And yet, you plucked your passages right out of their context to suit your narrative.
The first rule of biblical interpretation is not context, its honesty.
1 John 2:1-2 Chapter 2
1 My little children, these things I write to you so that you do not sin. Yet if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father: Jesus Christ the Righteous. 2 And he it is who obtains grace for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of all the world.
"If anyone sins"
We have this treasure in an earthen vessel.
Not only is sin unavoidable, it can at certain times be necessary.
"All things work together for good..."
3 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who through his abundant mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, 4 to enjoy an inheritance immortal and undefiled, and that does not perish, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Which salvation is prepared all ready to be shown in the last time – 6 in which time you will rejoice, though now for a season (if need requires) you are in heaviness 7 through manifold trials, so that your faith, once tried, being much more precious than gold that perishes (though it be tried with fire), may be found to laud, glory, and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ...
Peter
2 My brethren, count it exceeding joy when you fall into various trials, 3 seeing as you know that the trying of your faith brings patience. 4 And let patience have her perfect work, so that you may be perfect and sound, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all impartially, and will cast no reproach back at anyone, and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, and waver not. For he who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed with the wind and carried about. 7 Neither let that person think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 A wavering-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James
I presume that you are young in your faith.
Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 7 And while they continued asking him, he lifted himself up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you, cast the first stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 And as soon as they heard that, they went out one by one, the eldest first. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the centre. 10 When Jesus lifted up himself again and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, Woman, where are they, your accusers? Has no one condemned you? 11 She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.
The command of Jesus to "go and sin no more" is a righteous one, and Christ should rightfully expect His followers to pursue personal purity with extreme enthusiasm, as you have exhibited in your post.
Unfortunately, while Christ Himself entered into this life with the divine nature, taking on the form human flesh. We are born into human flesh, receiving within us the divine nature. Where as Christ began His journey sinless, and remained so throughout His life. We are born with a sinful nature and will battle that nature until we receive our glorified bodies.
I'm sure that such people do exist, but I have never personally witnessed any sincere follower of Christ attempt to justify their sin.
I have however, known many sincere followers of Christ to battle one particular sin for far longer than they cared to before finally being delivered from said sin, self included.
Jeremiah Burroughs wrote a very powerful book entitled "The Evil of Evils". I highly recommend it. Its all about sin, something you seem to be very concerned about in the lives of others.
i would also recommend " The Bruised Reed" By Richard Sibbes
Perhaps I was mistaken, perhaps you are not a young and zealous brother, but an old and grizzled veteran of many holy battles.
If that be the case, then I apologize. But if the latter is true, then you should know better than to cast a burden upon others which you yourself cannot bear.
Sinless perfection is a tender notion, and a pipe dream.
Thanks for your reply, I shall address the issues you raised.
In relation to the subject of 'sin', I have found that people have different definitions and thus there is some confusion on the issue.
So, what is sin? What is my definition of sin?
I believe John Wesley caught the New Testament meaning in his definition,'
nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of the known law of God.' So, keep in mind this is how I use the word sin when dealing with sinful acts, and no other.
In regard to 1 Jn 2: 1,2 John says 'if' not 'when' you sin. Sinning is not a necessity, for John.
You state that sin is unavoidable. Consider the following.
'What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?' Rm 6:1,2.
'What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Rm 6:15.
' Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him'. 1 Jn 3:6.
' He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning'. 1 Jn 3:8.
'Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God'. 1 Jn 3:9.
These are just a sample of verses that reveal that the believer is one who has done with sin and sinning. Sinning is not 'unavoidable' but contrary to the New Covenant Christian. Why are some Christians still sinning? Ignorance. They have been taught that they will sin every day in in word, thought and deed. They are unaware of the deliverance and victory that we have in Christ.
You presumed that I am 'young in the Faith'. No. I am 74 years old and I became a Christian at 14 yo.
You mention that we have a 'sinful nature', yes, we were born with an inward bias toward sin, often termed 'indwelling sin' or 'inbred sin'.
But as Christians, must we endue this traitor within, till glorification? No, Christ can and will deliver us from ALL sin, depravity and transgression.
'Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin' Rm6:6.
'Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God'. 2 Cor 7:1.
'that you put off (aorist. Once and for all), concerning your conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.' Eph 4:22.
" 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'. 1Jn 1:7.
There is a second experience for the believer, usually subsequent to regeneration, that cleanses or removes indwelling or inbred sin. It is where the root of sin is removed and the heart filled with perfect love. This is called 'entire sanctification' 1 Thes 5:23 or the baptism with the Holy Spirit Acts 15: 8,9. This experience is instantaneous and is appropriated by faith.
The old Puritans were a sad lot. Because of their theology, many lived burdened with doubts as to whether they were one of the elect and had no assurance of salvation as they were uncertain as to whether they would endure to the end. The problem as I see it was their Calvinistic, legal definition of sin as 'anything short of the perfection of God'. This would include things like forgetfulness, mistakes, errors in judgement, if fact, just being human! Sin is a moral thing, a wrongful choice against God and His moral law. Forget about 'sins of ignorance' as they have no place in the New Testament. Most of the 'sins of ignorance' in the OT were against the ceremonial laws of which we are not under.
As for people's experience of sin persisting in their lives as evidence that it will persist till we make heaven. Experience is a poor teacher. We must base belief not on experience (although it has its place) but on the revealed Word of God.
As for sinless perfection, this is usually defined as reaching a place where one cannot sin. This I reject. There is no place in the spiritual life where we are not tempted or there is no possibility of sinning.
However, the Scriptures teach a sanctified place where, by the grace of God, we may not sin. Jude 1:24. Wesley called it 'Christian Perfection'. Mt 5:48.
On a personal note. This is not an academic issue for me. I can testify to the sanctifying grace of God, who has delivered and cleansed from both inward and outward sin. I experience moment by moment a victory over all sin. This does not mean that I don't make mistakes, errors in judgement or forget what my wife told me. These are infirmities, not sins. They are the result of the Fall but not transgressions against the moral law of God.
This is what I sincerely believe and what has been my experience. Glory to God!
