High Mark and God's blessings to you and family! I don't believe the issue is that we sin as much as it is what do we do about it.
God doesn't expect us to live this life without sinning any more because He has not designed it so. He wants us to do what we're suppose to do about sin and that's where salvation comes in. Though we still sin, it should be unwillfully and it's not we, the new man sinning, but we, the old man. "Now then it is no more I (as the new man) that do it, but sin (old man) that dwelleth in me. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me" (Rom 7:17, 20).
"You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin." I believe this means that in this life, He takes away the guilt of sin because "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). This is also evident in Romans seven by Paul's admission to the ongoing presence of sin. I understand it to be that "takes away sin" means eventually all sin will be eradicated. To have sin is accepted but to be desirous and guilty of it, as we know, is not.
Hi netchaplain,
Thank you! And may God bless you and yours as well!
I think we are on much the same page about what we do about sin, as we've discussed this before. I know you are a believer in God's grace, and I rejoice that you share in this truth!
I would not be so bold as to say that this verse in John does not mean that Jesus came to take away sins, considering that it does actually say that. Now, I think it does include past sins, which effectively is the guilt of sin, but also future sins, in the guilt of the ones committed, but also in those we do not commit.
Jesus came to do away with sin. Now, realizing that this will happen in our lives imperfectly until our resurrection/transformation, still I would say that 1 John 1 is written to the unbeliever. That which is born of God sins not. In my new creation, I am sinless and holy - God's amazing grace!
When John says, If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, I believe he means the one who believes that they are without sin on their own. People need to confess - agree with God - that they've sinned, that they are sinful, and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. But once that's been done, we are completely, totally, forever forgiven of all sins. We need not return to the well for additional forgiveness.
Our debt was nailed to the cross as Jesus became sin on our behalf, and was tetelestai, Paid In Full.
Jesus has taken away my sins. He put them on Himself. He's taken them away from me, by making me new, sinless, holy, righteous, though the old nature continues in sin, and given the opportunity, will express its sinfulness through my body, my hands, feet, eyes, mouth, whatever.
I believe that Jesus came to bring us victory over every sin, every evil thought and deed. Though we will continue in the war between flesh and spirit, God's purpose is not that remain in sin to keep us dependant, but to live the resurrection life, which flows directly from Him.
There is a very important distinction here, one I truly hope that you understand. I believe that you do understand, and perhaps we are just using our words differently.
The abundant live is the life of Christ lived through me. In Him there is no sin, so in His life in my there is no place for sin. Sin in the believer is an interuption to the life of Christ in me. God's desire is that I continue in that life of Christ. He works in me to both want to, and be able to do, those things that please Him, drawing me ever deeper into a spiritually fruitful life, and ever farther from the fruitless works of darkness, ever deeper into His glorious light.
Love in Christ,
Mark
r 10:2, 22; 1Pe 3:16, 21) in spite of it, so that our fellowship with the Father may be unhindered, esp. during our prayers of confession to Him (1Jo 1:9).
