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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: Greetings Pastor Glenn! Sorry about the double post! :-) While I certainly give into the flesh at times, I really don't view it as a struggle. I don't want to do the things of the flesh. And, Romans 8 indicates to me that a 'carnal' Christian isn't really a Christian. Rom. 8:9 - "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Notice also that Rom. 8:4 says that we 'do not live according to the sinful nature' and Rom. 8:8 says that those who do cannot please God. I certainly do agree that we become slaves again to what we obey, which is what Paul says in Rom. 6:16. However, v. 17 and 18 make is clear that Christians are no longer slaves to sin. The reason I don't prefer the word struggle is because 'struggle' implies that the sinful nature has some power or hold over us. Rom. 6 makes it clear that it does not. Romans 8 makes it clear that we have the Spirit of Christ and are not controlled by the sinful nature. So, I would say that when we do sin, it is not the result of losing an internal struggle but the result of a wilfull choice to not obey God. It was within our power to obey, but we chose not to do so. Just as a side note, one reason I reject that Rom. 7 is a description of a Christian is because the person described in Rom. 7 never does what he really wants to do. He always fails and is a slave to sin. Does this really describe the reality of a Christian's walk? I don't always fail. :-) I normally, and habitually live right. It is unusual when I do sin, as it should be! ;-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |