Is it possible to be sinless for 5 seconds straight?

[Bible Highlighter]

Well , let's not take that out of it's context shall we...? What does it say just before that in Matthew 7:21-22 mainly... Who is it addressed to...? People committing what kind of specific sin or iniquity exactly...? Cause in this instance, it actually does tell us specifically and plainly and exactly and is an excellent example of how many have twisted this out of it's context to mean, or apply to people and person's it is just not meant to apply to... Many have used it as a fear tactic, when they have quoted or stated it or said it out of it's context...

Very good example Jason, glad you brought it up...

God Bless!

The context is talking about professing believers.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? " (Matthew 7:22).

Jesus says if anyone does not do what He says he is like a fool who built his house upon the sand and when a storm came, great was the fall of that house (See Matthew 7:26-27). So I really do not see how this part of Scripture supports your view. There is nothing here about how Jesus says to certain believers, "Depart from me you have have misunderstand my words in Matthew 19:17 about keeping my commandments to enter into eternal life. For I was actually telling you believe solely in my sacrifice." But Jesus never says that.

 

[aiki]

Not sure how people can read the following verse and think.... I can sin and still be saved.

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"

Paul and John both thought it was possible to sin and yet still be a born-again believer:

1 Corinthians 3:1-4; 6; 11:17-31
1 John 1:8-10
Galatians 5:13-17

 

[aiki]

I am not sure how this helps your belief.
Do you know who George Sodini is?

What stops a person from being the next George Sodini if they hear your message that future sin is forgiven them?

You didn't address my point. At all.

See post #62.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You didn't address my point. At all.

See post #62.

Your point really doesn't make any sense in light of your belief, so I am going to need an explanation as to how this kind of passage fits in your belief. The short answer is that it doesn't fit if you think King David was saved while he committed his sins of adultery and murder.

 

[Neogaia777]

The context is talking about professing believers.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? " (Matthew 7:22).

Jesus says if anyone does not do what He says he is like a fool who built his house upon the sand and when a storm came, great was the fall of that house (See Matthew 7:26-27). So I really do not see how this part of Scripture supports your view. There is nothing here about how Jesus says to certain believers, "Depart from me you have have misunderstand my words in Matthew 19:17 about keeping my commandments to enter into eternal life. For I was actually telling you believe solely in my sacrifice." But Jesus never says that.

No it's not talking about (all) professing believers, it's much more specific than that... It is talking about professing believers who will say to Jesus "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful (supernaturally powerful) works?" NOT "all professing believers in general"... Though many have have twisted it and used it abusively to mean that, and they are wrong...

Man can't you ever admit when you might be wrong...?

God Bless!

 

[FIRESTORM314]

What a Question - got the old grey matter thinking somewhat !

Jesus said to the woman Sin No More

Hebrews 10:10-12
Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time.

John 13:10
Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.

The question was
Is it possible we can be sinless for 5 Seconds straight?

The human answer I think would be "No". We cannot. Our flesh is still Flesh - it is in Decay. but our Spirit is another story? If we see through God's eyes then the answer is probably YES.

Does God see us a sinless?

 

[Neogaia777]

Your point really doesn't make any sense in light of your belief, so I am going to need an explanation as to how this kind of passage fits in your belief. The short answer is that it doesn't fit if you think King David was saved while he committed his sins of adultery and murder.

Why did God anoint him as King as a young boy...? You don't think God knew what David was gonna do in the future...?

So, what made David "different" (from other sinners)...?

God Bless!

 

[Bible Highlighter]

No it's not talking about (all) professing believers, it's much more specific than that... It is talking about professing believers who will say to Jesus "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful (supernaturally powerful) works?" NOT "all professing believers in general"... Though many have have twisted it and used it abusively to mean that, and they are wrong...

Man can't you ever admit when you might be wrong...?

God Bless!

The focus is not just the problem of prophecying and casting out devils. Jesus essentially says "Anyone who does not do what he says is a fool who built his house on the sand," and we know what happened in that scenario and it was not pleasant (See Matthew 7:26-27). Besides if you need another passage that says a similar thing, here ya go.

“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42).
‭‭
John 12:48 says that those who do not receive Jesus’s words, those same very words will judge them on the last day. Which words of Jesus can condemn a believer?

Take your pick: Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, Matthew 25:31-46, and Luke 9:62.

 

[Neogaia777]

The focus is not just the problem of prophecying and casting out devils. Jesus says Anyone who does not do what he says is a fool who built his house on the sand, and we know what happened in that scenario and it was not pleasant. Besides if you need another passage that says a similar thing, here ya go.

“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42).
‭‭
John 12:48 says that those who do not receive Jesus’s words, those same very words will judge them on the last day. Which words of Jesus can condemn a believer?

Take your pick: Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, Matthew 25:31-46, and Luke 9:62.

I give up Jason...

I'm going to go back to playing my video game now...

God Bless You, OK...?

God Bless!

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Paul and John both thought it was possible to sin and yet still be a born-again believer:

1 Corinthians 3:1-4; 6

In regards to 1 Corinthians 3:

Well, just because they are called brethren, does not mean they are saved brethren. In 1 Corinthians 5 we learn that we are to cast out that wicked brother from among us (who is committing sexual immorality within the gathering body of believers).

11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (1 Corinthians 5:11-13).

Paul calls them carnal in 1 Corinthians 3.

6 "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:6-8).

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Romans 8:13).

Peter talks about children who are accursed.

"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:" (2 Peter 2:14).

I have heard the Eternal Security Proponent boast about how they cannot cease from sin more times than I care to count. Why would Peter describe a trait to false propehts if it is the same trait as believers?

1 Corinthians 3 is talking about your motivations behind your good works. Are they works solely based upon the Lord or a little bit so as to please men? Works that are not solely done out of love for the Lord will be burned up. Those who defile their temple by committing grievous sin will be destroyed.

James 5:19-20 refers to the reader as brethren and if anyone of us brethren errs away from the truth and is converted back again (by another faithful believer), they should know that they have helped to save a soul from death and help to cover their sins (no doubt because they got them to repent of their sins to the Lord for living a prodigal life of sin).

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son we learn that a brother can be dead and be made alive again (See Luke 15:32).

1 Corinthians 11:17-31

Paul is not telling the brethren to come together for the worse as in reference to how he is not concerned with their sin. Paul is not saying to just get together (despite their sinfulness). If that was the case, then Paul would contradict himself in many places. Paul says if any man does not consent to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, they are proud and they know nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). Paul told the brethren to kick out that brother who committed sexual immorality among them in 1 Corinthians 5. Try reading 1 Corinthians 11:17-31 in the NLT instead of the KJV. It will help to clear things up a bit. They are both saying the same thing but the KJV can be read in the wrong way; Especially if a person is looking to read it that way.

1 John 1:8-10

The OSAS interpretation on 1 John 1:8 does not work because it would contradict a normal reading on 1 John 2:3-4. This verse is a warning to the brethren about a false belief about those who seduce them (1 John 2:26). They were gnostics and they falsely believed that sin was an illusion or it did not exist. So it is saying that if a believer were to sin, ignoring it is not the way (1 John 1:8), but confessing it is the way (1 John 1:9). This is in view of John saying to "sin not." (1 John 2:1). This lines up with Jesus telling people to "sin no more" (John 5:14) (John 8:11).

Galatians 5:13-17

Galatians 5:16 is something you are ignoring here.
It says we are able to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh if we walk in the Spirit.
This verse does not work in your belief because you no doubt take the OSAS interpretation on 1 John 1:8 that says you will always be in sin of some kind. So you are not able to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh by walking in the Spirit as Galatians 5:16 says. That verse does not exist for you or it is a verse you have to change into saying something else.

Also, Galatians 5:14 says to love your neighbor as yourself. This is a salvation issue if you do not love your neighbor. Loving God and loving your neighbor is a part of inheriting everlasting life. Please carefully read very slowly Luke 10:25-28.

 

[ViaCrucis]

So If I'm praying in tongues, praising God.
What possible law am I transgressing?

You forget also that St. Paul writes that whatever is not of faith is sin. Even if you are not violating a specific commandment, does not mean that you are without sin.

Frankly a lot of people have things backward. A person isn't a sinner because they sin, a person sins because they are a sinner. Sin is not alien, sin is innate. Remember what Paul says?

"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the Law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." (Romans 7:21-23)

The law of sin and death is at work in our very members--it's in our bones as it were. As long as we exist with this "body of death" (Romans 7:24) The stain of sin remains.

This is why it is impossible to please God with our works. Even our most noble works are stained by sin, and thus no one can be justified under the Law, no one can be justified by their works, their efforts, their striving to be obedient to God. For all have sinned, for sin is part of us, like a law perverting and tainting everything we do.

The moment you think you are sinless--even just for a short while--is the moment you begin to think yourself righteous by your own efforts and you set sail toward rocks which will, if not averted, shipwreck you and dash you to pieces.

Therefore always, and at all times, pray, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Pray, for you are quite the sinner.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[RDKirk]

Not counting answering a 10 question quiz with 10 correct answers, one can be temporally perfect or sinless when he or she is obeying the teachings of Jesus or doing what the Holy Spirit urges, because Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Bible are perfect. In John 14-16, Jesus commanded that we obey His teachings or commandments and He said that the Holy Spirit says what He hears (which is mostly by Jesus because of His human experience and knowing the best timing for truth to be given). Every kind of sin is because of selfishness.
Romans 8 and Galatians 5 are about living by the Spirit instead of the flesh (or selfishness).

What is true Christian Sanctification all about?
Sanctification and Consecration-- Box

Yes, see my post #66

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You forget also that St. Paul writes that whatever is not of faith is sin. Even if you are not violating a specific commandment, does not mean that you are without sin.

Frankly a lot of people have things backward. A person isn't a sinner because they sin, a person sins because they are a sinner. Sin is not alien, sin is innate. Remember what Paul says?

"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the Law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." (Romans 7:21-23)

The law of sin and death is at work in our very members--it's in our bones as it were. As long as we exist with this "body of death" (Romans 7:24) The stain of sin remains.

This is why it is impossible to please God with our works. Even our most noble works are stained by sin, and thus no one can be justified under the Law, no one can be justified by their works, their efforts, their striving to be obedient to God. For all have sinned, for sin is part of us, like a law perverting and tainting everything we do.

The moment you think you are sinless--even just for a short while--is the moment you begin to think yourself righteous by your own efforts and you set sail toward rocks which will, if not averted, shipwreck you and dash you to pieces.

Therefore always, and at all times, pray, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Pray, for you are quite the sinner.

-CryptoLutheran

Romans 7:14-24 is Paul talking as a Pharisee (in the present tense) and not as a Christian. This is why he thanks Jesus Christ at the end of his argument because Jesus has made him free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:3-4 talks about how as a result of Christ's sacrifice, he can walk after the Spirit and fulfill the righteousness of the Law (i.e. that righteous aspect or part of the Old Law, which is the Moral Law, which is a part of loving your neighbor - See Romans 13:8-10). In Romans 13:14, Paul says that we are to put on Christ and fulfill not the affections and lusts. Galatians 5:16 says walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God provides a way of escape for you when you are tempted. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says that are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2 talks about how he (that person) who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; And that we should live the rest of our time (here on Earth) not to the lusts of the flesh but to the will of God. These verses and many like it just do not make sense in light of your belief that says that a believer can commit grievous sin and still be saved.

 

[Eloy Craft]

We all have disordered desires. So that means we will sin. To be sinless is to be perfect.

 

[RDKirk]

We all have disordered desires. So that means we will sin. To be sinless is to be perfect.

Jesus commanded us to be perfect. Was Jesus merely playing "Stump the Dummy" with us?

 

[John the Ex-Baptist]

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Luke 10:26–28 (ESV)
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Matthew 5:46–48 (ESV)
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 2:10 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

1 John 1:7–10 (ESV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

It is both foolish and arrogant to suggest that somehow, even for the shortest of time whilst this side of the resurrection, that we can somehow be sinless. Just because it may be possible to avoid consciously breaking the commandments of God for a short time, that does not make us sinless. What would make us sinless is to perfectly fear, love and trust God in every area of our lives, in thought, word and deed. And of course to have the same concern, care and love for those around us, both friend and foe, as we do for ourselves and those we love.

The only person this can be said to be true of, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who alone is sinless. Not for five seconds I might add, but eternally. It is His right standing with God, on account of His perfect obedience even to death on a cross, that is credited to all who believe upon Him. In return, He has become sin for us, bearing the full penalty of all our sins, for all our life, in thought, word and deed.

The joy of being a Christian, is that we are now set free from the condemnation of the Law, because we are united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our baptism. We are crucified with Christ already, and sin and death no longer have a claim over us. Now we are truly free to pursue a life of holiness unto God in all that we do. In whatever vocation we find ourselves, we can seek to do what is pleasing to God, as revealed to us in His Holy Law. Yes we will fall short, but the penalty of our shortcomings are no longer our burden to bear. Rather our paltry efforts of righteous works will be pleasing in the sight of God, because in Christ He truly is our ever loving Father.

All I would say is that, if you can truly be sinless for five seconds, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from taking it further and further. And if that's the case, you don't need Christ.

Galatians 3:1–3,10 (ESV)
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? - - 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

 

[RDKirk]

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Luke 10:26–28 (ESV)
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Matthew 5:46–48 (ESV)
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 2:10 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

1 John 1:7–10 (ESV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

It is both foolish and arrogant to suggest that somehow, even for the shortest of time whilst this side of the resurrection, that we can somehow be sinless. Just because it may be possible to avoid consciously breaking the commandments of God for a short time, that does not make us sinless. What would make us sinless is to perfectly fear, love and trust God in every area of our lives, in thought, word and deed. And of course to have the same concern, care and love for those around us, both friend and foe, as we do for ourselves and those we love.

The only person this can be said to be true of, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who alone is sinless. Not for five seconds I might add, but eternally. It is His right standing with God, on account of His perfect obedience even to death on a cross, that is credited to all who believe upon Him. In return, He has become sin for us, bearing the full penalty of all our sins, for all our life, in thought, word and deed.

The joy of being a Christian, is that we are now set free from the condemnation of the Law, because we are united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our baptism. We are crucified with Christ already, and sin and death no longer have a claim over us. Now we are truly free to pursue a life of holiness unto God in all that we do. In whatever vocation we find ourselves, we can seek to do what is pleasing to God, as revealed to us in His Holy Law. Yes we will fall short, but the penalty of our shortcomings are no longer our burden to bear. Rather our paltry efforts of righteous works will be pleasing in the sight of God, because in Christ He truly is our ever loving Father.

All I would say is that, if you can truly be sinless for five seconds, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from taking it further and further. And if that's the case, you don't need Christ.

Galatians 3:1–3,10 (ESV)
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? - - 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

I think it's foolish and arrogant to deny the power of Christ.

And it's unforgivable blasphemy to watch someone operating under the power of the Holy Spirit can call that act sinful.

 

[corinth77777]

First we have to define sin.
Sin according to scripture is, "transgression of the law" - 1 John 3:4

Consider sleeping. Do we transgress the law in the 7-8 hours we sleep? Do we transgress the law if we're praying in tongues, or prophesying? Or praising God?

If your answer is yes: If it's possible to be sinless for more than 5 seconds. Is it possible for 10 minutes, 1 week, 1 year, or the rest of your life?

If your answer is no: Explain how we transgress the law, within any given 5 seconds, while having the Holy Spirit living in us.



And it's not to say we are perfect if we are sinless. Like a girl who is defiled by a man, cannot be a virgin again. (perfect abstinence)
We were already defiled by sin. But there is an argument for being born again into clean garments.

That is not the only definition of Sin
For: Anything that is not of FAITH is SIN
and the law is not of FAITH

 

[John the Ex-Baptist]

I think it's foolish and arrogant to deny the power of Christ.

I really couldn't agree more. If that's something you're accusing me of though, I'm a little confused to how.

And it's unforgivable blasphemy to watch someone operating under the power of the Holy Spirit can call that act sinful.

I'm afraid you've got me on this one. I know that I have been given the Holy Spirit as a gift in my baptism, because God's Word tells me so. I also am in full agreement with the Apostle's Creed, that the Holy Spirit works through the congregation of the saints, the forgiveness of sins purchased by the blood of Christ, and will raise me up to eternal life at the Last Day. But I'm not quite sure how I can know when I'm operating in the power of the Holy Spirit or not? So if someone points out that I'm sinful in some way, how do I know when they're uttering some unforgivable blasphemy, or just calling a spade a spade?

For instance, would it be operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, if I just broke my toe kicking the doorpost, rather than screaming at the kids for washing my brand new car with a bucket of sand? Especially when I know they were only trying to please me. But wouldn't that very action, though it was me using every ounce of strength to do what I know was right in the sight of God, just go to betray the fact that I'm still a sinner in the flesh? Which remains my current abode.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Jesus commanded us to be perfect. Was Jesus merely playing "Stump the Dummy" with us?

Yes, that is a command. And like all things Law it shows us our failings as sinners. Therefore "Be perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect" condemns us as sinners--as all things pertaining to the Law accomplish.

When the Law says "Do this" I can know that it is holy, good, right, and perfect; and conversely I see by the Law that I am not--I am not holy, good, right, and perfect.

That isn't a shortcoming of the Law, that is the shortcoming of me, a sinner.

The Law says "Do this" and I don't do it, and for this reason the Law condemns me in my sin, I am a condemned sinner under the Law.

Which is why the Law cannot justify me, it cannot save me, and I need a justice apart from the Law, the justice which is through faith--that justice by which God justifies the unjust. Namely, the justice--the righteousness--of Jesus Christ.

If it were possible for me to be righteous according to the Law, then I wouldn't need salvation. If it were possible for me to be perfect, as the Law commands me to be, then I would be righteous under the Law and therefore have the righteousness of the Law. But I don't. Indeed, if I could be righteous under the Law then what need have I of the alien righteousness of Jesus Christ and the grace of the Holy Gospel?

That one can, indeed, be righteous under the Law is--at its core--the heresy of Pelagianism. For Pelagius taught that man was born in a state of neutrality and could, at least in theory, live a godly and upright life free from sin--and as such, would have no need for the intervention of Divine Grace. Now, Pelagius (as far as I know) did not claim himself to be perfect, nor that he knew of any who had achieved it, only that the possibility existed. For Pelagius' chief concern was Christian morality, that Christians should live good and moral lives, however in his desire for good morals his doctrine neglected to seriousness of sin in the mortal human condition and reduces Divine Grace to (at best) therapy. Pelagius denied that man was in any way himself disordered by the Fall, and thus man was completely and perfectly free to will either the good or the bad. Lutheranism has a name for this, the Opinio Legis, the Opinion of the Law, the carnal arrogance of man in his sin to imagine himself able to live perfectly in accordance with the Law and that by doing so he will be found pleasing before God on account of his own merits. But like all of the devil's lies, it is nothing but delusion.

-CryptoLutheran