1 John 3:9 - Is it cannot "practice" sin, or cannot "commit" sin?

[stunnedbygrace]

I was almost asleep and came wide awake sitting up. I almost forgot to say I was sorry for speaking to @Bible Highlighter the way I did. I was very wrong. I presumed a bad motive to him, presumed to think I could see his heart, spoke with impatience and it was not good at all.

There are two intersecting things that were happening at the same time as the conversation in here and there is a story there, but that’s not important other than for my learning. What’s important was coming back to say I’m sorry.

I don’t delete my mistakes BH. I want you to know it’s not because I’m not sincere or because I secretly think I was not wrong, but because I want people to see my mistakes. I do not want to cover up my mistakes. I want everyone to see where and how I misstep so they will not think too highly of me.

And now that I’m up, I have to sneak a few bites of ice cream.

 

[quietthinker]

I was almost asleep and came wide awake sitting up. I almost forgot to say I was sorry for speaking to @Bible Highlighter the way I did. I was very wrong. I presumed a bad motive to him, presumed to think I could see his heart, spoke with impatience and it was not good at all.

There are two intersecting things that were happening at the same time as the conversation in here and there is a story there, but that’s not important other than for my learning. What’s important was coming back to say I’m sorry.

I don’t delete my mistakes BH. I want you to know it’s not because I’m not sincere or because I secretly think I was not wrong, but because I want people to see my mistakes. I do not want to cover up my mistakes. I want everyone to see where and how I misstep so they will not think too highly of me.

And now that I’m up, I have to sneak a few bites of ice cream.

you touch my heart with your words sbg

 

[stunnedbygrace]

you touch my heart with your words sbg

Are you sure you aren’t just trying to get some of my ice cream…

 

[HIM]

I agree. This is a post I just wrote on another Christian forum site. Do you agree with it?

Just so you know, 1 John 1:9 is equal to Acts 2:38. They are both to make us Christians filled with the Holy Spirit.
Rachel we cannot commit major sins of lawlessness. Those are not in our nature anymore because Jesus takes away our sin. 1 John 3:4-5 regarding sins unto death.
The Holy Spirit plants the seeds of the fruit of the Spirit. Peter tells how to grow those fruit to maturity. 2 Peter 1:5-9
Sins of immature fruit are called trespasses (sins not unto death) 1 John 5:16-17. They are the type of sins in the Lord's Prayer. For trespasses to be forgiven, we must forgive one another for God to cleanse them. If we don't forgive, God won't forgive us.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Spirit filled Christian:
Breaking one of the Ten Commandments are major sins unto death. This is what Jesus takes out of our nature, leaving us with a pure human nature of free will like Adam was created with BEFORE he sinned. What Adam didn't have was the indwelling Holy Spirit like we do. That is why he committed a sin unto death (a sin directly against God's one commandment). All we have to do is never quench the Spirit in order to stay free from sins unto death. 1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
So sins unto death = zero
trespasses we have forgiven others = zero
When I learned that last bit, I always think if there is anyone I need to forgive and forgive them. As far as sins unto death, I don't have any desire to commit one.

Thank you for your input. I will need time to consider it, I just wanted to post to let you know I saw your response,

 

[HIM]

Here is an example of one who is forced to live a lie ( I am above Sin) simply because they are too stiff- necked to try to understand Hebrews 10....." I no longer sin" you say?..... Lol....let me talk for 5 minutes with your husband...

Hebrews 10 is clear. When people try to explain it away because of willfully sinning is when a issue arises.

 

[mailmandan]

Here is an example of one who is forced to live a lie ( I am above Sin) simply because they are too stiff- necked to try to understand Hebrews 10....." I no longer sin" you say?..... Lol....let me talk for 5 minutes with your husband...

In regards to Hebrews 10:26, to "sin willfully" in the Greek carries the idea of deliberate intention that is habitual, which stems from rejecting Christ deliberately. This is continuous action, a matter of practice. Now we don't walk along our daily life and "accidentally" fall into a pit called sin. We exercise our will but, the use of the participle clearly shows a willful, habitual action. The unrighteous practice sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21); not the righteous, who are born of God. (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 John 3:9) *Hermeneutics*

 

[Lambano]

One more thing. John wrote these things so that we could judge ourselves. He didn't write 'em so that we could judge others.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Thank you for letting us see the context from which you extracted it.
She is speaking from the point of view of righteousness. Her point was not that we can sin all we want to. She did say that, but it was not her point. She even said it’s a hard to accept truth. Her point was that He will never abandon us. That’s the main point she was trying to make. A lot of people suffer quite a bit in trying to accept and really believe He will never abandon them because they read verses concerning holiness and they seem to them to say the opposite. And they don’t find any help because no one understands because there is so much leaven it’s next to useless to teach these things. And in fact, if you do, you’ll probably be kicked out of places. I’ve met exactly one man who God has given to know these things to teach them. Never, in all my reading, in hundreds of videos, have I EVER met anyone else who knows it.

You are speaking from the point of view of holiness. A failure in holiness is one strike and you’re out. You do NOT mess with Gods holiness. Because there is NO sin IN Him. Uzzah mishandled Gods holiness. Zapped dead. Moses did not properly display Gods holiness to the people. Was not allowed to enter the promised land. Annais and Saphira. Zapped dead.
someone might run away with that and say, well then, Moses is not saved in the end but he was at the transfiguration so they should just stop that line of thought and let God judge and stay out of things that are astronomically above their pay grade. If you lose fear and humility before God, you will lose what little He has given you.

Righteousness is being led by the Spirit.
Holiness is walking IN that Spirit.

You try to take verses that concern holiness and apply those who will be judged harder because they were given more TO those who will not be judged as hard because less was given to them.
To whoever receives more, more will be required. To whoever receives less, less will be required. To whoever is given more, more is expected.
If what you end up with is, to whoever is given less, the more will be required of them, you have got it exactly backwards.

I just requoted her own words. If she did not believe those words, then she would have have never said them. So I respectfully disagree with your defense on what she said. Jesus warned about how certain sins can destroy our souls in Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 9:62. This is the opposite that you can sin all you want. Jesus thought that you could be cast bodily into hellfire by just looking upon another in lust. The apostle Paul said that if any man provides not for his own (especially of those of his own house), they have denied the faith, and they are worse than an infidel (unbeliever) (1 Timothy 5:8). So no. When she said we can sin all we want, that is contrary to Scripture and is wrong from my plain and normal reading of the Bible.

Yes, a believer can struggle with sin on rare occasion. According to 1 John 5:16-17: Back in the early church, when that happened, the Christian who struggled with sin was to go the faithful brethren (who successfully walked with the LORD) and ask for their help. The struggling Christian had to be confessing their sins to the LORD Jesus and they had to be desiring to overcome their sin. The faithful brethren would pray for this struggling Christian so that they would have victory (life) in overcoming their sin.

As for Righteousness and Holiness: Well, I believe holiness means to be set apart and divine, and pure. I believe righteousness means to be declared right or just. I believe these terms can overlap at times in Scripture.

As for your view on separating righteousness and holiness: I am not convinced of your viewpoint on that position. You would have to offer a more deeper and or thorough biblical presentation or study to prove your case.

So far, I respectfully disagree with your viewpoint: A person‘s conduct can be holy as I already demonstrated before. But here is the verse again (If you did not catch what I was saying).

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)

“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Notice it says be holy in all your conduct. It means be set a part in your conduct. 1 John 3:7 says he that does righteousness is righteous. A person who is righteous before God is also holy or set apart. So holiness and righteousness can intertwine with each other and or converge and they can convey the same idea or concept (like walking righteously or walking holy). For if one is righteous, they are holy, and if one is holy, they are righteous (even though each of those words have their own unique meanings).

In the context I have given, while each of these words are unique in their own meaning, they can at times say the same thing but from a different angle. God imputes righteousness without works (Romans 4:6). This is saying that God is making a person blameless and holy by forgiving them of their past sin when they first come to the Lord Jesus and His grace in their Initial Salvation. Granted, they have to then continue in the faith AFTER they were saved by God’s grace. This continuing in the faith involves doing what God tells us to do. For all of our Bible is a part of the faith. We have to believe the Bible because that IS faith. For if we reject certain words in the Bible, or if we reject certain books in the Bible, we don’t have faith. God wants us to believe all of His words. Anything else is simply unbelief. People can believe up until a point and then they stop believing other things in the Bible that they don’t like to hear. For when they are confronted with a verse that conflicts with their personal belief, or man made belief that is popular among many, they will many times stick with the man made belief and not believe the Word of God.

Anyways, I do understand at times there are distinctions of differences between righteousness and holiness whereby they do not converge. For example: Moses stood on holy ground. This ground was not righteous but it was holy and distinct or set a part and divine and pure because GOD was there. A person is righteous in the fact that they are blameless in regards to their record or account. They right (correct, justified) before God. But at other times, holiness and righteousness can convey a similar concept or point being made like in 1 Peter 1:15-16, and 1 John 3:7. If a person is righteous before God, they are also holy and set apart (Distinct from others). So holiness and righteousness do have different meanings, and can be used in different ways each that are distinct, but they can at times converge and intertwine with each other (like how a rope is made of intertwined threads).

I hope this helps.

May God bless you greatly today (even if we disagree on Scripture and or other things).

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Oh I just can’t with you anymore.Not going to happen.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Yes, let's look at 1 John 1:8 to 1 John 2:2 as a whole.

1 John 1:8 says we cannot deny that we have (Present Active Indicative) sin in us NOW. We know from Romans 7 that Sin is a power that lies within us.

1 John 1:9 says if we confess (Present Active Subjective) our sins NOW, God is trustworthy (πιστός) to forgive our sins and cleanse us of our ἀδικίας, the forensic judgement that we are in the wrong (see Romans); our guilt. Note that the guilt is cleansed, but the power of sin within us still remains NOW.

1 John 1:10 says we cannot deny that we have have sinned in the past.

1 John 2:1 introduces John's primary reason for writing the letter: That his flock MIGHT NOT (Subjunctive, the mood of possibility) sin. (Gosh, God doesn't want us to sin. Who would have guessed?) But if anyone DOES sin (also Subjunctive), Jesus Christ is our Advocate.

1 John 2:2 states the great truth that Jesus Christ IS (Present tense) the atoning sacrifice not only for our sins, but the sins of the whole world.

Context: The flow is simple; don't read things into it that aren't there. We have the power of sin in us and we have sinned in the past. Those truths cannot be denied by first-century Gnostics or twenty-first century religious folks. We are told not to sin, but if we do sin, we may confess our sins and trust God's forgiveness and Christ's atoning sacrifice and His advocacy on our behalf. Do you see any time limits on that? I don't. Let's not deny the only reason for hope we have: God and Christ's trustworthiness. Trust!

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. (2 Timothy 2:13)

This interpretation on 1 John 1:8 does not work because John tells the brethren to “sin not” (1 John 2:1) which is not possible with your interpretation. It also does not align with 1 John 2:3-4. For we can have an assurance that we know the Lord if we find if we are keeping His commandments. If we are always in sin as per the wrong OSAS interpretation on 1 John 1:8, then fulfilling 1 John 2:3 is not possible. One cannot be breaking God’s commands and yet also keep sinning, too. Sin is to break God’s laws or commands (1 John 3:4).

As for Romans 7:14-24:

Paul was speaking these words at this point from his experience as a Pharisee who was under the 613 Laws of Moses, and the false Pharisee religion that made salvation primarily a focus on works with very little to no grace. This has to be the interpretive view because a saved Christian by Jesus would not ask who shall deliver me from this body of death? The Christian already knows that answer and would never ask such a question.

The context of the chapter starts off in telling the brethren about those who know of the Torah or the Law (i.e. the 613 Laws of Moses) (See: Romans 7:1).
The context then continues to talk about the Old Law. In one example: It says we are to serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (i.e. The Torah) (Romans 7:6). So we are to serve in the New Covenant way and not look back to the 613 Laws of Moses.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Oh I just can’t with you anymore.Not going to happen.

My reply was a little imperfect at first.
I just re-edited my post on righteousness and holiness to convey my thoughts more correctly or clearly on that matter.

In either case, I think if you believe there is truth to your study on righteousness and holiness, I think you should share your biblical study.
Granted, I do not share that viewpoint so far, but why not put it out there (And see what happens).

In any event, may the Lord’s good ways shine upon you greatly (even if we disagree strongly on God’s Word).

 

[L.A.M.B.]

Such a big discussion.....SIN !

Do I do it ON PURPOSE, ON ACCIDENT OR BY OMMISSION?

I agree @Lambano , it is written that we might examine OURSELVES DAILY. We wake up with a new beginning every morning to get it right by the Word of God.

I have more faith in the belief & understanding of the Word by the hated OSAS than I do of Catholicism, Adventism, Mormonism, any that have THEIR OWN INTERPERTATION and DONT hold to God's word and authority but cling to man or self.

Do any think we have power within ourselves to change?
To overcome ? To resist ?

It is Christ within us purifying us by his word and Spirit that clears the dross from our souls.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Such a big discussion.....SIN !

Do I do it ON PURPOSE, ON ACCIDENT OR BY OMMISSION?

I agree @Lambano , it is written that we might examine OURSELVES DAILY. We wake up with a new beginning every morning to get it right by the Word of God.

I have more faith in the belief & understanding of the Word by the hated OSAS than I do of Catholicism, Adventism, Mormonism, any that have THEIR OWN INTERPERTATION and DONT hold to God's word and authority but cling to man or self.

Do any think we have power within ourselves to change?
To overcome ? To resist ?

It is Christ within us purifying us by his word and Spirit that clears the dross from our souls.

I believe the issue is more serious.
If one believes 1 John 1:8 in that it means we must declare we will sin again this side of Heaven, and if one believes they are saved by a belief alone in Jesus and their salvation is never in jeopardy by sin (When that runs contrary to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, etc.), then we are in a very dangerous place of justifying sin. Even if one struggles to fight against sin, it would not matter if they believed contrary to the Word and believed they can also sin and still be saved on some level. Sure, they may not be a George Sodini (See here, and here), but if they believe they can justify what they think are smaller sins like lying, or looking at others in lust, it will not bode well for their soul come Judgment day. Remember, it only took one sin to separate Adam and Eve from God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Do any think we have power within ourselves to change?
To overcome ? To resist ?

It is Christ within us purifying us by his word and Spirit that clears the dross from our souls.

That’s right. No man performs his own heart surgery.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

That’s right. No man performs his own heart surgery.

There are some Christians who are Works ALONE based who would make one think this way about them. The Church of Christ and the Catholic Church comes to mind because they seek works as the point of initial contact of saving faith via to access God’s grace because they believe in baptismal salvationism. But I don’t think most other Christians really believe this (even those who hold to the view that there are two aspects of salvation like myself In that we are first saved by God’s grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-9), and then we enter the secondary aspect of salvation - which is the Sanctification of the Spirit & a belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Believers truly have to be transformed by GOD on a spiritual level. No doubt about it. For if one is not born again by water and the Spirit, they cannot enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5).

 

[L.A.M.B.]

I believe the issue is more serious.
If one believes 1 John 1:8 in that it means we must declare we will sin again this side of Heaven, and if one believes they are saved by a belief alone in Jesus and their salvation is never in jeopardy by sin (When that runs contrary to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, etc.), then we are in a very dangerous place of justifying sin. Even if one struggles to fight against sin, it would not matter if they believed contrary to the Word and believed they can also sin and still be saved on some level. Sure, they may not be a George Sodini (See here, and here), but if they believe they can justify what they think are smaller sins like lying, or looking at others in lust, it will not bode well for their soul come Judgment day. Remember, it only took one sin to separate Adam and Eve from God.

You gag @ gnats & swallow camels......... For did Jesus not say talking about the rich man that with men
( judgers) it may be impossible but with God ALL things are possible ?

WHY?

He sees the heart which is deceitful to ourselves but is open and visible to him !

Do you believe:
In sinless perfection ?
Do you follow a denominal creed or statement ?
Yes I see you're non- denominal but that doesn't mean you don't stand behind one or more of their beliefs.
Do you look to ANY man whatsoever for theology ?

I see you having somewhat against all denoms.
The unaccepted ones I have named above.

IT IS REAL SIMPLE, EITHER YOU SERVE GOD OR YOU WILL SERVE THE FLESH,WHETHER BY DENOMINATION OR NOT. Nothing too hard or too serious for God to handle

You spit and hiss like a heated cat at ppl but you never give solutions by the Word.

What are your beliefs BH besides your signature?

 

[robert derrick]

What is the difference in understanding and truth between us not practicing sin, or not committing sin? Note the context of this chapter and what type of sin John is talking about 1 John 3:4 sins of lawlessness. What does changing the word to practice allow us to do. Of course, cannot commit sin has no other meaning.

They are both the same in effect, but one is defined solely to justify what we are doing at a certain time.

It's the foolish game of playing semantics with God and His word.

No one can be committing something at the time, and not be practicing it, nor committed to doing to at that time.

God is a God of now and today, and His word is written to apply to what we are doing now on earth, not before in the past, nor later that may not come.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Afterall, we can only be committing sin once at a time, and so to say committing sin once does not apply, is foolish sophistry, not reason and truth.

If we are only sinning from time to time, then we are doing and practicing and committed to it from time to time.

And each time, we must be drawn to come to Christ with godly sorrow to be forgiven and reconciled to Him.

 

[robert derrick]

He that is committing sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

He that is doing sin, he that is sinning, is at that time of the devil, just as anyone else committing the same sin, is of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God is not committing sin; for his seed is remaining in him: and he cannot be sinning, because he is born of God.

It is certainly possible for any man to be sinning on earth at any time, but it is not possible to be born of God while sinning of the devil at that time.

What many sincere Christians do not want to believe, is that our faith and righteousness in Christ for salvation and justification, is only as good as what we are doing at that time.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that is doing good is of God: but he that is doing evil hath not seen God.

Once we believe Jesus is the Christ and true God, we are imputed righteousness with power to do His good and righteousness, but if we are not doing that good faith at some time, but are doing evil and sinning with the devil, we are not being of God, nor are we seeing God in us. And God counts it as though we never have.

If we are sinning against God, we must come to Jesus Christ with godly sorrow like any sinner on earth, to confess and be forgiven and reconciled to God, even as a newborn son of His.

For this my son was dead, and is living again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever not doing righteousness is not of God, neither he that is not loving his brother.

Whoever is sinning with the devil, cannot be doing good with God, and so is being of the devil and not of God: it is impossible to be children of the devil and sons of God at the same time.

And it is what we are doing at the time, that makes it known who we are being of: God or the devil.

No man can be doing any good with God, without the faith of Jesus. And no man can be doing unrighteousness with the devil, with the faith of Jesus.

With man, faith can be alone, but with God, faith is only as faith is doing:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You gag @ gnats & swallow camels.........

@L3astAm0ngManyB13ss3d

As for Jesus’ words that say, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:24).

Well, I don’t think justifying the sins of lying and or looking upon a woman in lust on occasion was the context in Matthew 23 (if you were to re-read the whole chapter in context). The Pharisees appeared to be outwardly righteous and they ignored the weightier matters of the Law like love, faith, justice, and mercy (Matthew 23:23, cf. Luke 11:42). Lying and or fornication is simply one not loving their neighbor (Romans 13:8-10).

1 John 4:7-8 says:
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

For did Jesus not say talking about the rich man that with men
( judgers) it may be impossible but with God ALL things are possible

Can believers judge?

Jesus said,
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24).

Granted, I am not interested in judging individuals exactly. That’s not my goal in life. My goal is to refute the false beliefs of others that runs contrary to God’s Holy Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says Scripture is profitable for correction and instruction in righteousness.

As for the point Jesus was making about how with God all things are possible:

I see this statement by Jesus as Him referring to how God can change a person’s heart and given Him their Spirit so that they can obey and do what is good and right (vs. justifying sin).

Do you follow a denominal creed or statement ?

No. I am not a part of any affiliated church organization that gets together in a big building.
Nor am I affiliated with any online church, either.
I just believe the Bible. My influence is God’s Word in what it says.
If somebody says something contrary to His Word, then I disbelieve it (It does not matter who it is).

Do you look to ANY man whatsoever for theology ?

The Bible talks about how there are teachers. So I think there are times we can glean truths from other believers but most often there is always something I disagree with among believers these days even if I do find them to be gifted in teaching a particular truth in one area. But no. I don’t look to any man alone to get my theology accept the man Jesus Christ (of which His words are written in Scripture for us).

IT IS REAL SIMPLE, EITHER YOU SERVE GOD OR YOU WILL SERVE THE FLESH,WHETHER BY DENOMINATION OR NOT. Nothing too hard or too serious for God to handle

To serve the flesh means one is serving sin or they are trapped under being a slave to incorrectly serving some wrong aspect of Laws of Moses.
Romans 8 mentions the word “flesh” in relation to how Paul was once a Pharisee struggling to keep the Old Law in Romans 7:14-24.

Those who justify the idea that they can sin and still be saved today by waving 1 John 1:8 around as if it was a banner flag to sin on some smaller level, are not serving God but they are serving their own sin or flesh. Why? They are justifying sin with that verse. Yes, God can forgive us but we must confess and forsake sin In order to have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

What are your beliefs BH besides your signature?

See here:

What is your Statement of Faith?

My Statement of Faith: 1. God (a) God is Triune (The Lord our God is one God who exists as three persons: The Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost); Note: You can check out my defense of the Trinity in this CF thread here. (b) God is spirit (God is a spirit being; Transcendent and...

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Do you believe:
In sinless perfection ?

See here:

What does Scripture Mean About Perfection?

The Scriptures Teaching on Sinless Perfectionism: Sinless Perfectionism is the goal of our Sanctification. It is yet another Biblical doctrine that is commonly misunderstood and or denied amongst Eternal Security Proponents or those who do not believe that “Sin Cannot Separate a Believer From...

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You spit and hiss like a heated cat at ppl but you never give solutions by the Word.

Heated cat that hisses?
I think you are wrongfully projecting something that is not true.
I have no ill will toward anyone here.
I want to simply see all abiding in our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.
In any event, I see this as telling the truth of God’s Word like it is in trying to correct others who are in error (Of which I am allowed to do according to 2 Timothy 3:16).

So what do you think Jesus was doing in Matthew 23?
How would you describe His behavior in that chapter?

Anyways, I can give a list of how a believer can overcome sin but one must first believe God’s Word in that they cannot justify sin by their wrongfully interpreting 1 John 1:8, and Romans 7:14-24 as an excuse to sin. They need to first believe God in that they can overcome sin in this life (See: Galatians 5:24, 1 Peter 4:1-2, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Romans 13:14).

 

[Lambano]

This interpretation on 1 John 1:8 does not work because John tells the brethren to “sin not” (1 John 2:1) which is not possible with your interpretation.

John leaves it open in 1 John 2:1 as to whether it is possible or not. Jesus said that stumbling blocks were inevitable in this world (Matthew 18:7), and if Jesus lied to us about that, I want to know what else He lied to us about. But again, please read what John says. Even if we do stumble, if we confess our sins, we can trust Christ to advocate for us before our Father, we can trust Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, we can trust God to forgive us.

I'm hearing that our assurance comes from our own righteous behavior. I'm saying with John in 1 John 1:8 - 1 John 2:2 that our assurance comes from trusting Christ.

The ONLY assurance we can really ever have is through trust.

Do you understand?

Please God, open eyes and hearts and minds to hear this message.