“?An outward sign of an inward grace” sounds biblical but this wording is not in the Bible. What do many mean by “an outward sign of an inward grace”? This phrase is usually used to console consciences in the definition of baptism as an outward sign of an inward grace meaning that baptism is more about the heart. However, Jesus commanded baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be His disciple (Matt 28:19–20). Furthermore, the apostle Paul noted that there is one baptism (Eph 4:5).
More Than a Sign
Baptism is not just a sign. Baptism is more than the pattern of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ where the old self is buried and rises to a newness of life (Rom 6:4–5). Furthermore, baptism unites repentant believers with Christ (Rom 6:3–6). Baptism partakes of the reality signified in the gospel of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. This is the gospel that saves (1 Cor 15:1–4). Baptism is a command of Christ, “While going, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). Jesus taught, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Which baptism is the one that Jesus commanded? Baptism in the name of the Lord is water immersion (Acts 10:47–48). The believer washes away sins at baptism (Acts 22:16). God forgives sins at baptism (Acts 2:38). Baptism is the exact moment that the believer goes from self-condemned into God’s forgiveness. Baptism is a passive activity where God saves and not for one to save oneself by any works. This baptism is an act of subordination and the Bible never calls it “a work.”
Baptism in Jesus’s Name
Is there anything special about the water? No. However, those who baptize are leaders of faith. There is something special and vital about Jesus’s name and His command for the believer to be baptized in His name. A person does work for the forgiveness of one’s sin as though baptism is a work. Baptism is passive in that the believer submits to participate. Christ does the saving, “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25–27). Paul expressed, “He [Christ] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb 5:9).
Being saved by grace and not by works does not contradict submitting to Christ in baptism (Eph 2:4–9; Col 2:12–13). Baptism is not an individual’s personal work since one does not baptize oneself and baptism is from God. Therefore, these scriptures present that baptism is the point at which Christ cleanses believers of their sins and makes them without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. If what is referred to as “an inward grace” is the forgiveness of sins by Christ and the change of the believer to a new life, Christ is the source of grace at baptism. Some refer to “inward grace” asserting the forgiveness of sins before baptism or others teach that a moving of the Holy Spirit causes repentance and faith before baptism. However, no scriptures teach that salvation is complete without God raising believers from burial in baptism in newness of life (Col 2:12–13).
One Baptism
Some say, “Well, I was already baptized after I was saved” or “I did not feel anything at my baptism like when I was saved.” Both of these baptisms are not the baptism that Christ commanded to be saved. Twelve men who were baptized in John the Baptist’s baptism had to be baptized again into Christ’s baptism (Acts 19:1–7).
How do you know if you were baptized correctly? The Scriptures reveal only one baptism which is immersion within water in the Lord’s name (Eph 4:4; 5:26; Acts 10:43, 47–48). Peter’s preaching in Acts 2:38 provides the instruction to know if you were baptized correctly. Peter proclaimed, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:41 and 47 were necessary for the first converts to Christ. Here are four observations from Acts 2: (1) The first believers repented to be baptized in Jesus’s name (cf. Acts 8:38–39; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12–13). (2) Baptism is in Jesus’s name as Jesus taught (Matt 28:19–20; Acts 2:38). (3) Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). (4) Through baptism, God adds the believers to the church (Acts 2:41, 47).
Considering Baptism
Today, church leaders will add believers to their churches apart from the believer’s salvation. Who authorized them to add people when Acts 2 teaches that the Lord adds to the church? However, God adds to the church and any church that one joins apart from salvation is not the church that Christ built and bought with his blood (Matt 16:18; Acts 20:28). Believers want to follow Christ and obey the baptism that He commanded. No one wants to be baptized apart from what Jesus taught, so repentant believers do not want a manmade baptism with invented teachings about cleansing without the forgiveness of sins. Repentant believers do not want to wait for manmade time to be baptized. Believers in the Bible were baptized immediately (Acts 16:25–34). Paul was commanded, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
The Breath of God 
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you
download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my
blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design.
With thanks
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
if you have become unsaved you could not have been very saved in the first place. the whole concept of losing your salvation is rediculous.
“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”, Galatians 5:4.
We are not seeking to be justified by law. We are trusting in Christ to save us. Baptism is not a work. In this same letter, earlier, Paul said, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” His point is that when one is baptized they are no law seeking to be justified by works of law but instead they are putting their faith in Christ to save them. Baptism is not a work and Paul made this very clear in this letter. You may call it a work by which man is seeking justification but the Bible does not!
Amen!
James 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you should wander away from the truth and someone should bring him back,, remember this, whoever turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Thank you Scott. Did you have anything to add?
Just to make clear what walking is the light means. What is the light? It is God’s law, Jesus. Jesus is the law of God in flesh. The law is a “light unto our path”, and Jesus is the “light that lighteth everyman”. IF we walk in Jesus, in him is no sin. Therefore, when we walk in the “light” which is JEsus, we are not walking in any sin at all, for in him is no sin. If we are not walking in JEsus, the light, we are sinning, then the blood does not cleanse us. It is clear that if we are in sin, we are in trouble, regardless of whether or not we deceive ourselves into thinking we are ok. No unclean thing will walk on the highway that is holiness. We are called unto holiness, not uncleanness in the flesh where sin dwells. If we continue in the flesh, we shall die, but we are to crucify and put to death the flesh wherein dwells all sin. If we ever walk in the flesh, it is not truly dead. For a dead man cannot move. So i guess the question is are we a dead man walking, or have we died to sin?
Yes. This is true.
Good post Bible Study On Line!
Hi Scott
It is true that I John is speaking to children of God. Yet he is reminding them of the message that they heard from the beginning; turn from their old ways and obey the Lord. As I said before, a Christian can act in a manner that is displeasing to God. So when they do commit a sin, what condition are their souls in? No scripture in John’s epistle teaches that the blood of Christ cleanses a person when they commit a sin if they confess ( admit ) that they do sin.
John teaches that we all have sin ( not we all commit sin ). Sin (the flesh or carnal mind) is our warfare. We either give in to the temptations or we fight and suffer through them.
If anyone will confess ( acknowledge ) the fact that they “have” sin ( and forsake it), then they can be forgiven and are walking in the light. This is how the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. The Proverbs writer stated, ” He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Then also the child of God who does commit a sin must acknowledge his sin and forsake it. Then he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Walking in the light does not mean that a person remains being a Church member, but it means that a person is following after the spirit and not after the flesh. Obedience is the key word. Yielding to the things of God instead of the things of the devil.
Here is one example we could use:
A child of God can choose to lie. If he did not act in a manner that displeases God, then we must say that God favors lying. Will one lie cause a person to lose his soul? Yes. So then the one who lies must acknowledge that sin and turn from it back to the things of God or else he is in danger of losing his soul.
There may be many people who continue in the Church who hide their sin from others, but they cannot hide it from God.
Paul wrote, ” There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ”
II Peter 1:4-10,
4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Thanks
Hi Frelon, your post is very clear and anyone sholud understand concerning “if a Christian sins”, Thanks for the good post.
No disagreement on the cleansing of sins here.
I have seen the argument many times “if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves”, gone on and complete this verse that tells us when we confess our sin, Jesus will cleanse us from all sin. This verse is speaking to the lost, however when they confess their sin and trust in Jesus, they will be cleansed from all unrighteousness which the bible tells us is sin. We are to be cleansed in sin. This is the only verse that appears (note appears) to teach us to continue in sin, but it must be taken out of context for the reading of the rest teaches us that when we confess our sin (when we are lost) he will cleanse us. There are many others that tells us that when we abide in Christ, we sin not. If we are sinning, we are not in Christ, plain and simple. A good tree (cannot) i repeat (cannot, not possible) bring forth corrupt fruit, if we do, we are a corrupt tree. Also Jesus told the adulterous woman “go and sin no more”, why would he command the impossible? With God all things are possible, for in Christ we have “received the power to become the sons of God”, the “power to cease from sin” as found in scripture. There are many verses that teach us to (cease, which means to stop completely) from sin. Others that speak of those who cannot “cease” from sin as being double minded and unstable following the way of Balaam going astray. In Christ is no sin, if therefore we abide in him we do not sin. If we do sin, abide not in Christ in whom is no sin, John 15 tells us we are cast forth as a branch into the fire, if we abide in Christ, the vine, we will not sin, for in Christ is no sin. Oh, but all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god, that’s right, but when we are saved we become the glory of God, one with Christ. Christ is the glory of God, if we are in Christ, we are not falling short of him, for he that says he abides in him should walk even as he walked. What do you think these false teachers will teach, to continue or not to continue in sin? they teach to continue in sin, let us not be deceived but make our calling and election sure, not deceiving or justifying ourselves to no profit. He that says he loves God and does not keep his commandments (all of them) is a liar and the truth is not in him. His commandment is to believe in Jesus and love one another. If we love, we are in God, in Christ, again and in him is no sin. If we love, we will not sin. For God is love. There are so many more that teach us to cease from sin, but people because they don’t want to face truth will hang on to one or two verses taken out of context. Also 1 John chapter 2 tells us to sin not, and if “any” man sin, any lost man, let him know Jesus is the propitiation not for the sin of those who are in the church of Jesus, but he can cleanse any man of sin, anyone in the world who will come to him. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, if you sow to the flesh (walk in sin) you will of the flesh reap corruption. The bible tells us to be perfect as our father in heaven is perfect, and to be holy. If we sin, we are not perfect and not holy. Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that few find, who are able in the power of Christ, to cease from sin. If we cannot stop, or cease from sinning, it is a sign that we are unsaved, not having the power of God. For it is truly impossible for man to cease from sin without the power of the holy spirit. the bible tells us God has called us not unto uncleanness, but holiness, he that despiseth, despiseth not man but God who has given us of his holy spirit. With God all things are possible though many don’t believe this, it is even possible for us to cease from sin through the power of Christ. Let us not doubt that God has power over all flesh as written in scripture, even ours that he can perfect it. Greater is he who is in us (Christ) than he who is in the world (us). If Christ is in us, he is greater than us and can stop our sinning for us.
I do agree that we cannot continue in sin and practice sin. Yet, 1 John is not speaking to the lost. John says “we”. The antecedent is essential to Greek even more than English, and thus the pretext is very clear.
May God bless us all with in the study of His Word.
Carol,
If you do one sin without practicing the sin or willfully and yet still serving God in faith against the sin, then you are walking in the light, have forgiveness in grace, and must still confess your sins to your heavenly Father.
Walking implies steps. How is one walking in darkness by committing one in ignorance?
Who is “we” in 1 John 1:5-9 and specifically in verse 8? Does this not refer to all Christians who must be walking in the light and does this not include all the Apostles, prophets, elders, deacons, ministers, and all diligent faithful Christians in the Church?
Scott, You failed to answer my question above. You have also failed answering me about anyone commiting one sin and if that sin isn’t of darkness rather than light. Did not Adam and Eve sin {A} sin in the garden that brought a spiritual as well as a physical death?
The “we” in 1 John 1:5-9 speaks of all who want to be or are saved. Everyone has sin dwelling in them otherwise there would be no warfare against it! If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
The 7th verse is what catches my eye , why aren’t you seeing this….”if we walk in the light, as he is in the light”. Who is the “he” in this? If you say Christ, I agree. Now the question is, did Christ sin while walking in the light? If you say no, then how can you think we commit sin while walking in the light?
I’ve answered all the questions. You have yet to present what I have not answered. By the way, “commit” in John 8:34 is a present participle and is usually translated “work” or “do” and in this case shows the practice of sin again and literally translated means “working sin”, “doing [the] sin” and, or “committing sin”. This is just as 1 John 3:4, 6, and 8 also says, and yet these also use the present tense for sin showing that even then one is sinning and has not sinned once. First John 3:7 also uses the participle for working righteousness.
Where is grace if we do not have forgiveness for sins that we do in ignorance?
“We” in the context are the Apostles (1:1-4) and those professing faith. This has nothing to do with the lost. The immediate context is clear. First John does not speak of Christ walking in the light, but that He is the light.
First John is clear, and your blindness is concerning for your soul. Was the Corinthian church condemned for all their sins? They would have been if they continued in them (2 Cor. 7:9-10), yet Paul addressed them as saved in 1 Corinthians. What about the churches of Asia in Revelation? Five churches had sin among them and Christ warned them to repent or they would be condemned though they were not lost for one sin but rather for practicing a sin willfully.
Scott, what you failed to answer is if anyone commits one sin is it of the light? Or is it of darkness? I think you are ignoring this and also other scriptures which teach us to walk perfect (complete)and upright in Christ Jesus.
Also you used the Corinthian church and the churches of Asia in Revelations…..you should know at that time the church was not perfected as yet and was being taught by the apostles. Paul teaches us in Eph. 4:10-14 …He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers…Why? For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:
In Col. 2 you can read Paul telling them they are complete in Christ. In Col. 4 Paul said one “Epaphras” labored fervently that they stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
In Eph. 4 it teaches us why certain things were set in the early church which I have listed above. We have that same word to teach us today to bring us to Christ and into the unity and will of the Lord. One shouldn’t be in ignorance of God’s will after they have obeyed what the word teaches.
I’d like to know what sin a Christian today will commit through ignorance….can you explain? Read Eph. 4: 21-32
Do you think Adam and Eve sinned through ignorance or did God tell them “thou shalt not”?
Remember their sin brought death just as with us if we sin it will bring death.
Carol
You know I believe that sin is of darkness.
The early churches were being corrected from what they were already instructed.
Adam and Eve could not walk in Christ. No, they did not sin in ignorance. They knew it and they fell, yet they had not Christ to walk in the light under the New Testament and cleansing of all sins. They had to make temporally atonement until Christ.
Yes, they were being corrected over and over Scott, yet were not yet in unity. Peter told some in 2 Peter 1:12 & 13 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them], and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting [you] in remembrance;
Can you see how the apostles kept coming back and teaching them? They didn’t have the scriptures as we have but they did have the apostles to teach them until they came into the unity of the faith.
If Adam and Eve had not sinned then Christ wouldn’t have had to come and die Scott. They were in a heavenly place ( the graden) and death had not been passed upon mankind.
It’s evident they were not yet established in the present truth and this is why the apostles were sent out and to teach . Remember what Eph. 4: 11-13 says . We today have no excuse not knowing the scriptures.
Just to clarify since I do not understand your point by using Eph. 4. In light of the rest of the Scriptures, Ephesians 4’s “til we come to unity” is referring to that congregations progression and not that the Word was being delivered in completeness then. Though the instruction is complete, we will never cease from studying.
Look at Colossians 1.9-10 where Chist’s Spirit instructed them to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”. They had every good work even then.
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” 2 Pet. 1:3.
It is because of sin that Christ came and not because of Adam and Eve. All men die by committing sin even one (Rom. 5:12). Adam and Eve did not live and walk in sin, but sinned and died. One sin is worthy of death, and in Christ, there is the grace of God’s forgiveness that we may be found in the image of God by which we all defiled and profaned. By profaning God’s image, we profane the life that He gave us in that image and we have fallen from His glory (Rom. 3:23). Christ came to help the sinners and not the justified.
Yes Scott, one sin is worthy of death and anyone can gain worthiness of forgiveness if they repent and turn from sin. God is just to forgive and cleanse all from unrighteousness.
Yes. Our only disunity is that one would have to repent depending upon whether someone can slip and sin and yet still walk in the light.
It’s impossible to sin while walking in the light. You’ve already agreed sin is darkness and “Bible Study Online” has shown you that there is no sin or darkness in the light which is Christ. You agreed!
That doesn’t make sense.
Scott, common sense teaches you that there is no darkness in the light. You’re still trying to excuse a Christian commiting sin, saying they sin while walking in the light.
If you sin, you are in darkness again and the light is gone! In order to get back in the light you must be converted back to the truth and repent.
Being saved doesn’t mean you will never sin again. Even Christians are tempted and sometimes fall into sin. The evil one walks around like a roaring lion waiting to devour us. He is especially after believers whispering in our ears to pull us down. Sometimes we resist, sometimes we succomb. We have been saved and accepted Christ as our Saviour. But when we sin, we need to acknowledge we did and ask for forgiveness. This is what a believer walking with Christ would do as the Holy Spirit would convict the believer. The danger is when we try to justify our sin and not stop it, compartmentalizing it, while still living the Christian life in other ways. The question I see here is everyone is trying to get a legalistic ruling on if we sin after being saved are we done? If we die without confessing every tiny slip, word said in anger, and asking for forgiveness will we die in sin? If that is the case we would all live in fear and trembling everyday for any little thing.
Scott in response to you saying “It is because of sin that Christ came and not because of Adam and Eve”.
How did sin enter into the world Scott? I’m telling you, you talk just to be different.. …..Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Because Adam sinned death was passed upon all men.
Yes, sin came through Adam that was my point. Sin was not passed upon all men in the sense of inheriting condemnation because of Adam. Romans 5:12 say that all men have sinned, and they are accountable for themselves.
Yes, all are held accountable for what they do wrongly and if a Christian sins then they have the option ( choice) to repent or perish.
Scott, [ Your questions sound as though you believe that someone cannot sin once after becoming a Christian. ]
No Scott, I am not saying that at all. It a child of God “cannot” act in a manner that separates him from the favor of God, then the devil may as well stop trying to corrupt them. The question is not “can” a child of God sin, but “will” a child of God sin?
A child of God “can” sin. If not, then they would not have a warfare to fight against and that would be once in grace always in grace. The same would be true if we say we “will” sin regardless and still not fall from the grace of God. It would still be once in grace, always in grace. This is what you appear to be teaching. If so, then it is you who are misinformed in the scriptures.
Christ came and died to free us from the bondage of sin. Under the Law, the people had nothing but acts of purification and sacrifices for atonement of sin for which there was still a rememberance. Christ became the ultimate sacrifice in order to give all men a testament of life. That if we so choose to follow after it, there is no more rememberance of sin.
This is what our baptism is all about. That we have crucified our old man and raised to walk in newness of life. We no longer yield ourselves to sin, but to righteousness. Jesus said that whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. No, Jesus did not say how many sins makes us servants of it. Neither can we insert the theory that it takes more that one. Sin separartes us from God. Even one act of sin separates us. If not, then if we only sin once, there would be no need to confess it.
It is not “when” we sin, but “if ” we sin we have that advocate – Jesus Christ. He gives man a way not only to escape temptations, but also a way to receive atonement “if ” we do give in to temptations. John did not contradict himself when he wrote “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Then turn around and write, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” John teaches us that we must not sin, but in the event that we do, we have a way back to the favor of God. These scriptures DO NOT teach that we all commit sin everyday and if we say we don’t, we deceive ourselves.
This is exactly right Frelon…..
See now again. I’ve made my position clear, which is in complete agreement with what you have just presented, and yet you repeat my words right back to me. This is nuts!
No Scott, what you said was a Christian can sin and still walk in God’s light bnecause you say if they sin it’s covered already, no need of repentence.. By the way, you gave no scripture for your belief on that.
What?! Frelon just claimed that I seem to be saying that someone cannot fall from grace and now you say that I don’t believe sinners should repent.
I have given scripture after scripture, and you make this a witch hunt.
Don’t stake me to your strawman.
Scott, you seem to be saying it both ways, going in circles lol
You say if Christians sin once or twice it doesn’t affect them being covered with the blood of Christ, that’s teaching once saved, always saved. and if they sin more than that they are practicing sin. Where do you read this from anyway? :)
Once saved always saved means that you can sin and never fall from grace, which I’ve never said. Verse after verse teaches that those who practice sin fall. Galatians 5:19-21 says “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”. Lets read Matthew 7:23, 13:41, Romans 1:32-2:2, 2 Cor. 12:21.
First John 3:10, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” The saved and lost are distinguished by practice. You have to know that lawlessness leads lawlessness in Romans. One who has unrepentant heart will practice more than one sin.
Again, if one walks in the light and confess your sins, then one will be forgiven. Yet, you say that someone someone cannot sin and walk in the light while 1 John 1:7-10 shows that you can (not permissively or in practice). This is grace. Rather you are implying that any times someone sins, then they are condemned unless they may know the sin and repent. Yet, not every sin leads unto death (1 John).
Hi Scott, You commented to me earlier, [ See now again. I’ve made my position clear, which is in complete agreement with what you have just presented, and yet you repeat my words right back to me. This is nuts! ]
Then you stated to Carol,
[ Again, if one walks in the light and confess your sins, then one will be forgiven. Yet, you say that someone someone cannot sin and walk in the light while 1 John 1:7-10 shows that you can (not permissively or in practice). This is grace. Rather you are implying that any times someone sins, then they are condemned unless they may know the sin and repent. Yet, not every sin leads unto death (1 John). ]
How are you and I speaking the same thing, if you are not grasping the fact that the scriptures teach we “can” sin , (we are able, but not permitted). yet we are told by John that he is writing these things with the intention that we do not sin? Meaning even though the possibility of us yielding ourselves to sin, we also have a way of not yielding to sin.
Again, it is not “can ” a child of God sin, but “will ” a child of God sin?
Will you please give me some scripture that teaches how often one may sin before it becomes a practice?
Thanks
That’s what I am saying. “Can” is not permissive. Anyone without prejudice would given my words the benefit of the doubt there.
Hi Scott
You stated, [ That’s what I am saying. “Can” is not permissive. Anyone without prejudice would given my words the benefit of the doubt there. ]
Well it is hard to follow what you are saying because you are not addressing the all the questions arising from this discussion.
So are you saying that committing sin is inevitable for a Christian?
Will you please give me some scripture that teaches how often one may sin before it becomes a practice?
Thanks
Scott, a few post back you state that a Christian can sin once or twice and still go on walking in the light and the blood has them covered , you say they must confess and it was my understanding of you saying they need not repent. I ask you at that time if they need not repent then what do they have to confess?
According to Christ, he said ” He that commits sin is the servant of sin”Jhn 8:34… My understanding of that is …if I sin “a” sin, I am a servant of it! It only takes one time to make us a servant of sin and if I do, then I am practicing sin and surely I’m not practicing righteousness if I do sin.
You said :Again, if one walks in the light and confess your sins, then one will be forgiven.
Can you please explain how one who walks in God’s light needs to confess sin? This sounds to me like you’re teaching that there is sin in the light. God is light and in HIM there is no darkness at all….1Jo 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Let’s return to what James said in James 5 :19&20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
What do you think?
“He that commits sin is the servant of sin”in John 8:34 is to practice sin. This is the meaning of committing to action.
“This sounds like” you make me out to be a liar for agreeing. The only difference that we have is that someone who walks in the light does not have to repent, because that person is walking in the light and yet Christ Spirit tells that one to confess sins. How is that unless that person has not sinned?
One who walks in the light must confess because that one has sinned. That is my whole point from the beginning.
Scott, can you explain 1Jo 5:16 -18 ?
Practicing a sin leads to death yet John has shown that one practicing a sin will not be forgiven when he prays and confesses his sin.
Scott, we can’t agree on this because you won’t admit if a Christian commits a sin, any sin, he needs to repent of it! Sin isn’t of force unless one steps out of the “Light” first because there is no sin> (darkness)while walking in the light. I showed you what John said in 1Jo 1:5. The 6th says :If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
Circular reasoning? Walking refers to living not a one time occurrence. First John makes this all clear.
Scott, if you commit “a” sin are you walking in the light or walking in darkness ?