Do you know why a Christian cannot willfully sin

[Inkfingers]

The Bible says that this purification is certainly a process that takes time. The Bible says that Christians are being purified. This implies that Christians still have sin in their lives, yet it is passing away.

"Christians" is a vague term never used by Christ. I am speaking of salvation which the Bible says once reached is never lost....but we don't reach it at the start of the journey only the end of it (he who endures to the END will be saved).

 

[Tree of Life]

"Christians" is a vague term never used by Christ. I am speaking of salvation which the Bible says once reached is never lost....but we don't reach it at the start of the journey only the end of it (he who endures to the END will be saved).

You sound like a Catholic. In what sense are you a Calvinist?

 

[Tree of Life]

"Christians" is a vague term never used by Christ. I am speaking of salvation which the Bible says once reached is never lost....but we don't reach it at the start of the journey only the end of it (he who endures to the END will be saved).

You still have several problems with your statement.

You're only willing to give the name "Christian" to those who are ultimately saved. Fine.

But even those who are ultimately saved are purified throughout their lives. They are not purified of all sin the moment that they start walking with Jesus. Those who will ultimately be saved do still struggle with sin in this present age.

 

[RaymondG]

That is a "level"?

Paul was re-named, just as Jacob was.

It does not denote a "level", however.

We might want to be very careful. "Levels" can sometimes feed into the "pride" that we all struggle with. Even Paul did. That's why he was given a "thorn in the side".

It doesnt make me feel good, or better than others, to try to sound more educated or spiritual than others.....so i tend to use common language that everyone can understand and follow....even though they may be inappropriate at times. In fact...many spiritual things cannot be comprehended by the carnal mind, therefore, rendering all words useless.

But yes it is not a level reached....but the beginning....the start of a long journey.....a journey many will not start because they already believe themselves to be at a certain "level" on the path.....

 

[Inkfingers]

You sound like a Catholic.

There's no need to be rude

In what sense are you a Calvinist?

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved - I'm just very picky on what that means)

 

[brinny]

It doesnt make me feel good, or better than others, to try to sound more educated or spiritual than others.....so i tend to use common language that everyone can understand and follow....even though they may be inappropriate at times. In fact...many spiritual things cannot be comprehended by the carnal mind, therefore, rendering all words useless.

But yes it is not a level reached....but the beginning....the start of a long journey.....a journey many will not start because they already believe themselves to be at a certain "level" on the path.....

The only "journey" that we are set on, is in "seeking God's face".

Anything else is secondary.

Most of it is best left behind.

Psalms is excellent in delving into.

There's a REASON that God Himself called David a "man after His own heart" and the "apple of His eye".

 

[Willing-heart]

Every sin we ever commit is willfully comitted. To say otherwise will make you a liar. Satan can tempt us to sin but he cannot force us to commit sin. That’s why we need to be utterly dependent of God because we would never be sinless in this life, although we are made righteous through Christ before God.

 

[Bruce Leiter]

Even though the Word emptied Himself to become man, the baby Jesus, the seed of the Father was in Him from the beginning of conception. Therefore, during His life even before He was baptized by the Spirit for ministry and miracles, He didn’t sin, though He was tempted by Satan, just as we are. And for us, God always makes a way of escape.

That same seed is in Christ’s followers who have been baptized with the Spirit. 1 John 3:says, 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

This is also why we must have that seed in us. Romans 8:9 "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."

If you still willfully sin (and don't be spiritually ignorant and say all sin is willful. There are also unknown (to us) sins that are not sins unto death in 1 John 5. Willful sins are rebellious against God - and without repentance will produce death.), do as Jesus said, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works." So what are the first works? Acts 2:38, I believe are those in a nutshell.

I'm interested in your very first comment that Jesus emptied himself to become man. Do you believe that Jesus gave up his deity when he was conceived? Philippians 2 seems to say that he did, but if you look for that which he gave up, it's not there. You have to use other passages to find out if it was his deity. For example, Jesus claimed while on earth over and over that he was God (Andy Stanley: "God in a bod"). He said in John 6, 10, 11, and 14 that "I AM" the bread of life, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, and the way and the truth and the life. Since he identified himself directly ("I am") with the God of the burning bush (Exodus 3) and the LORD as David's shepherd, he must have been fully God and fully human while on earth. Therefore, he must have given up his high status and privilege of being at the Father's right hand.

Your reference to 1 John 3:9 is a difficult one, but 1 John 1:8-10 makes it clear that John was not claiming in 3:9 that believers are sinless. The best interpretation that I have found is that he is referring to the fact that sin no longer controls believers like a master the way it did before they believed. For example, God made me a Christian at 16. I felt God's call to be a pastor but then rebelled against that call like Jonah. I spent 8 years as an English teacher and 3 as a sales manager until God renewed his call and made me a pastor 27 years. Then, he sent me into retirement to write Christian books. He knew what he was doing all along, even though I didn't ask him about the English part. The central commitment of my life was to him, but I decided to do something different for my vocational life.

 

[1stcenturylady]

There are many of you who almost proudly say you still sin. So the question is, is the seed of Christ in you? Because those who have the seed in them, cannot sin. And by the teachings of all the apostles we know that this refers to willful sin.

Don't come to me and ask me if you are a Christian. Read the words of the apostles and judge yourselves. And if you are not a Christian, then what are you waiting for? Who else has the Words of eternal life?

 

[Romansthruphilemon]

The scriptures I quote say that the saved do not sin because the old sinful self dies and a new self is made by God.

People may not like to hear that, but its what the scripture says.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

 

[Tree of Life]

There are many of you who almost proudly say you still sin. So the question is, is the seed of Christ in you? Because those who have the seed in them, cannot sin. And by the teachings of all the apostles we know that this refers to willful sin.

Don't come to me and ask me if you are a Christian. Read the words of the apostles and judge yourselves. And if you are not a Christian, then what are you waiting for? Who else has the Words of eternal life?

When was the last time you knowingly fell short of the glory of God in thought, word, or deed?

 

[1stcenturylady]

I'm interested in your very first comment that Jesus emptied himself to become man. Do you believe that Jesus gave up his deity when he was conceived? Philippians 2 seems to say that he did, but if you look for that which he gave up, it's not there. You have to use other passages to find out if it was his deity. For example, Jesus claimed while on earth over and over that he was God (Andy Stanley: "God in a bod"). He said in John 6, 10, 11, and 14 that "I AM" the bread of life, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, and the way and the truth and the life. Since he identified himself directly ("I am") with the God of the burning bush (Exodus 3) and the LORD as David's shepherd, he must have been fully God and fully human while on earth. Therefore, he must have given up his high status and privilege of being at the Father's right hand.

Your reference to 1 John 3:9 is a difficult one, but 1 John 1:8-10 makes it clear that John was not claiming in 3:9 that believers are sinless. The best interpretation that I have found is that he is referring to the fact that sin no longer controls believers like a master the way it did before they believed. For example, God made me a Christian at 16. I felt God's call to be a pastor but then rebelled against that call like Jonah. I spent 8 years as an English teacher and 3 as a sales manager until God renewed his call and made me a pastor 27 years. Then, he sent me into retirement to write Christian books. He knew what he was doing all along, even though I didn't ask him about the English part. The central commitment of my life was to him, but I decided to do something different for my vocational life.

Jesus was always God, but what He gave up was His glory. For instance, growing up He was no longer omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent, but the seed remained in Him to be without sin.

At His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, restoring omnipotence - His power. But He still was not omniscient or omnipresent.

John 17:4 "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."

 

[brinny]

There are many of you who almost proudly say you still sin. So the question is, is the seed of Christ in you? Because those who have the seed in them, cannot sin. And by the teachings of all the apostles we know that this refers to willful sin.

Don't come to me and ask me if you are a Christian. Read the words of the apostles and judge yourselves. And if you are not a Christian, then what are you waiting for? Who else has the Words of eternal life?

Do you ever sin, in thought, word, or deed?

Are you "sin-less", "perfect?

 

[brinny]

There are many of you who almost proudly say you still sin. So the question is, is the seed of Christ in you? Because those who have the seed in them, cannot sin. And by the teachings of all the apostles we know that this refers to willful sin.

Don't come to me and ask me if you are a Christian. Read the words of the apostles and judge yourselves. And if you are not a Christian, then what are you waiting for? Who else has the Words of eternal life?

No one here is "proud" of sinning, including me. We are thankful for God's inexplicable grace, and that we have an Advocate Jesus Christ, Who pleads our case before the Father, even now as we speak, for as it is written, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" ~I John 2:1

"the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." ~Matt 26:41

 

[Anand Prabhu Antony]

I willfully sin. Does this mean I'm not a Christian?

1 John 3:8
"The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning".

How one can willfully partake with devil and follow Christ?

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
"what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Beliyaʽal [the devil]?

 

[brinny]

1 John 3:8
"The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning".

How one can willfully partake with devil and follow Christ?

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
"what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Beliyaʽal [the devil]?

Do you sin in thought, word, or deed, Anand Prabhu Antony?

 

[Anand Prabhu Antony]

Do you sin in thought, word, or deed, Anand Prabhu Antony?

1 Corinthians 4:3-4
"I do not even judge myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord".

I believe the above verse for me

 

[brinny]

1 Corinthians 4:3-4
"I do not even judge myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord".

I believe the above verse for me

Read the two Bible verses in post #94, Anand Prabhu Antony.

 

[1stcenturylady]

When was the last time you knowingly fell short of the glory of God in thought, word, or deed?

In 1981 I asked the Lord "how long"? And He spoke to me and said "10 years." This question was about a previous prophecy.

Eight and a half years later I met a fellow Christian at work (we both worked at 20th Century Fox in L.A.), and had a short engagement, ten months later, I started having a check in my spirit during the week before the wedding to not marry him. But I had already booked the best florist in Beverly Hills, and my photographer was the only photographer allowed 100% access to photograph the Pope when he was in Los Angeles. The wedding was going to be a big deal. The check in my spirit was letting me know he wasn't the one for me, but I felt I would have to make it work, so I reasoned with myself that God would be okay with it seeing as he was a "Christian." My sin was talking myself into the belief that my will was God's will. So, basically, I lied to myself.

I went through 13 years of every kind of abuse imaginable. But I blamed myself that I had not waited the full ten years. I learned obedience through suffering.

Now do you really think I EVER want to sin again? Not on your life, my life, or the life of anybody else!

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Sin causes so much heartache. I often wonder what my life could have been like if I had just waited. That sorrow keeps me on the very straight and narrow; but I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Why? Because His seed is in me.

So why do you continue in sin? I told you my story. Or do you just say that, somehow thinking it makes you appear humble.

I found something interesting in Romans 6. Even though when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are dead to sin, we must keep reminding ourselves of that truth. Why? It is so you don't buy into the lie of the devil, that says, "Did God really say that"? "Go ahead and sin; your present and future sins are also forgiven, because they were all 'future' when Christ died." Oh, really? Where is that found?

Peter makes reference to the fact that it was our old sins that were forgiven in 2 Peter 1:9.

 

[brinny]

Do you know why a Christian cannot willfully sin

In 1981 I asked the Lord "how long"? And He spoke to me and said "10 years." This question was about a previous prophecy.

Eight and a half years later I met a fellow Christian at work (we both worked at 20th Century Fox in L.A.), and had a short engagement, ten months later, I started having a check in my spirit during the week before the wedding to not marry him. But I had already booked the best florist in Beverly Hills, and my photographer was the only photographer allowed 100% access to photograph the Pope when he was in Los Angeles. The wedding was going to be a big deal. The check in my spirit was letting me know he wasn't the one for me, but I felt I would have to make it work, so I reasoned with myself that God would be okay with it seeing as he was a "Christian." My sin was talking myself into the belief that my will was God's will. So, basically, I lied to myself.

I went through 13 years of every kind of abuse imaginable. But I blamed myself that I had not waited the full ten years. I learned obedience through suffering.

Now do you really think I EVER want to sin again? Not on your life, my life, or the life of anybody else!

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Sin causes so much heartache. I often wonder what my life could have been like if I had just waited. That sorrow keeps me on the very straight and narrow; but I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Why? Because His seed is in me.

So why do you continue in sin? I told you my story. Or do you just say that, somehow thinking it makes you appear humble.

I found something interesting in Romans 6. Even though when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are dead to sin, we must keep reminding ourselves of that truth. Why? It is so you don't buy into the lie of the devil, that says, "Did God really say that"? "Go ahead and sin; your present and future sins are also forgiven, because they were all 'future' when Christ died." Oh, really? Where is that found?

Peter makes reference to the fact that it was our old sins that were forgiven in 2 Peter 1:9.

Since, as you say, you sinned and "willfully" sinned, were you saved (a Christian) when you willfully sinned?