What does Scripture Mean About Perfection?

1stcenturylady

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I think that OP has an irrational mania over this topic. I remain open to practical evidence. Show us those who live in sinless perfection.

I do. But, as Jason has told us in the OP, there are different types of sin. I see it a little differently, but we are on the same page. The one I'm talking about is willful sin, as opposed to unknown, unintentional sin. I can truthfully say, I do not commit willful sin. If I know something is against the Spirit's direction or any law of God, I just don't do it. Was I always this way, no. I had to learn obedience through suffering, to the point my life was in danger. But I was willing to die in order to not sin. I had a choice, as does everyone. I chose God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
 
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Peter J Barban

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I do. But, as Jason has told us in the OP, there are different types of sin. I see it a little differently, but we are on the same page. The one I'm talking about is willful sin, as opposed to unknown, unintentional sin. I can truthfully say, I do not commit willful sin. If I know something is against the Spirit's direction or any law of God, I just don't do it. Was I always this way, no. I had to learn obedience through suffering, to the point my life was in danger. But I was willing to die in order to not sin. I had a choice, as does everyone. I chose God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
That's great. Please share your testimony on how you overcome temptation.
 
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Your original post has been quietly edited to remove the slander. Thanks for that. I was just checking it again before appealing to the moderators. So, good timing! However, you still owe me an apology. Apologizing for false accusation is what a godly person would do. Are you godly enough to publically apologize for your false accusation against me?

I apologize if I appeared to have attacked you. That was not my heart's intention to do so. As I said before, I always strive to attack the belief and not the person and I try to go back and proof read my posts on occasion to check for grammar mistakes and so as not to offend. Sometimes I sllip out of the mode of writing in a third person kind of way because it is not as natural to talk that way (even though I have been doing so for a long time).

God's blessings, love, and peace be unto you.


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Hear me out, 1 John 1:9 is for becoming a Christian, or for those who commit a serious sin and need to come back to God. It follows 1 John 1:8 which are those who are still sinners and have never repented, let alone turned their lives over to Christ. Repentance is required.

I agree on this point.

You said:
But 1 John 2:1 does not coincide to 1 John 1:9, but to 1 John 1:7 for those walking in the Spirit; they have an Advocate because they belong to Him. Neither verses 1:7 or 2:1 show sins that require repentance. 1 John 1:9 are for those at the beginning of their walk. That is when you are cleansed of ALL sin.

I disagree on this point.

First, there are no chapter breaks in the original text. 1 John 2:1 follows 1 John 1:10.

Second, John addresses the "little children" among the body of believers he is writing to in 1 John 2:1. John says, "My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not." (1 John 2:1). Little children still need to mature and grow in Christ whereby they should have a mindset that they should not commit serious sin, but if they happen to stumble into a serious sin, they have an advocate named Jesus that they can go to (Which relates back to 1 John 1:9). John refers to different individuals within this particular group of believers in Christ as:

#1. "Little children" (1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 28),
#2. "Young men" (1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14),
#3. "Brethren" (1 John 2:7),
#4. "Fathers" (1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14).

Three, John relates the type of sin being discussed in 1 John 2:1 with the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). So this is talking about serious sin. For sins that are not a salvation issue do not need to be confessed so as to be saved. One does not need to go their advocate for non-salvation type sins because they are already paid for.

Four, granted, it is good that we admit all our mistakes to God (even the minor transgressions), but we have to realize that 1 John 2:1 and 1 John 1:9 are both dealing with salvation. For the continued theme is talking about salvation. 1 John 2:3-6 etc. is talking about salvation.


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That's great. Please share your testimony on how you overcome temptation.

Here are Ways I Discovered in God's Word to Overcome Sin:

A believer first has to be ye transformed by the renewing of their mind. They have to be willing to dedicate their life entirely to Jesus (holding nothing back). They have to be willing to give up the ways of this world for Jesus. They have to stop indulging in worldly movies, music, books, comics, or sports, etc. (See 1 John 2:15-17). For Jesus says to the believer, "deny yourself, pick up your cross, and come follow me." Granted, this may not be an overnight process. It can take time for the believer to deny themselves in many areas of their life.

Anyways, the most important thing for a believer to do is drop down upon their knees before God and confess their sins and forsake them to be forgiven whether it be the six sins or sixty of them.

Sins (like murder, hate, adultery, theft, etc.) lead unto the lake of fire if not repented of. Howevever, I believe there are different ways to overcome sin by God's Word and with the help of Jesus.
  1. A believer should remove themselves from sinful environments (if possible) and or get rid of things that cause them to sin. In Genesis: Joseph had literally ran away from the temptation of sexual sin.

  2. A believer should pray to God so as not to be tempted. It is part of the Lord’s prayer for a believer to pray so as not to be tempted into sin. God will guide and protect a believer if they are serious in praying for this. In fact, fasting will help a believer with this, as well (for it is a form of suffering in the flesh - See 1 Peter 4:1-2 about suffering in the flesh and ceasing from sin).

  3. A believer should strive to obey God’s righteous ways. The more a believer loves God and loves others and obeys His Word and stays in His Word and prays, the more they will not even have a chance to sin or do the wrong thing. But the more a believer walks in God's Word by the Spirit, they will not fulfill the lusts of flesh.

  4. When a believer is tempted, they should quote Scripture. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He quoted Scripture to defeat the devil. So when some specific sin is bothering a believer, they should find (memorize, and quote) all the verses that deal with gaining victory over a particular sin. A good general verse is, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” A believer can say these verses to themselves silently under their breath (with nobody hearing).

  5. A believer should ask for prayer from other God fearing Christians or Godly Christians to help them to overcome certain sins. The Scriptures say, bear ye one another's burdens and thus fulfill the Law of Christ. So a believer should seek true fellowship and ask for their help. If no Godly Christians are in a believer's area, they should continue to pray to the Lord and they should continue to look for them and God will bring them to the faithful believer in the Lord's timing. In other words, they should wait upon the Lord (Whereby they will renew their strength).

  6. A believer should hide God’s Word in their heart. Memorize Scripture. David said he hid God’s Word within his heart so that he may not sin against the Lord.

  7. A believer (who is new in the faith) sometimes needs to mature. If they sin, they are to confess of their sins. 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Anyways, I hope this helps you to understand more of what I believe the Scripture teach on this matter.

With loving kindness to you in Christ,

Sincerely,

~ Jason.



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That's great. Please share your testimony on how you overcome temptation.

Also, Pastor Allan Ballou has some really good videos on overcoming sin, too.
You can check them out here (if you are interested):






His website is:
How to stop sinning | HowToStopSinning.com

All His videos can be found at:
Alan Ballou's YouTube Page.

I hope this helps you to understand where I am coming from in God's Word.

Love, and peace to you in the Lord.

Sincerely,

~ Jason.


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1stcenturylady

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That's great. Please share your testimony on how you overcome temptation.

I am writing a book with it in it, but I'll share just a bit in a nutshell. I'll share the last straw that broke me completely into a meek horse, easily guided by the Holy Spirit.

1. I asked the Lord how long I would have to wait. He spoke to me and said, "Ten years."

2. At nine years I became engaged to a man from work I thought was a Christian. Very soft spoken and gentle and seemed to love the Lord. So I just didn't want to wait any longer. I had a friend who God also spoke to from time to time and she told me she saw me on a slab with a toe tag. I didn't believe her. For the entire week before the wedding, God was checking my spirit. In other words, cautioning me not to marry him. But with all that, I did it anyway.

3. After one month of marriage I talked him into Christian counseling. I could see he needed professional help. I could also see that I didn't know this man at all before I married him. We came from two different worlds. I grew up in a pleasant, sober Christian home. He grew up with parents that got drunk every weekend, wife-swapped with another couple, beat him, and the other woman in the wife swapping foursome sexually molested him from five years old to at least 14 years old. It is no wonder that one night in his bedroom he saw a blacker than the dark room figure who spoke to him and said, "I will always be with you." It was a demon. When he was sixteen he almost killed his father in a rage, and would have if people hadn't tackled him off his father. On his second marriage he had a home church, with him as the leader. One of the women was still a virgin, and he raped her to show her the meaning of love. As far as with me, I had never before in my life been abused. Never struck with fists. Never broken emotionally. Never in my wildest dreams was asked to be into sexual bondage - I refused. He began to hate me, and never failed to let me know how much. I didn't care if I lived or died. But then as he declined further and further, I rose. I asked God to forgive me for not listening to all the warnings. Not listening was sin. I saw what disobedience to God was costing me. I knew God hates divorce, so I told Him that even if my husband killed me, I would not leave him. I would rather die than disobey God ever again. And there were a few times I thought he might.

4. Then one Memorial Day weekend, I drove over from Arizona to California for a Spirit-filled Living Seminar at my old church, Church On The Way with Pastor Jack Hayford. During one of the meetings that weekend, I was asked by the speaker to come up for a blessing. It turned into prophecy, and the first words were "I release you." I bought the tape from that session and played it all the way home, over and over. I couldn't see how the whole prophecy could apply to me. I was stuck in an abusive confining marriage in a tiny village up in the mountains of Arizona. I had no idea that my husband was in the middle of an affair, and a week after I got home, he left me for the wife of his best friend, after seducing her with talks about Jesus. I was released, and free, and moved to Tennessee.

So that is a brief version of my 13 year marriage to a sadist. But, I praise God for it. I learned obedience and now live in total peace. And one miracle after another.
 
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1stcenturylady

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I agree on this point.



I disagree on this point.

First, there are no chapter breaks in the original text. 1 John 2:1 follows 1 John 1:10.

Second, John addresses the "little children" among the body of believers he is writing to in 1 John 2:1. John says, "My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not." (1 John 2:1). Little children still need to mature and grow in Christ whereby they should have a mindset that they should not commit serious sin, but if they happen to stumble into a serious sin, they have an advocate named Jesus that they can go to (Which relates back to 1 John 1:9). John refers to different individuals within this particular group of believers in Christ as:

#1. "Little children" (1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 28),
#2. "Young men" (1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14),
#3. "Brethren" (1 John 2:7),
#4. "Fathers" (1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14).

Three, John relates the type of sin being discussed in 1 John 2:1 with the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). So this is talking about serious sin. For sins that are not a salvation issue do not need to be confessed so as to be saved. One does not need to go their advocate for non-salvation type sins because they are already paid for.

Four, granted, it is good that we admit all our mistakes to God (even the minor transgressions), but we have to realize that 1 John 2:1 and 1 John 1:9 are both dealing with salvation. For the continued theme is talking about salvation. 1 John 2:3-6 etc. is talking about salvation.


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So you believe "the unsaved world" has an "Advocate with the Father"? I think that is where we disagree.
 
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I am writing a book with it in it, but I'll share just a bit in a nutshell. I'll share the last straw that broke me completely into a meek horse, easily guided by the Holy Spirit.

1. I asked the Lord how long I would have to wait. He spoke to me and said, "Ten years."

2. At nine years I became engaged to a man from work I thought was a Christian. Very soft spoken and gentle and seemed to love the Lord. So I just didn't want to wait any longer. I had a friend who God also spoke to from time to time and she told me she saw me on a slab with a toe tag. I didn't believe her. For the entire week before the wedding, God was checking my spirit. In other words, cautioning me not to marry him. But with all that, I did it anyway.

3. After one month of marriage I talked him into Christian counseling. I could see he needed professional help. I could also see that I didn't know this man at all before I married him. We came from two different worlds. I grew up in a pleasant, sober Christian home. He grew up with parents that got drunk every weekend, wife-swapped with another couple, beat him, and the other woman in the wife swapping foursome sexually molested him from five years old to at least 14 years old. It is no wonder that one night in his bedroom he saw a blacker than the dark room figure who spoke to him and said, "I will always be with you." It was a demon. When he was sixteen he almost killed his father in a rage, and would have if people hadn't tackled him off his father. On his second marriage he had a home church, with him as the leader. One of the women was still a virgin, and he raped her to show her the meaning of love. As far as with me, I had never before in my life been abused. Never struck with fists. Never broken emotionally. Never in my wildest dreams was asked to be into sexual bondage - I refused. He began to hate me, and never failed to let me know how much. I didn't care if I lived or died. But then as he declined further and further, I rose. I asked God to forgive me for not listening to all the warnings. Not listening was sin. I saw what disobedience to God was costing me. I knew God hates divorce, so I told Him that even if my husband killed me, I would not leave him. I would rather die than disobey God ever again. And there were a few times I thought he might.

4. Then one Memorial Day weekend, I drove over from Arizona to California for a Spirit-filled Living Seminar at my old church, Church On The Way with Pastor Jack Hayford. During one of the meetings that weekend, I was asked by the speaker to come up for a blessing. It turned into prophecy, and the first words were "I release you." I bought the tape from that session and played it all the way home, over and over. I couldn't see how the whole prophecy could apply to me. I was stuck in an abusive confining marriage in a tiny village up in the mountains of Arizona. I had no idea that my husband was in the middle of an affair, and a week after I got home, he left me for the wife of his best friend, after seducing her with talks about Jesus. I was released, and free, and moved to Tennessee.

So that is a brief version of my 13 year marriage to a sadist. But, I praise God for it. I learned obedience and now live in total peace. And one miracle after another.

It grieves my heart to hear that you went through such a challenge. May the Lord's love always give you strength and love; And I hope that the dark things of this past will fade away more and more for you as you focus on only that is good in the Lord.

Blessings, and peace be unto you.


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So you believe "the unsaved world" has an "Advocate with the Father"? I think that is where we disagree.

No, that is not what I said. I said the type of sin is same because it is talking about how Jesus is the propitation for not only our sins but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). This is talking about how Jesus died for the sins of the whole world so as to offer man the free gift of salvation. For Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the entire world. This does not mean the world is saved, but it means that they now have salvation freely offered to them (So that they can be saved by believing in Jesus - John 3:16).

As for Jesus being an advocate:
Well, clearly, Jesus can be an advocate to a former unbeliever if they choose to accept Jesus as their Savior. For the unbelieving world should know that they can have an advocate if they come to Jesus and believe in Him as their Savior.


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1stcenturylady

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No, that is not what I said. I said the type of sin is same because it is talking about how Jesus is the propitation for not only our sins but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). This is talking about how Jesus died for the sins of the whole world so as to offer man the free gift of salvation. For Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the entire world. This does not mean the world is saved, but it means that they now have salvation freely offered to them (So that they can be saved by believing in Jesus - John 3:16).

As for Jesus being an advocate:
Well, clearly, Jesus can be an advocate to a former unbeliever if they choose to accept Jesus as their Savior. For the unbelieving world should know that they can have an advocate if they come to Jesus and believe in Him as their Savior.


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The parallel factor I see between 1 John 1:7 and 1 John 2:1 is no mention of confession or repentance. Whereas, 1 John 1:9 requires confession and repentance. And so would a person who committed a serious willful sin.

As for 1 John 1:10 being after 1 John 1:9, I've told you before about the Hebrew style of writing. It actually goes with 1 John 1: 6 and 8. Every other verse are between the saved and unsaved.

And I do know what you mean about chapter and verse numbering being added much later. In fact, I noticed a placement of a verse number that should have been different. 1 John 3:5 and 6. The first sentence in 6 should have been included in verse 5, because, again, every other thought are opposites. But, I see why they put the two sentences together in 6, not recognizing Hebrew writing styles by that late date. I've seen similar errors in Joel 2.
 
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The written code was set aside, even nailed to the cross because it made nothing perfect.

We are told this in Scripture....

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6).

The New Testament Scriptures were still being formed during the time of when Paul was writing to the church in Rome. Paul is telling them to serve in newness of Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (i.e. the laws contained in the Old Testament Scriptures). Paul and others had written down by the Spirit new commands as a part of the New Covenant as to how they are to serve and obey God. That does not mean the written code is no more. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be perfect unto every good work. The Law is only lawful, if a man uses it lawfully (1 TImothy 1:8). Meaning, a believer can use the Old Law only as it applies (or aligns with) to the laws or commands given to us in the New Testament. The Old Covenant is no longer a binding Covenant anymore (Note: I will address this below with verses).

Yes, it is true that Hebrews 7:19 says,
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."

But what does this mean that the Law has made nothing perfect?

Is it saying that God made a mistake in giving us the Law?
No. The Law was a school master to bring us unto Christ (Galatians 3:24).
The author of Hebrews is saying that the Law in and of itself alone (without God in our lives) made nothing perfect. Remember, in Ezekiel 36, it says,

Ezek 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezek 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Did you catch that? It says that God will not only give us a new heart and a new spirit, but He will put His Spirit within you to walk in His statutes and to keep His judgments. So having God in one's life is the focal point in obeying His good ways. For without God we can do nothing; But with God, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26). Jesus said in John 15:5 that without Him, we can do nothing. Jesus forever perfects those who are sanctified in this life (i.e. those believers who went through the Sanctification process). For God has placed His laws in their hearts and minds so as to obey Him.

Heb 10:14 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;" (Hebrews 10:14-16).

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9).

As for Colossians 2 that says,
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Colossians 2:14).

Again, this is a true verse. But what is it saying?

What handwriting of ordinances were against us (that were blotted out)?

The "Moral Law"? No.
Jesus taught that the breaking of the moral law still had dire consequences for a person's soul in the after life (Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Luke 9:26). Even after Christ's death (Which officially began the New Covenant or the New Testament), John tells us that hating our brother is like being a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life abiding in them (1 John 3:15). So this shows us that the "Moral Laws" (that are eternal from the beginning) are not the ordinances that were against us that were blotted out. The ordinances that were against us (from the Old Law or the Law of Moses) that were blotted out are the "Ceremonial Laws", like: the Sabbaths, the Passover, circumcision, etc. The ordinances that were against us were the "Judicial Laws", like: being put to death for disobeying certain laws of God. These ordinances were against us because certain ceremonies were hard to keep if you were not around other brethren, and you could physically die for not obeying certain laws of God. Paul says we fulfill the Law by loving our neighbor in Romans 13:8-10. Paul is talking about the "Moral Law" here; Laws like: Do not murder, Do not covet, Do not steal, etc.; These are all "Moral Laws" that are fulfilled in the 2nd greatest command Jesus mentioned to us (Which was taken from the Old Covenant).

Pau says, if you seek to be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing (Galatians 5:2). Paul says we are not to judge according to Sabbath Days, etc. (Colossians 2:16). Paul says we are not to carry out justice into our own hands. Paul quotes God as saying, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19). This lets us know that the "Ceremonial Laws" and "Judicial Laws" are those ordinances that were against us that had become blotted out and nailed to the cross (according to Colossians 2:14).

The written code or words of Scripture were not set aside. We still have to obey Jesus and the doctrine according to Godliness. For Paul says if any man speaks contrary to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to Godliness, they are proud, and they know nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James says God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

You said:
That doesn't mean the Covenant was abolished because God never gave up on Israel and will never fail to keep his end of the Covenant. We were in grafted into the covenants and promises.

No. We were grafted into God's chosen nation of Israel through faith in Jesus Christ; However, after Christ's death, we (Gentiles) were not grafted into the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant is no more.

This is evident if you were to look at a few things in Scripture, my friend.

Jesus says,
Matt 5:38 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Matt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39).

Here we see Jesus quoting the Old Law on an eye for an eye, but then Jesus tells them to do something different. He says turn the other cheek instead.

A woman was caught in the act of adultery, and according to the Law, it is said that she should be stoned; Yet, Jesus did not use the Old Law to have her stoned, but He did something different. He said to them, he that is among you who is without sin, cast ye the first stone (John 8:7). Important Note: This is not a case against "Sinless Perfectionism." Jesus is not pointing to a person who is walking faithfully in God and not sinning currently by God's power. Jesus is pointing to a person who has never sinned before ever in their life. Seeing all of us sinned at one point in our past, this would exclude everyone present (Besides Jesus obviously; For Jesus was without sin).

We see a change in the Law when God tells Peter to eat unclean animals (Acts of the Apostles 10:9-16). But to eat unclean animals is a violation of OT Law!

Paul says those who seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit them nothing (Galatians 5:2). Yet, the Old Covenant commanded circumcision or you could be cut off (Genesis 17:14). So clearly there is a change in the Law taking place here.

Paul says that we are not to judge according to Sabbath Days, etc. (Colossians 2:16). Yet, a man who collected sticks on the Sabbath was killed under the ruling of God in the OT (Numbers 15:32-36).

When Christ died upon the cross, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom; This was letting us know that the Laws on animal sacrifices and the priesthood from the Old Covenant were no more (Matthew 27:51). Hebrews 7:12 says the priesthood has been changed.

In fact, in addition to that, Hebrews 7:12 says that the Law has changed.
Jesus says I come not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).

Hebrews 8:13 (NIV) says the Old Covenant is obsolete.
For it is why Romans 7:6 says we are to serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
It's why Jesus says, men do not put new wine into old wine skins, otherwise they will burst (Matthew 9:17).


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The parallel factor I see between 1 John 1:7 and 1 John 2:1 is no mention of confession or repentance.

What parallel factor? 1 John 1:7 talks about walking in the light of Christ (i.e. obedience to Christ's commands) so that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. This is talking about an upright walk with the Lord Jesus. 1 John 2:1 is talking about a remedy of what to do if a young believer (i.e. "little children") were to sin. They are to go to their advocate (1 John 2:1) and confess their sin to Jesus (1 John 1:9).

You said:
Whereas, 1 John 1:9 requires confession and repentance. And so would a person who committed a serious willful sin.

1 John 1:9 is tied to 1 John 2:1. For 1 John 2:2 mentions all kinds of sins (i.e. the sins of the whole world). Nowhere does 1 John 2:1 ever mention or suggest that it is not serious sin being talked about here. Nor does it parallel 1 John 1:7. If you believe otherwise, please show us what words are similar enough so as to cause a parallel.

You said:
As for 1 John 1:10 being after 1 John 1:9, I've told you before about the Hebrew style of writing. It actually goes with 1 John 1: 6 and 8. Every other verse are between the saved and unsaved.

1 John 1:9 is written to the believer to repent. For what new believer confesses all their sins to Jesus when they first come to Him? 1 John 1:9 talks about a cleansing of sin. 1 John 2:1 says to sin not, and if you do, you have an advocate. What do you do with that advocate? You confess your sins to Him. Seems logical and straight foward to me.

John is warning the brethren about a false belief of gnosticism that teaches you can sin and still be saved. Yet, John is giving the brethren the true solution to how to deal with sin. We are to confess sin (1 John 1:9), and we are to forsake sin by walking uprightly (1 John 1:7). Anyone who claims to say that they have no sin (in the sense that sin does not exist for them), deceives themselves and the truth is not in them (1 John 1:8). They are warnings to the brethren to not fall into this type of thinking at any point in the future.


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1stcenturylady

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What parallel factor? 1 John 1:7 talks about walking in the light of Christ (i.e. obedience to Christ's commands) so that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. This is talking about an upright walk with the Lord Jesus. 1 John 2:1 is talking about a remedy of what to do if a young believer (i.e. "little children") were to sin. They are to go to their advocate (1 John 2:1) and confess their sin to Jesus (1 John 1:9).



1 John 1:9 is tied to 1 John 2:1. For 1 John 2:2 mentions all kinds of sins (i.e. the sins of the whole world). Nowhere does 1 John 2:1 ever mention or suggest that it is not serious sin being talked about here. Nor does it parallel 1 John 1:7. If you believe otherwise, please show us what words are similar enough so as to cause a parallel.



1 John 1:9 is written to the believer to repent. For it talks about a cleansing of sin. 1 John 2:1 says to sin not, and if you do, you have an advocate. What do you do with that advocate? You confess your sins to Him. Seems logical and straight foward to me.

John is warning the brethren about a false belief of gnosticism that teaches you can sin and still be saved. Yet, John is giving the brethren the true solution to how to deal with sin. We are to confess sin (1 John 1:9), and we are to forsake sin by walking uprightly (1 John 1:7). Anyone who claims to say that they have no sin (in the sense that sin does not exist for them), deceives themselves and the truth is not in them. They are warnings to the brethren to not fall into this type of thinking at any point in the future.


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1 John 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

There is no confession of those sins mentioned. Even though we are walking in the light, we may still commit sins we are not aware of consciously; therefore, they are not willful sins. But they still need to be cleansed and we have an Advocate with the Father to cleanse those sins automatically. To me that parallels with 1 John 2:1. There again no mention of confession, or that they are willful sins. If this doesn't explain it for you, then let's go on. I'm not going to argue with you of all people.
 
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1 John 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

There is no confession of those sins mentioned. Even though we are walking in the light, we may still commit sins we are not aware of consciously; therefore, they are not willful sins. But they still need to be cleansed and we have an Advocate with the Father to cleanse those sins automatically. To me that parallels with 1 John 2:1. There again no mention of confession, or that they are willful sins. If this doesn't explain it for you, then let's go on. I'm not going to argue with you of all people.

Yeah, I do not see anything about minor transgressions involving an advocate in 1 John 1:7. I also see 1 John 2:1 clearly telling me as a believer to sin not. This would be the type of sin that would be serious here because minor transgressions and faults are harder to recognize in our lives. Also, 1 John 2:2 follows 1 John 2:1. Anyways, I do not think we are going to agree here (no matter what we say to each other with Scripture). So let's agree to disagree in love.

I also do not believe in the willful sin type teaching that says that willful sin is the sin that leads unto death (as per Hebrews 10:26 and 1 John 5:16-17). A person can have a dark heart so bad that they can do extremely sinful things that lead unto spiritual death without realizing all of the dark things they do as being wrong. For example: Cannibals who live in remote jungles will be condemned for breaking God's moral laws by their eating people, but they all may not know that eating others is wrong (because of their darkened hearts). I believe sins that lead unto death is the breaking of God's eternal moral laws (involving no repentance). I believe sins that do not lead to spiritual death are minor transgressions or faults, and not being baptized, etc. In fact, I believe that a Christian is saved if they willfully disobey the command to be baptized. For not being baptized is not a salvation issue (1 Peter 3:21). For there are some who see baptism as not being necessary and there are some who are only seeking to be baptized by like minded believers who are truly living holy. Hebrews 10:26 is not a classification of sins with it's name being: "willful sins." Hebrews 10:26 is talking about sins unto death (i.e. the breaking of God's moral law) here. These sins just happen to be done willfully in this context here. It does not mean all types of sins done willfully will lead unto spiritual death. For will eating a small piece of candy willlfully that you know is not good for you condemn you to hell? Surely not. It may be the only source of food you may have or you feel like calming your nerves with something sweet. We have a liberty in Christ to eat and drink many things; But we should never use our liberty as a means to destroy our temple or as a means to make anyone to stumble. But we can say sugar is bad for us and our health. Sweets can decay teeth and cause cavities, and it can add quickly unwanted weight gain. Sweets are also highly addictive. So caution must be excercised; And not a stiff ruling of "Thou shall not eat candy or you die forever." I would say that eating sweets falls under, "To him to knoweth to do good, and he does it not, to him it is sin" because most people know that eating sweets is not really good for them. But I would not call "eating sweets" a sin that leads unto spiritual death, though. For Jesus said there is nothing unclean that we cannot eat under the New Covenant. Jesus said it is what comes out of our mouths that can defile us.


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Yeah, I do not see anything about minor transgressions involving an advocate in 1 John 1:7. I also see 1 John 2:1 clearly telling me as a believer to sin not. This would be the type of sin that would be serious here because minor transgressions and faults are harder to recognize in our lives. Also, 1 John 2:2 follows 1 John 2:1. Anyways, I do not think we are going to agree here (no matter what we say to each other with Scripture). So let's agree to disagree in love.

I also do not believe in the willful sin type teaching that says that willful sin is the sin that leads unto death (as per Hebrews 10:26 and 1 John 5:16-17). A person can have a dark heart so bad that they can do extremely sinful things that lead unto spiritual death without realizing all of the dark things they do as being wrong. For example: Cannibals who live in remote jungles will be condemned for breaking God's moral laws by their eating people, but they all may not know that eating others is wrong (because of their darkened hearts). I believe sins that lead unto death is the breaking of God's eternal moral laws (involving no repentance). I believe sins that do not lead to spiritual death are minor transgressions or faults, and not being baptized, etc. In fact, I believe that a Christian is saved if they willfully disobey the command to be baptized. For not being baptized is not a salvation issue (1 Peter 3:21). For there are some who see baptism as not being necessary and there are some who are only seeking to be baptized by like minded believers who are truly living holy. Hebrews 10:26 is not a classification of sins with it's name being: "willful sins." Hebrews 10:26 is talking about sins unto death (i.e. the breaking of God's moral law) here. These sins just happen to be done willfully in this context here. It does not mean all types of sins done willfully will lead unto spiritual death. For will eating a small piece of candy willlfully that you know is not good for you condemn you to hell? Surely not. It may be the only source of food you may have or you feel like calming your nerves with something sweet. We have a liberty in Christ to eat and drink many things; But we should never use our liberty as a means to destroy our temple or as a means to make anyone to stumble. But we can say sugar is bad for us and our health. Sweets can decay teeth and cause cavities, and it can add quickly unwanted weight gain. Sweets are also highly addictive. So caution must be excercised; And not a stiff ruling of "Thou shall not eat candy or you die forever." I would say that eating sweets falls under, "To him to knoweth to do good, and he does it not, to him it is sin" because most people know that eating sweets is not really good for them. But I would not call "eating sweets" a sin that leads unto spiritual death, though. For Jesus said there is nothing unclean that we cannot eat under the New Covenant. Jesus said it is what comes out of our mouths that can defile us.


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So, for what kind of sins done willfully and without repentance is Jesus acting as our Advocate?
 
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If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:17-21)
Israel did not keep their part of the covenant and there were blessings for obedience and curses if they disobeyed. But God always has and always will keep his covenant with Israel. Certain branches might be cut off but the vine remains and we did not replace the vine, we were grafted into it as unnatural branches. The failed through unbelief.

Believers are saved by grace through faith, but faith is always followed by works and holiness. Romans 11:21 does not help support your version of the believer being saved by grace through faith alone (with the believer abiding in serious unrepentant sin or the believer being devoid of good works and holinesss). It is saying if we do not continue in His goodness, then we will be cut off like the Jews (nationally), which was through their unbelief. It is not saying all Jews will not be saved. All of Christ's hand picked disciples were Jews. Also, the Jews as a nation will one day repent shortly before Christ's 2nd Coming, so God has not forsaken His people. One of the major points of the 7 year tribulation is to drive Israel to the wall so as to repent and recognize their Messiah (i.e. Jesus).

It s true, we did not replace the original olive tree; Jesus is Jewish. He is the tree, and we are the branches who were grafted in. Israel is supposed to be the natural branches. But again, this is not a case for a gospel of whereby you said that a Christian can be carnal and still be saved.

"For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." (Romans 11:21).

Israel was cut off because of unbelief. We are warned that we can be cut off for the same reason, too.

Paul gives us a list of sins in Galatians 5:19-21 (like murder, adultery, theft, etc.) and says that they which do such things (sins), will not inherit the Kindom of God.


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So, for what kind of sins done willfully and without repentance is Jesus acting as our Advocate?

It is a loaded question based on faulty presuppositions. Advocate is a word you are using according to your beliefs here. Jesus is our Propitiation for our minor transgressions automatically because they are automatically covered by His blood. Babies who die, will go to be with Jesus and the sin of Adam is not applied to them because Christ's death and resurrection reversed the curse. Jesus is our Advocate when we repent of our serious sins to Him and He covers them (forgives them). So if any claim is made by the evil one, and we honestly repented of such sins, the devil has no actual claim. For minor transgressions are automatically covered by Christ's blood and no claim would ever be made for such minor transgressions. Only serious sins that the evil one knows can cause spiritual death for a believer is a true case against them. But if they repent of their serious sin to Jesus, then Christ will be their Advocate against the devil.


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