I'm not sure of what you think I was evading, but you have not asked me anything to evade.
I learned the doctrine of Godliness from the bishop of "the Church By Christ Jesus (Eph 3:21)".
I told you plainly what you were evading. Are you paying attention? What is the name of the bishop you are talking about?
Are those who do not love their brothers in the light ?
Remember, God is the light, (1 John 1:5), so there are no sinners in God or the light.
I could commit sin, if I wanted to.
But I don't want to.
According to Paul in Gal. 5:16-21, Christians have to engage in spiritual warfare against the sinful nature residing in them. Why do you think he says "you cannot do what you will"? Every Christian has two "wills" in them, two opposing "wants." This is why he says "the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." This is the warfare. As long as we are in this world, we live in mortal flesh in which we have desires that are contrary to God's will. Certainly we are not "of this world," but we have not yet been freed from the presence of sin, and we have to constantly deal with it.
Anyone who is mature enough to know God's holiness to be familiar with it can readily see how they fall far short of it, and understand they have a long way to go to be holy as Christ is. This is what is meant by saying we're still sinners (and saints at the same time). We call ourselves "sinners" to be reminded that we can fall at any time, unintentionally, and prepare ourselves to ask forgiveness for the wrong we commit.
It's much the same as someone who was once addicted to alcohol confesses he is an alcoholic, not because he is still in bondage to it, but to remind himself that he could quickly be in bondage to it if he takes even one drink. Saying he is an alcoholic is saying that he is weak in that activity, and refuses to take an alcoholic beverage from anyone for that reason. It's not saying he is still an addict or a junkie.
In the same way, we call ourselves sinners to remind us that we are weak in those things we used to be enslaved to. It's not saying we are still enslaved. The desires still exist, this is why we have to "walk in the Spirit" as the apostle Paul commands Christians to do. But if someone isn't practiced in walking in the Spirit, and they stumble, then should they be condemned as a sinner? Would you say such a person is not a true Christian?
The destruction if the old me was complete, from head to toe, and included all that which was of Adam.
I was given a new, divine nature, at my resurrection with Christ from His grave.
If you are saying a misspelled word is a sin, I can't agree with you.
No, I didn't say that. Don't exaggerate just to evade the question or justify your error. Why don't you explain Jesus' words to take up your cross
daily? Why did He say daily? Why didn't he just say "take up your cross" as if to die to sin one time only? Why did He say daily?
Speaking truth does not constitute arrogance.
Yet I'm saying you're not speaking truth. Your conclusion that you are sinless is not the truth. I know that you think you are speaking truth because you think your doctrine of sinless perfection is truth, but it's not. Further, you are again evading what I said, or else you are misunderstanding it. I said that your arrogance is in your thinking, such that you are not able to admit you could be wrong about your doctrine, even though several people in here have given you many scriptures to consider. But your response is to quote your pet prooftexts, as if pitting scripture against scripture is "speaking truth." But that strategy doesn't accomplish anything. All it does is stir up endless debates or quarrels.
So at some point you won't see any more responses from me, especially if you continue the same strategy. At some point I will deem that you are unteachable, and that you're in bondage to a cult doctrine, in which you hide behind your screen and endlessly debate about your favorite doctrine of "sinless perfection" to try and get someone in the forum to concede to your idea, thus validating you. If that happens, then you'll be like a cult leader, gathering followers. That of course is worst case; but at best I'm not going to continue this endless debate.
My POV magnifies all that Jesus accomplished with His death, burial, and resurrection.
How does continued disobedience do that ?
Here again do you put more words into what I said, namely "continued". Nowhere did I say "continued" or "continue." So with this response, I have to ask this question: If I say "where sin abounds, grace much more abounds," and if I say "to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness," or if I say "the free grace of God means I am justified by faith alone, and salvation requires no work or effort from myself," do you believe that I am teaching antinomianism? Do you then believe that I am saying in effect, "let us do evil that good may come"? (this is a yes or no question)
Freedom from sin is accomplished by availing our selves of the gifts of God.
Repentance from sin, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of past sins, and the reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost.
After those first acts of faith, we grow in grace and knowledge.
Those who brought us the knowledge of God's ways will instruct us going forward.
Don't you think that God will show His merciful grace to those intent on a life of love ?
If a man who is dead in sin wants to quit sinning, God will allow, and even further that man's hopes.
Where do you think the desire to quit sinning comes from? Do you think it comes from the man who is dead in sin?
Is it not written that faith cometh by hearing ?
Are not all those who 'hear' dead in sin ?
If a person has ears to hear, he is not dead in sin, because God has already changed the disposition of his heart. The one dead in sin doesn't have ears to hear the good news. Some people think they hear it and understand it, and can repeat it back to you, but God has to bring a person into spiritual life (Eph. 2:5) before they have ears to hear and believe from the heart. Those who "received it with joy" (the message), but then fall away because of cares of this life (etc), those people have not had their spiritual ears opened by God.
A person's heart is visible to God no matter what their state of conversion is
God sees everything, so the question is who sees enough to want Christ.
If a man wants to do righteousness, God does hear them.
If a man wants to do righteousness, he isn't dead in sin, but already made alive by God (Eph. 2:5)
Cornelius' group is a prime example of that happening.
The man in Paul's dream about Macedonia is another.
God won't work against those who desire to please Him.
These people were ready to believe, therefore they had ears to hear already. It means that God already changed the disposition of their hearts. It's the same with the disciples before the Holy Spirit was given. Prior to the day of Pentecost, all the saints, including all the OT saints had been born of God, and were called sons of God.
Anyone who believes in Christ pleases God. If someone desires to please God under God's terms, that person loves God, and God is working everything to their good (Rom. 8:28). Yet, many desire to please God but can't, because they aren't approaching God according to His terms. It started with Cain, and continued with the Pharisees.