Doug Brents replied [post #1523], "I would agree that there is a quality of faith that makes it a "saving" faith. And there is a lesser quality belief that does not save. But I believe that you are misreading what 1 John 3:9 is saying. Can this verse really mean that a person who is "in Christ" cannot sin? No. It is saying that a person "in Christ" is not credited with their sin, because the blood of Christ continually cleanses him of all sin as it is committed (1 John 1:7). Notice the condition placed on the continual cleansing. "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."
My Reply :
You stated, "Notice the condition placed on the continual cleansing. "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."
God doesn't simply require holiness; He promises it to all of His sons and daughters. If you know that you are in fact a child of God, then you can rest knowing that you will persevere. As Dr. Kenneth Keathly said, "perseverance [and the fulfillment of the "if's'] should be viewed more as a promise than a requirement."
The necessary or sufficient conditions/requirements mentioned throughout scripture will be manifested and produced in all true believers by the Holy Spirit. They will exist as the inevitable by-product of the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and the new nature/heart miraculously delivered at the new birth (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5).
(1) We must persevere in faith to enter heaven (2 Tim.2:12; Heb.3:14;10:26). Not to persevere is to perish.
(2) God will preserve us in our faith even though at times we may doubt and wander from the path of righteousness. But He will always remain true to his promise by ensuring that none of His children will fall so far as to finally and forever fail. God will preserve us, we will in fact persevere, we will endure in faith.
Jude 1:1-2,"Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:"
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24," Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."
You stated, "But I believe that you are misreading what 1 John 3:9 is saying. Can this verse really mean that a person who is "in Christ" cannot sin?"
Absolutely, that is, when it's properly understood in the original Greek language ... "cannot sin" here does not imply sinless perfection [their will be a link provided below demonstrating what this phrase entails].
Here's more compelling evidence found in 1 John 3:9 concerning the permanent nature of the new birth :
1 John 3:9 and the Permanent Nature of the New Birth - Part 2 :
King James Version - 1 John 3:9 :
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
English Standard Version - 1 John 3:9 :
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Greek Interlinear - 1 John 3:9 :
Anyone having been born [Πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος] of God [ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ] sin not [ἁμαρτίαν οὐ] practices [ποιεῖ] because [ὅτι] seed of Him [σπέρμα αὐτοῦ] in [ἐν] him [αὐτῷ] abides [μένει]
and [καὶ] not [οὐ] he is able [δύναται] to continue sinning [ἁμαρτάνειν] because [ὅτι] of God [ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ] he has been born [γεγέννηται].
Pas ho [Πᾶς ὁ] gegennēmenos [γεγεννημένος] ek [ἐκ] tou [τοῦ] Theo [Θεοῦ] hamartian [ἁμαρτίαν] ou [οὐ] poiei [ποιεῖ] hoti [ὅτι] sperma [σπέρμα ] autou [αὐτοῦ] menei [μένει] kai [καὶ] ou [οὐ] dynatai [δύναται] hamartanein [ἁμαρτάνειν] hoti [ὅτι] ek [ἐκ] tou [τοῦ] Theo [Θεοῦ] gegennētai [γεγέννηται].
'SPERMA AUTOU' IN 1 John 3:9 :
seed of Him [σπέρμα αὐτοῦ]
sperma [σπέρμα ] autou [αὐτοῦ]
The following link connects to an excellent article by J. du Preez [entitled 'SPERMA AUTOU' IN 1 JOHN 3:9]. It's an article that I highly endorse, and is one which I believe masterfully exposits the overall message of 1 John 3:9 [one of my favorite passages found in scripture].
https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA2548356_53
The implication of 1 John 3:9, as it relates to the eternal security of the believer, is crystal clear ...all those who have been born of God will permanently remain as sons and daughters of God.
1 John 5:4, "For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith." [NASB].
Greek Interlinear : "For [hoti] everyone [pan to] having been born [gegennēmenon] of [ek tou] God [Theou] overcomes [nika] the [ton] world [kosmon]."
Those of the LOS [Loss Of Salvation] camp disagree by claiming that a believer's faith may or may not persist during the course of their lifetime, and that some will ultimately cease believing [i.e. - abandon their faith altogether].
Their point is easily disproved when it is shown that all those who have been born of God simply cannot and will not remain a habitual sinner. [see post #61 - pg.4 - linked below] ... it simply isn't possible for any person born of God to possess a lifestyle characterized by righteousness apart from their possession of the [saving] faith mentioned in 1 John 5:4.
Can a genuine, blood-bought, regenerated believer forfeit their salvation?
Therefore, it only logically follows that all those born of God have not only overcome the world [past tense], but are also guaranteed that they will overcome it [future tense]. As for myself, I share the Apostle Paul's sentiments spoken in in 2 Timothy 1:12, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
So, once again we discover that the critical question here is not "will I as a genuine believer continue to overcome the world?, but rather questions such as, "have I truly been born of God?, and "have I ever exercised the type of faith that truly saves [i.e.- justified me before God?"].
It's important to properly understand the overall theme of the book of 1 John. It should be viewed as describing tests of life that are identifying marks that all believers possess. That is to say, they are tests of genuineness concerning a person's professed faith. These marks are more evident in some believers than in others, but they all are present in every true child of God. The Apostle John points out what these marks are, and states that those who have them can and will “know” that they have eternal life because only true believers can possess these marks, while no unbeliever can truly have them.
"If however 3:9 and its adjacent verses are read attentively it will strike the reader that in various ways they deal with: being pure and doing right and showing love in fellowship with the Son of God as the test for being born of God, as the test for being a true child of God." [J. du Preez].
The same tests or markers that show someone is saved will also, however, manifest when someone is not saved. 1 John is a commonly misunderstood book. One could understand why, Satan doesn’t want people who are not saved to know that they are not.
J. du Preez neatly summarizes and parallels my above truth claims under the heading of "The meaning of 'sperma autou':
"In the light of what has been observed with regard to paragraphs 3: 1 and 3:2, sperma autou should be understood as that new life of being pure and doing right through practising brotherly love in communion with God (Christ) and according to the example of Christ. Does this not agree with the concept of portraying the likeness of God? Sperma recalls the concept of reproduction according to your own likeness. If the seed of God then remains in the believer, this unusual expression simply wants to convey the truth that the new man is a person regenerated permanently after God's image. I would risk the suggestion that the expression: 'because his (God's) seed remains in him' (the believer) may be interpreted: because he is now permanently God's likeness, ...
Thus 1 Jh. 3:9 means the following: Whosoever is born of God (γεγεννημένος, perf. part. pass., signifying the permanent result, i.e. whosoever is a child of God) does not commit sin, i.e. does not live in sin (durative praesens: οὐ ποιεῖ ), because His seed remains in him, i.e, because he has received a lasting life of purity, righteousness and love in communion with God - in other words, because in Christ (cf. v. 8) he has become God's likeness in a new and lasting way; and he cannot sin, i.e. he simply cannot live in sin (ἁμαρτάνειν, infinitive praesens) because he has been born of none other than God himself (ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ, with emphasis).
The translation of this verse as a whole may therefore read as follows: 'Whosoever has become a child of God, does not live in sin, because he is now the lasting likeness of his father. In fact. he cannot live in sin. simply because God is his Father'.