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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: Good Questions Ed. Doc - at a very early age (8 or 9 yrs old) I believed and repented and in the years adding up to my now 46 years I have always understood the difference between a forgiven sinner and a damned one. I guess someone did a fine job of explaining the Scriptures to me, even when I was a child, and the Holy Spirit obviously gave me the truth regarding my sin and the finished, saving work of Christ. I'm thankful that I don't have to be forgiven over and over again as I continue to be in this not yet glorified body. I was a young adult the first time I ever heard the notion of sinless perfection. Even though this topic was being "preached" to me by a older (in age and in the amount of time he had confessed Christ) I easily dismissed it as having no Scriptural support (to the degree and then understood and especially when considered in the context of Scripture as a whole and not single words or verses). I do admit that I was distracted by it for some time, unfortunately, and in all I studied I never could figure from Scripture what some seemed to take from it - "sinless perfection". Probably the most important FACT that I ever weighed against such a notion was the fact that we have absolutely no example in Scripture (and I have not a single one personally and know of no one who does) of a man (other than Christ) who lived sinless before or after conversion. Not one. Your points were very well made here to include the one about accessing the centuries of study by those who have gone before. It is troubling to see that this is even a topic of discussion when the Scripture is so definite. I realize that even the words of Paul (Romans chapter 7) have been removed from even their immediate context in order to support the argument for sinless perfection. I don't get it. As you know and continuously affirm, we should never ignore what doesn't fit our position and, obviously, should never add to what Scripture already says. |