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NASB | 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God's seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again--who is reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. |
Subject: Why this is not taught? |
Bible Note: Hi Tim, I went back and read through Romans 7 and 8 on my lunch break. I can see how 7 could be understood as from the Jew who delights in the Law of the LORD, but is not able to keep it. But then Paul says (Romans 7:24-25) "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." He speaks as of a dichotomy - one part of him serving God, one part of him serving sin. And this is after the deliverance through Jesus, but before the "adoption, the redemption of our bodies" (8:23) That takes me back to 7:20 "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." Who is the me, that is not me, that sins, if I am an unregenerate man? Back to Col 3:5 Many places Paul speaks of our body parts neutrally, to be either offered to sin or offered to God. Here, he definately takes a different tack. Paul says "mortify your members which are upon the earth (I read "upon", rather than "of" the earth)" 'upon' signifying location of these members - upon the earth. This is the part of me that is still upon the earth, and it is fallen, and it is sinful. I agree with you, Paul does identify these members as the stated sins. But earlier Paul wrote "for you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God". So in this context, I am hid with Christ in God, in heaven, and I have members on the earth to be put to death, because I am dead! "In fact, the reason that they can put these things to death is because of their new nature." - thank God for that!! And then there is still 1 John 3:9, which says that being born of God, we do not "poieo" "commit a single act of" sin. If I understand my old nature to be completely purged and gone, and no more ever to be seen or heard from again, then I have a difficulty with being able to read this as it is written, and other verses like it. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. I mean let's face it - I continue to sin! Not only that, I tend to commit the sames sins as I have been committing. :-( So I see what you are saying, and that the old man is dead. But he seems to be tied to me still, as the albatross to the mariner, and looking at it this way removes the difficulty of otherwise difficult passages. Ultimately, we shall be free from the slightest hint of sin and unrighteousness, and however it is to come - let it come!!! God bless you brother! Love in Christ, Mark |