Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | Morant61 | 141302 | ||
Greetings Angel! You wrote: "Sadly, many believe, and preach, that we can sin with impunity since Christ did it all for us!" I keep wondering who these 'many' are! ;-) I have never in my life heard anyone preach or teach that a believer can sin with impunity! I am sure that there is probably someone out there, but I have a hard time believing that 'many' what be an appropriate description of the number! ;-) Anyway, I wanted to address 1 John 5:18. While some reject it, I believe the best way to view 1 John 5:18 is as a reference to habitual sin. Most believe that the present active tense has the meaning in this passage. Thus, John is not saying that a Christian cannot sin, but that a Christian will not habitually sin. Habitual sin is impossible for one who is abiding in Christ. This is why it would be wrong to teach that it is okay for Christians to sin. Habitual sin is evidence that one is not really born of God. One who is born of God, and walking according to the Spirit, will not habitually sin. One final note of interest! There is some who believe that 'he who is born of God' may be a reference to Christ Himself, and not to believers. This would certainly change the whole meaning of the passage. John would then be saying something like: Christ does not sin and we are abiding in Christ; thus, how can we sin? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | JCrichton | 141371 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! The "many" are just that: many members of local/regional congregations are taught that Christians are above the Law hence anything they do is beyong any need of repentence and confession! At one interchange, while coming right out of a religious service, I got into a heated debate about Christians the Law and Grace... one of the the members, who was clearly under the influence of a chemical stimulant, continued to state that those who are under Grace can do anything they please! The term "sin with impunity" may not have been stated by them... but that is precisely what they have determined: somehow, a Christian can transgress the Law because God's Grace affords them the freedom to do all... of course, this is not taught by Jesus nor any of the Apostles! Quite the contrary, we are called to emulate Christ who being of Divine Nature subjected Himself to becoming like man in order to teach us, through example, complete obedience to the Father! ...on several Bible forums I've had lively exchanges with more than one member who profess that the difference between a non-believer's sin and a Christian's is that the non-believer is not in Christ; thusly, while the "Christian" can refuse to confess his/her sins and die while refusing to repent from them (since Christ already forgave them their past, present and future sins), the non-believer exercising the same "right" will not be automatically saved as are "Christians!" ...these too have not stated the exact words "Christians can sin with impunity," yet, their theologies equate to exactly that... so instead of striving to "be perfect" Christians can just coast through choosing to sin or not to sin at will, and choosing to repent or not also at will... I equate those theologies to sinning with impunity! Never do I subscribe to such theologies! Never do I state that Scripture provided for such interpretation! ...habitual sin... is there a difference between committing the same sin over and over or many but different sins? Is habitual transgression of one/few sin/s seen by God as a problem, while transgression of multiple but unsimilar sins is seen as acceptable by God? Sin is sin and we are commanded to repent and turn back to God! (Isaiah 1:18-20; John 15:1-6; 1 John 1:1 through 2:6; Luke 18:10-14) "'he who is born of God' may be a reference to Christ Himself," That is an interesting conclusion... yet, that interpretation would make void the second part of that verse: the One who was born of God keeps him safe!: 18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. (1 John 5:18) Thus to interject: Christ does not sin; Christ, the one who was born of God, keeps him safe... I would rather interprete this verse in the following manner: Christians are called by God to be free of sin (be perfect/holy); the One born of God keeps them safe and the evil one cannot harm them... ...but this of course in light of John 15:1-6 and 1 John 1:5-7)--we must abide in Jesus, the Light, in order to gain Salvation! God Bless! Angel |
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3 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | Ray | 144907 | ||
Hi Angel, In regard to 1 John 5:18, I believe you have misunderstood Tim's suggestion. He was suggesting exactly what your interpretation is, for he was talking about "the One born of God" in the latter part of the verse. 1 John 5:18, NASB, "We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him." The thought that comes to me is, "There but for the grace of God go I." We need to be continually renewed in the spirit of our mind. From the heart, Ray |
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4 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | JCrichton | 145015 | ||
Hi, Ray! After rereading Tim Moran's post, I must agree with you... I think that part of the problem lies in so many views and interpretations (I've come across the view that 1 John 5:18 is exclusively related to Christ--clearly the seond part of that verse is speaking of Christ, but not the entire verse... and I've spoken to many that hold that only a constant (habitual) life of sin is wrong (needs to be repented from)--on the surface this seems quite sound... but wouldn't that theology offer an automatic escape clause?: avoid the pitfall by combining your sins or limiting its reoccurrence (ie: hit only one bank/store; employ others to hit the other banks/stores... cheat on your wife with only one woman one time; buy/use pornography one time; watch one strip-show; get one lap-dance; reminisce about pre-Christian (born again) conquests/exploits just once; lie about only one person/one time; oppress only those that deserve it/one time; debase people/person just once... "We need to be continually renewed" This is so true! Jesus Himself tells us that we are nothing (we have no innate power/grace) without Him; that if we remain in Him He gives us the grace and power that we need (John 15:1-7), and John tells us that He is our redeemer, the One to come to if we fail (sin) (1 John 1:7 thru 2:2). It is this relationship that grants us Salvation: Christ, our redeemer, is our Grace and our Salvation! God Bless! Angel |
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5 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | Ray | 145076 | ||
Hi Angel, It is sad that people would look to verses like 1 John 3:9 with the idea of assuaging their guilt and making light of their individual sin. We certainly don't want to "practice" sin or "continually sin", but we are expected to practice righteousness and love our brother. We are expected to be kept from sin. We are kept from sin by Him. He is our protector, guide, and rescuer, our Redeemer. 1 John 4:4, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world." 1 John 3:23, "And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him..." Why would one call Him, "Lord, Lord" and not do the things He says? From the heart, Ray |
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6 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | JCrichton | 145107 | ||
Hi, Ray! "Why would one call Him, "Lord, Lord" and not do the things He says?" Exactly! Some how, for some, it has become more important to rely on a perceived built-in exoneration rather than to do as He says! Notice what 1 John 3:23 speaks on? Love! It is by abiding in His love that we abide in Him. If we abide in Him, He abides in us and our joy is complete! God Bless! Angel |
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7 | Salvation is a gift to be accepted | Luke 6:46 | Ray | 145128 | ||
Hi Angel, It is important for us to have a spirit of love toward each other. Can I get you to comment on either of these posts of mine? # 141276, 141667. From the heart, Ray |
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