I do not know what to say. I have preached what you are preaching in the hopes that the doctrines you are now setting forth, as I preached them, would settle down into my heart and that in preaching these doctrines I would save both myself and those that hear me.
But these things never took in my life. I always found that when the temptation to commit my besetting sin came along, I was basically helpless before the onslaught of the enemy. I recently came to the place of giving up on self-effort and trusting that the forgiveness of Christ is what I need; and that I must be forgiven as one who is a sinner saved by grace.
For in 1 John 1:8, it is clear to me that I am a sinner; and that if I deny that I am a sinner I am deceiving myself and the truth is not in me. Also Galatians 3:22. This one has convinced me, along with Galatians 6:13, that I am a sinner and that my salvation is through faith in Jesus, that I am forgiven of all my sin through faith in Jesus, even though I continue to be a sinner.
I hope you don't mind if I continue to disagree with you in a public manner in order to draw out from you more wisdom on this issue. Because in my heart and mind I am in agreement; I just don't find these things working themselves out practically in my life. So the more I talk to you concerning the things that people have spoken to me as arguments against the doctrine of entire sanctification; and the more you answer them: the more I think I will be able to grab hold of doctrines that will truly be able to set me free.
So please expound for me what you think 1 John 1:8, Galatians 3:22, and Galatians 6:13 mean in light of the doctrine that you are setting forth. This is my first question to you.
Brother, of course I do not mind. If by our going back and forth, it helps you to come to a better understanding of what I have been called to share, I will do whatever I can to see that your faith finally comes to full fruition.
Let us rise deal with the scripture in 1 John 1:8. There are a multitude of scriptures promising victory over sin in the life of God’s children, but there are two that seem to trip people up. One is Romans7 and the other this verse in 1 John.
So as we read this verse in context, please allow me to paraphrase a bit. John is telling us that we all need forgiveness for our sins that we might be saved. So when we get to verse 8, John states “Now if any man says he has not sinned, he is deceiving himself and the truth is not in him.”
So let’s make sure we clarify who this is. It is an unsaved man saying he has not sinned and this does not need Jesus to forgive him.
How do we know this is true? Right afterwards, in 1 John 2:1, he writes “Little children, these things I write unto you that you sin not.” Whhhhaaatt?? LOL. As most read these verses, they are left with John telling us that we all have sin and if we say we do not, we are deceived, and then immediately tells us that the whole purpose of him writing is that we not sin. So, if we obey him, we are deceived??
But the real clinchers are later in 1John, where some of the most difficult verses in the entire New Testament are found. In chapter 3, for example, he tells us this “He that abidieth in Him sinners not.” Do you see the conflict this creates if we misunderstand 1John 1:8? All that verse is clarifying is that if any man says that he has not sinned and thus does not need the blood of Jesus, he deceived himself. It is in no way speaking about a man abiding in Christ.
This is critical that we understand this, for if we are left with doubts here, Satan will beat us over the head with them, and there is n way our faith in the truth that we are new creatures can take root.
One of the real problems when any discussions of overcoming sin arise is that we look at it from the perspective of what men can accomplish in their lives. And of course, the answer is.... we cannot cease from sin, amen?
BUT, let us learn the lesson taught when the Israelites had made the golden calf and God sent poisonous snakes to bite them. They were in terrible pain, and dying, and it is here that God instructed Moses to make the brazen serpent and attach it to a pole and lift it high. He then said that whoever would look away from themselves, their strength to resist the venom, or their weakness and inability to do so, would be healed.
And we are told that Jesus is our brazen serpent, yet how we have continued looking at what is possible to us as men, and not wha is clearly promised by our God if we will simply stop looking at us, and look to the God of the impossible.
Has God promised the sin will have no more power over us? Absolutely! I could list twenty. But let us start with one. God promised that in every temptation to sin, He will make sure it is never stronger than our ability to resist it, and will always make a way of escape so that we will be able to bear it and not fall.
We would argue, “Yes, but we are only human!” Indeed we are. But..... are we humans with old carnal natures now, or humans with His nature living in us? What good is a way of escape if we have a traitor living inside us, who refuses to take it? There is no safety there at all.
No, brother, we have been given shields of faith, that God promises will quench ALL the fiery arrows of the enemy.
What we have failed to see is one critical piece of the new covenant. It is found in Ezekiel 36. After God tells us He is going to give us new hearts, He says this and these are His exact words.
“....and I will CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes..”
Glory to God! Under the old covenant, obedience was required. Ahhh, but under the new, obedience is promised!
I will be glad to address any other questions you might have. God wants you free, victorious over the world, the flesh and the devil. That is our birthright, nothing less.
I am praying for you and am thankful you continue to act as devil’s advocate for I sense in you a sincere hungry heart. God will not disappoint you, I will try to address the two scriptures in Galatians tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.
Just to encourage you a bit, 12 years ago, I was a bitter, angry, judgmental, legalistic, serving a hard God and determined to make sure ecpveryonecelse toed the line as well, lol. I was a inappropriate content addict, and there were days, to my shame, I masturbated six to seven times a day. I was joyless, impatient with others, religious but not righteous, and my “branch” had lots of leaves but no fruit .When God appeared to me, I literally had run out of things to try to walk pleasing to God. But when I saw the truth that I was already a new man, and 5hat the old me was dead, it took all the pressure of me believing hard enough to make it work.
Even if I slipped, which occasionally happened, it did not alter the truth of what Jesus accomplished for me one iota. So, I would repent, turn back to the Lord, and immediately again hold up my shield of faith that the old me was dead. It frustrated Satan to no end, lol.
And if God can set someone as bound as I was free indeed, He can and will certainly do it for any who call out to Him and will stop trying to do it themselves, or, conclude it is impossible. Either way, it is self in all its glory.
But when we finally come to the point of having NO strength, and NO confidence in the flesh, it is then we are finally prepared to ONLY believe. Even if our faith is as small as a mustard seed, it is just enough!
God has shown me that this awakening as to who we are and how we overcome will overtake the true church in the last days. But who will receive it first? Those who hunger for a pure walk with Him but who are aware of their weakness. God has an amazing walk for you, my dear friend. Of that I am certain. Hang in there and do not lower the standard. Let Your God lift you up to meet it.
Blessings,
Gideon