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NASB | 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] |
Subject: Is sinless perfection possible on earth? |
Bible Note: Dear Ed, Jacobus Arminius was four years old when John Calvin died: they, therefore, spanned several generations. However, there were some 15 centuries of Christian thought that formed the context of their own studies. Analogously, the American Founding Fathers stood on the shoulders of centuries of thinkers before them. As Christians we have the benefit that Christ is the head of His church (Ephesians 5:23). Consequently we have an advantage in seeing how the Holy Spirit has worked in believers lives for twenty-one centuries. Despite the enormous differences between our theologies, I did not bring up the Remonstrants in order to bring contention. The truth of the matter is that Monergism and Synergism come into this discussion because it is central to the issue of what it means to die to sin. Just as it was a central issue with Parham and Pink a century ago; just as it was a central issue with Dod and Finney a century before that; Wesley and Whitfield a century before that; Arminius and Calvin a century before that; Luther and Aquinas a century before that; and Augustine and Pelagius 10 centuries before that. No matter where we stand, I doubt we can say anything without sounding a lot like one of these fellows. We are treading the same ground. So let me tackle your struggle with "we are dead to sin" (sic). We can tackle the definition of sin another day. The expression "dead to sin" is uniquely Pauline. It occurs in Romans 6:11. Note, however, the exact text: "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." It may help if you realize that it does not say that "you are dead to sin" but rather "CONSIDER [logizomai, reckon or account] yourselves dead to sin." Dead men cannot be forced to sin (see the context above verse 11). So we are to think of ourselves in this way, not letting sin reign (v12). Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we are freed from the penalty and power of sin -- one day to be freed from the presence of sin! I think that our Lord Jesus was speaking of this in the following passage: They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you." (John 8:33-37 NASB) Note that the son stays in sin's house forever, but the slave does not. The slave was made free of sin's house. The slave leaves because the son makes him free. This is a different metaphor, but the same idea. Once we understand our freedom from sin and our life unto God, the other passages we have talked bout in this thread (Philippians and 1 John) begin to make better sense. The same applies to Hebrews 12, for example. Perhaps this will help. In Him, Doc PS Sorry, but I am having vision problems. I will drop out of the discussion for now. Thank you for your patience -- and thank you for the good question. PSS I think the church Founding Father that best discusses the issue of sin is Augustine in The Enchiridon. There are likely others of which I am simply not aware. The Canons of the Council of Orange summarize the Augustinian position. |