Bro RUSHMORE, some brothers at the church where i serve as associate minister are accusing me of teaching false doctrine. 1) I believe that the Bible teaches that christians sin by walking contrary to God’s law. Some are teaching that christians cannot sin-1jn 3:9. 2) I believe that the Bible teaches that man is a free moral agent. He may choose life or death, heaven or, right or wrong- joshua 24:15. Some are teaching that man has no choice in his salvation or perdition. ~ robert Johnson
The apostle Peter wrote about Christians who, perhaps in all sincerity, distort the Word of God, by which they harm themselves and those that they influence. In the Word of God there “…are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (1 Peter 3:16). Assuming that you have correctly represented them, your antagonists are ill prepared to assign heresy to you respecting the two items above. In fact, what you attribute to them are very serious departures from New Testament Christianity.
Your opponents need to harmonize other passages in 1 John with 1 John 3:9, which they cannot possibly do while holding to their concept of the inability of a Christian to commit sin. Notice what the apostle John wrote earlier in his epistle that contradicts what some, where you worship, claim. Remember that First John was addressed to Christians.
“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. 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. 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” (1 John 1:7-2:1).
First, the cleansing from sin by the blood of Christ is conditional — “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light.” In other words, when and as long as a Christian practices New Testament Christianity, his sins are forgiven. Whenever a Christian does not practice Christianity faithfully, his sins are not forgiven (1 John 1:6). Verses Eight and Ten clearly declare that if we (Christians) say we have no sins, we are liars. A doctrine that Christians cannot sin, according to these two verses, is outside the truth! Chapter Two, Verse One expresses John’s desire that Christians do not sin, but the apostle acknowledges that Christians might sin. Further, when Christians do sin, they have an “advocate” or lawyer — Jesus Christ — who represents them before God.
Second, the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language and has been translated into English, among other languages. Sometimes it is important to look beyond the English words to the Greek behind them. The verse under consideration, 1 John 3:9, is such a case: “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.” The literal translation from an interlinear New Testament reads: “All the one having been born from the God sin not does because seed of him in him stays and not he is able to sin because from the God he has been born.” The present tense in the Greek language conveys continuing action. The present tense verbs translated “does,” “stays” and “he is able” mean, then, that the Christian does not continue sinning (i.e., as a way of life), for as long as the “seed” (which is the Word of God, Luke 8:11) by which he was converted continues to be his guide. Whenever a Christian no longer allows the Word of God to be his guide, he consequently commits sins.
Noting that present tense verbs in the Greek convey continuing action, look again at 1 John 1:7. The verse essentially says, “If we continue to walk in the light (of God’s Word), as Jesus continues to be in the light, we continue to have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son continues to cleanse us from all sin.” The clear implication is that if Christians do not continue to walk in the light, they will not continue to have fellowship and they will not continue to be cleansed by the blood of Christ.
There are said to be about 1,500 warnings in the New Testament urging Christians to be careful not to sin. Warnings not to sin are nonsensical if it is not possible for Christians to sin. No more colorful description of the possibility of a Christian sinning (and the ugliness of such) can be found in the Bible than 2 Peter 2:20-22, which refers to the washed sow wallowing again in the mire and a dog eating his vomit. Christians can commit sin!
The belief that we are not free moral agents and that mankind cannot choose salvation or perdition did not originate with God and his Word. That denominational doctrine is commonly recognized as a part of Calvinism. The denominational doctrine of predestination teaches that God selected certain souls, the number and names of which cannot be changed, to be saved and without consideration of what any of those souls believe or do, good or bad. Implicitly, by that doctrine, God also chose certain souls, the number and names of which cannot be changed, to be eternally lost and without consideration of what any of those souls believe or do, good or bad. The denominational doctrine of predestination reflects unfavorably upon Almighty God, especially since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11).
The biblical doctrine of predestination pertains to two classes of people — the lost and the saved. The individual souls who comprise either class can and do change in both directions, based on disobedience and obedience of God’s Word. Referring to Christ, the Hebrews writer wrote:
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).
Obedience requires the ability and willingness to make a choice. When mankind obeys, though falling far short of perfection, God extends his mercy (Titus 3:5) and grace (Ephesians 2:8) to make up the difference. Disobedience receives an opposite response from God.
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Yes, man must make choices regarding his eternity and redemption. To make no conscious choice, though, is to make the poorest of all choices. Essentially, Satan votes against us; God votes for us; and, we each cast the deciding vote respecting our salvation and where we will spend eternity.
