sanctified sinners.

[justbyfaith]

In 1 John 1:8, we are told that we are sinners in the sense that we have indwelling sin.

However, we are sanctified in our walk in that sin is rendered dead in the sanctified believer (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:24, Romans 7:8); so that it no longer has any say over his or her behaviour.

We have sin; but this does not mean that we have to sin.

In fact, 1 John 3:6 (w/ 1 John 2:17) and 1 John 3:9 speak of the fact that we " do not" and "cannot" sin as those who are born of God; that we "sin not" as those who are abiding in Christ.

We are sinners in that we have indwelling sin; however, that sin is rendered dead through the crucifixion of the flesh; and this means that we are indeed able to repent in the practical sense; that we are able to do that 180-degree turn away from sin and that this will result in our being delivered from those besetting sins; so that we don't commit them any longer.

Therefore, when Paul writes that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: he is saying also that he was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But that he owns his former lifestyle of sin in the present now; that who he was is also who he is: the only difference being that he repented of doing the things that his nature of sin caused him to do then; so that while he continues to have the nature of sin that caused him to do those things then, that he will not do them any more; because the Holy Spirit convicted his heart and brought godly sorrow (see 2 Corinthians 7:10) so that he ceased from doing what he knows he is still capable of doing: because Paul is fully aware that he has indwelling sin as a factor in his life.

It is therefore in our practice that we are changed, while the nature of sin has not changed.

We also now have the Holy Spirit who has come to dwell within us; so that we have a new nature that is motivated entirely by the love of God. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5:17); so that we cannot do the things that we would. Our old man would do things that are not pleasing to the Lord; but the Spirit within us gives us restraint so that we don't do those things and cannot any more do those things. The love of the Lord restrains us. We don't want to stumble our brother in Christ who is looking up to us as an example; and we don't want to allow the worldly sinner to continue to have as his excuse that there are many hypocrites in the church: so we do our best in the power of the Holy Ghost to live a life that is pleasing to God.

And that it is possible to live a life that is in freedom and victory over sin is evident in Matthew 5:20; where we are told that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees we will by no means enter in to the kingdom of God. So it is either possible to live out such a righteousness or else it would be true that no one will enter in.

The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was impeccable according to the law; so a righteousness that exceeds it can only be an inward righteousness that is impeccable according to what is on the inside. For Jesus said to clean the inside of the cup and platter so that the outside may also be clean; because the scribes and Pharisees were only cleaning what was on the outside.

So then, the love of God must motivate us as believers as that living water that flows from our innermost being.

Jesus is indeed able to cleanse us from all sin; but if anyone were to proclaim that He has done this within them personally, they would be deceiving themselves and the truth would not be in them; perhaps this is so that we might be motivated to pray for this inward cleansing every day and often; since the hands and head do not need to be washed but the feet need to be washed on a regular basis.

 

[Episkopos]

A cup that is filled and overflowing has no impurities in it. The flow will take the pull of this world and it's temptations away before they can enter into the cup. Impurities do not flow upriver. Being filled with the Spirit means we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

It would seem that few have experienced the keeping power of God. In that walk one is filled to overflowing with the Spirit. Every thought is captive to Christ. The power that propels the mortal body is from heaven...it is grace...the grace as a gift from God. Abiding in Christ in this way causes us to have the same walk that Jesus did. He has prepared an abode for us in heaven...IN Himself. So we are to walk IN Him. This is the walk in holiness...the kingdom walk. One must be crucified dead to oneself for this power to take over in these mortal bodies. The power of the cross brings out the life that has been planted from within (Christ in you the HOPE of glory). And the anointing from heaven falls on such that are crucified and now walk IN Him. And all this without any trace of sin. The conduct of such as are crucified with Christ is in heaven. Then we can be dwellers of heaven ...seated in a heavenly place (Zion) in the presence of the living God.


Holiness and sin don't mix. Is God a minister of sin? Or is He a minster of life...an eternal kind of life. There is no sin in the eternal life. Sin comes from the power of the temporal carnal life.

So there is indeed a walk of perfection as one abides in Christ. This is the walk in the Spirit..in His presence. In His name.

But we will mainly be walking at some distance from the Lord where the there is no constant flow of life flowing from us. At a distance the flow stagnates to form a pool...a pool that can indeed be mixed in with impurities. At this distance our spiritual life is more like a pond. A pond that will allow mixture. But this pond is outside the presence of God. So our walk is one that takes us up river....bearing our own cross. We must choose daily to follow this way. In this walk are both victories and defeats because we are abiding in the wilderness of an influence both of Gd AND the world. We have not yet outdistanced the power of sin as we seek to be led by the Spirit. But we can follow closely and have a good testimony regardless if we walk in a faithful and determined way

 

[justbyfaith]

1Jo 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Gal 3:22, But the scripture hath concluded all (including the born again) under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 6:13, For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Rom 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short (present tense) of the glory of God;

 

[Randy Kluth]

In 1 John 1:8, we are told that we are sinners in the sense that we have indwelling sin.

Just to be clear, we are viewed as dead, though not actually dead in reality. God views us as if our lives are in Christ, who did die. And so, we are viewed as dead in his death.

What this means is that legally we can no longer be viewed as sinners inasmuch as our lives are now associated with Christ's life, which is now raised from the dead. We are viewed as sinless inasmuch as what we do is done through Christ. Whatever is not of Christ is viewed as dead.

This doesn't at all mean we are sinless, or that God is blind, unable to see our sin and failures. It just means that insofar as our destiny in heaven, we are viewed as blameless, so that what is done in Christ remains, along with our lives.

However, we are sanctified in our walk in that sin is rendered dead in the sanctified believer (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:24, Romans 7:8); so that it no longer has any say over his or her behaviour.

We have sin; but this does not mean that we have to sin.

The Sin Nature that we *have* means that we do have to sin to some degree. The point I think you're trying to make is that God's word was given to us so that we do not *practice sin.* This means that despise the traces of sin in our lives, generally we can live a blameless life, doing good and having the bad sort of marginalized. What this means is that we can live a righteous life even though we do show a sin nature.

This may sound contradictory, but it can be shown in history that it is not. All of the saints of the OT sinned by necessity, because they had a sin nature. All of the most righteous men acknowledged they were sinners. But due to their regular commitment to God's word they were viewed as righteous saints, their flaws not able to mar their record to any significant degree. It is the same with us who have chosen to obey Christ.

 

[justbyfaith]

If anyone is perfect, their attitude is that they have room to grow (Philippians 3:12-15).

So it is always the perfected ones who will claim that they are sinners when in all reality their life shows that they do not commit sins at the practical level.

1 John 3:6 w/ 1 John 2:17; and 1 John 3:9 are clear; that those who are born of God "do not" and "cannot" commit sin; and that those who are abiding in Christ "sin not."

These verses can be taken literally; for the apostles used great plainness of speech when they spoke and wrote to their respective audiences.

2Co 3:12, Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: