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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: Hi Tim, You ask : 1) Slaves or not: You seem to take the position that believers have two natures. Allow me to ask a question. What determines which nature we will follow? My reply: No I think we have one sinful nature. I usually avoid the term nature as everything depende upon the definition, and few can even come close to defining it. I used the term sinful nature because it was in the verse I was dealing with. We have, of course, a human nature tainted by sin. Thus it is a sinful nature. But what determines our actions is a mix of body, soul and spirit. It is the 'I' who am responsible for what I do, whether I follow the sin that dwells within me (Romans 7.20), in some cases spoken of as 'the flesh' (Galatians 5.16 ff.), or whether I follow my renewed mind ((Romans 7.22, 23 25) and spirit, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. You ask: 2) To sin or not to sin: Do we just reckon ourselves as dead to sin, or are we really dead to sin? My reply: That is a slightly loaded question. I do not believe either. In Christ we are dead to sin, for when He died we, who have been made one body in Him, died also. But my body did not die. It is typing this answer. And my body is indwelt by the tyrant sin. So no, I as I am in myself am not dead to sin. As I am in Christ, however, I am dead to sin. Thus I have to reckon on myself as dead to sin because I died in Christ's body. But we must not stop there for I also rose with Christ. Thus I have within me the risen Christ and the Holy Sprit (and also the Father), and they have wrought within so that I am a 'new creature'. My spirit has been renewed. No longer am I totally enslaved by sin. The Triune God at work within me provides the means and power by which I can defeat the tyrant sin which dwells within me, by being active through my spirit and renewed mind. But my flesh, the taint of sin within my body, still struggles within me to gain the mastery. Let me ask a question in return. If someone is really dead to sin how can they ever sin again? That would mean that they were not really dead to sin. Note that I do not say you. I do not know what you believe on that issue. Best wishes. |