy’ to lead a sinful life is to belong the Devil, sincethe Devil was a sinner from the beginning. It was to undo all that the Devil has done that the Son of God appeared. No one who has been begottenby God sins: because God’s seed remains inside him, he cannot sin when he hasbeen begotten by God.”
(1 John 3:8) “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because thedevil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appearedwas to destroy the devil's work”
John told us those who did not know God sinned and asked forgiveness and were forgiven, but once a person comes to know God he or she will not sin.
Scripture goes on to say that if a person who does know God uses their free will to sinthere is no repentance for that person.
(Hebrews 10:26-31) “If, after we have been given knowledge ofthe truth, we should deliberately commit any sins, then there is no longer anysacrifice for them. There is left onlythe dreadful prospect of judgment and of the fiery wrath that is to devour yourenemies. Anyone who disregards the Law of Moses is ruthlessly put to death on theword of two witnesses or three; and you may be sure that anyone who tramples onthe Son of God, and who treats the blood of the covenant which sanctified himas if it were not holy, and who insults the Spirit of grace, will be condemnedto a far severer punishment. We are allaware who it was that said: Vengeance is mine; I will vindicate his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into thehands of the living God.”
(Hebrews 6: 4) “As for thosepeople who were once brought into the light, and tasted the gift from heaven,and received a share of the Holy Spirit, and appreciated the good message ofGod and the powers of the world to come and yet in spite of this have fallenaway it is impossible for that to be renewed a second time. They cannot be repentant if they havewillfully crucified the Son of God and openly mocked Him.”
Quite obviously we do not agree on what John is teaching here. Quite obviously we are not going to....so I'll leave it alone for the moment.
My other point was your attitude. If you feel Jesus is calling you to believe this teaching, fine. I think you're mistaken. But whatever the truth, you need to know this is how you come across:
[The Pharisee and the Tax Collector]
[9] He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: [10] “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ [13] But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Luke 18:9-14 ESV)
Here is a simple truth. Those who think they are righteous will become self-righteous, proud and have contempt for others.
If we are aware....painfully, that we are sinners and no matter how we try to live, will come up filthy before God without Christ, well, it helps keep us humble.