Question about sin and salvation

[christiansoccerplayer]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

 

[agapelove]

I think John is referring more to people who refuse to repent or acknowledge their sin. It sounds like you are concerned enough about your sin to be looking for answers here.

Confessing and repenting should look like realizing what you are doing is harming you and making an active effort to turn away from self destructive behavior. No one can answer the question of whether your conversion was sincere or not except for you.

It helps to have people who can keep you accountable for your actions. Be honest about what you're struggling with and find people that can help support you. Prayers to you!

 

[IronSharpensIron]

James 3:2

 

[com7fy8]

I see how sinning can mean the person keeps on living in sin because of not getting started with Jesus.

The disciples had seen Jesus, but Peter denied Him three times. But look at the difference >

Luke 22:31-34.

Peter failed, but Jesus already had prayed for Peter, and Peter came back.

But Judas did not come back.

 

[Aussie Pete]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

Sometimes it's hard to tell. I was born again in 1971. I've had plenty of ups and downs in that time. One sign of a real born again experience is the person's attitude to sin. If it pains them, it is likely that they are for real. If they don't care, or only are troubled because they were caught out, I'd question the reality of their experience. Many Christians have a narrow definition of sin and think that they are superior to those who struggle. God has a way of dealing with such people and its not pleasant. Give the new believer a break! If they are struggling, condemnation is not the way to go. Christians need to be built up in Christ, and come to the place where they know that they have power over sin.

 

[St_Worm2]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

Hello Christiansoccerplayer, while God gives us a new nature when we become believers .. e.g. Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17, sadly, our old nature (our old self/old man) remains, and it rears its ugly head as often as we allow it to This is why we are told to put off the old man and to put on the new, as a daily/moment by moment choice, a choice that we could not make before we were in Christ .. e.g. Ephesians 4:22-24.

Continuing in unrepentant sin as a lifestyle choice is a pretty good indicator that a person is not saved, even if they 'claim' to be a Christian, while being grieved over sins and continually seeking God's forgiveness for them (by confession/repentance) is a pretty good indicator that a person who claims to be a Christian actually is one.

Finally, you might want to consider what the elder Apostle has to say about this in Chapters 1 & 2 of the same Epistle. He wrote these words to Christians (of all levels of maturity in the faith). BTW, be sure to take note of the fact that St. John included himself in the mix with the rest of us (see the words in bold below).

1 John 1
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 John 2
1 My little children, I am writing these things ~to you~ so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
​

God bless you!

--David

 

[Blade]

You know I see it like this.. that which is born again does not sin. Your like what? But.. even Paul talked about this. Yet its what he said.. its no longer I that sin but sin that is in me. You/we are to put on the NEW man which after God IS created in righteousness and true holiness. That NEW MAN can not sin. This flesh can.. its in us. And also incase we get some strange thought.. NO we can not keep sinning God forbid.

Do you see? Something was made NEW.. that NEW can not ever sin. See sin no longer has a hold on you. That why it IS easy to stop. For one.. God always makes a way out.. do we see it? And then take it? If you fall repent get up and keep going. He WILL .. He IS faithful and just to forgive and cleans you from ALL unrighteousness. The heart must mean the repent.

 

[Broken Fence]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

Greetings Christiansoccerplayer,
We tend to get caught up on sin. Greater is He that is in us, then he that is in the world. Romans 14:23 states that whatever is not done by faith is sin. So we see how we ought to always walk by faith living in repentance and revival. Being filled with The Holy Spirit. I hope this helps.

 

[GaveMeJoy]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

Paul claims to sin often “that which I will to do I cannot, and that which I will not to do, I do.” When we sin, we have an advocate in Christ. These passages don’t have disclaimers, and they cover all sin

 

[fhansen]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

It's a struggle. And while a believer is still obligated to obedience and righteousness and should be improving in the overall sense, God knows we'll fail sometimes and His forgiveness is always at hand. But we're tested and hopefully refined by the struggle, growing more in righteousness yet, which we're expected to do. But serious or grave sin will continue to separate us from God. Our original conversion puts us into communion with Him, the communion that man is made for where we live in the Spirit. But we must remain there or we can easily fall back into sin. When sin is so deadly (1 John 5) that it constitutes a definitive turning away from love of God and neighbor, then only a renewed change of heart and repentance will bring us back. Otherwise we're just mocking God and His mercy. We're not serious about goodness and love and God after all.

 

[BibleBeliever1611]

1 John 3:6 is not teaching that you will be sinless after salvation. It's teaching deep doctrine so it can be hard to understand at first but here's my interpretation. If you are saved and you commit sin, it's not really "you" that is doing it, but instead it is sin that dwells in you. The flesh loves sin just as much as it always did, but the born-again Spirit is perfect and cannot sin. And after salvation we will have both. The sinful flesh is still there and it can still cause you to sin. So 1 John 3:6 is talking about the God-given Spirit which is perfect. It's not talking about the sinful flesh.

This is why the apostle Paul said that it was no more him that committed sin, even though he was still committing sin after he was saved.

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. - Romans 7:17

 

[fhansen]

1 John 3:6 is not teaching that you will be sinless after salvation. It's teaching deep doctrine so it can be hard to understand at first but here's my interpretation. If you are saved and you commit sin, it's not really "you" that is doing it, but instead it is sin that dwells in you. The flesh loves sin just as much as it always did, but the born-again Spirit is perfect and cannot sin. And after salvation we will have both. The sinful flesh is still there and it can still cause you to sin. So 1 John 3:6 is talking about the God-given Spirit which is perfect. It's not talking about the sinful flesh.

This is why the apostle Paul said that it was no more him that committed sin, even though he was still committing sin after he was saved.

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. - Romans 7:17

Christianity is not about simply forgiving and excusing sin, or performing some amount of double-think to find a way around man's obligation to be righteous, an obligation that doesn't go away with the New Covenant. The NC, among other things, is about finally finding the way, the right way, to fulfill that obligation. It has to do with entering a relationship with God via faith within which one is enabled by His grace to overcome sin, enabled to love to put it another way as we're willing. Meanwhile His mercy and forgiveness are always present as He patiently works in us to draw us further into His love. Or we can walk away from it at any time, walk away from Him and return to the flesh. But we must remain in Him and He in us. "Apart from me you can do nothing" John 15. And to the extent that we remain in Him, as we also remain conscious of our obligation to refrain from sin, sin will be triumphed over. Because God is incompatible with sin; the two are mutually exclusive. So we must persevere, we must walk uprightly even if we slip back now and then. We're new creations, expected to act like it.

Otherwise we end up with antinomianism, corrupting the gospel for all practical purposes. Read the end of Rom 7; there's an answer to Paul's dilemma, to his struggle with sin. Christ can and will deliver us from sin. God didn't make sinners after all. And Christ didn't come to leave us as we were, unchanged, still unjust, still unjustified.

 

[K Watt]

1 John 3:6 states: No one who lives in him (Jesus) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

My question: a believer who believes and accepts Jesus as savior but because of weakness or struggle, slips up and sins fairly often but also confesses and repents, is that believer thought to have a sincere conversion to Christ and still sins because of the sin nature (Roman 7:14-25) or maybe has not received a genuine conversion because of still sinning often (not seen or known Jesus due to continued sin)

We all sin. Sin removes us from God's grace temporarily but we can confess and repent.

1 John 1
8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness