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NASB | Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 10:14 For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity]. |
Subject: Do you accept defeat too? |
Bible Note: Greetings Tim! I also believe that we are pretty close to unanimity on this issue, and I will attempt to sort out our areas of agreement and disagreement: I agree that a Christian is not incapable of sinning, and they must choose to obey God daily. I believe that as long as we walk in the Spirit, then we will not sin. I agree with you and Gal5:16 in that we are made new creatures in Christ. I also believe that Christians are capable of not sinning. I believe that the differences may lie in how we define "sin nature." You stated that since the sin nature has been crucified, then now the struggle is one of will, not nature. I believe that you also said that you believe that the 'sin nature' is itself put to death at the time of conversion. I believe that the root of disagreement on this topic is: what happens to the sin nature once a person becomes saved? Very good question. Several places in Scripture speak of "war within us": James 4:1; Romans 7:23; 1 Peter 2:11. In these three verses, sin is described as a 'passion of the flesh.' So, if our souls are changed, and if our spirits are renewed in conversion, then what part of ourselves continues to give us the capacity to sin? 1 Thess. 5:23 says that the body is what is left. But even yet, we are admonished in several New Testament epistles to "put off our old self" and to "put on the new self" (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10; Romans 6:6-14). At what point is our body actually "dead"? Galatians 5:16-17 says, "walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." [ESV] Therefore, I believe that the Bible is clear that the "passions of the flesh", or that which wages war against the Holy Spirit in us, is that which is crucified and put to death. Perhaps Romans 6:12 is the key, since it says, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions." Therefore, I conclude that in our bodies we continue to have the capacity to sin, even though we should not let it reign, nor should we indulge in it. In this way, we can see our bodies as "put to death" and "crucified with Christ"; in that the one who was condemning us (the body) now stands condemned. The body will indeed die, as it should, but is it really "dead" yet? Yes, the grace of Christ overshadows and overcomes the passions of our flesh (Romans 5:17,21). "We were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4). And here is the "clincher" : "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." (6:6) Therefore, our sinful passions, old habits, and old way of life is that which is crucified, dead, and buried with Christ. And since that is so, our bodies are "brought to nothing." It doesn't mean that our bodies die, but their influence upon us is 'brought to nothing'; that is, that the sinful passions of the body do not rule over us any longer, even though we may find ourselves giving in to them from time to time. Let me know what you think! Blessings to you, Makarios |