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The Holy Spirit constantly draws me back to 1 John, and I've heard some preachers even say they have issues with this book, and I notice certain portions of it are rarely preached.
The following is from Arthur W Pink's exposition on 1 John,
"“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” The standard of conduct which the Gospel sets before us is no less holy and perfect than that of the Law: no indulging of the flesh is permitted, no self-pleasing tolerated. When our Lord healed the impotent man His word to him was “sin no more” (Joh 5:14); and though it was not then His province to condemn to death the woman taken in adultery, so far from making light of her crime He said “go, and sin no more” (Joh 8:11). Nor was John the only one of the apostles who made this exacting demand upon the Lord’s people. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21) said Paul; and again, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not” (1Co 15:34). Likewise Peter, in his first epistle: “But as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1:15). And again, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (2:11-12).
Everywhere in Scripture the Gospel is represented to be “the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1Ti 6:3), which forbids us to regard sin as the normal element of the Christian life, or even to consider its commission as inevitable. Not only are we to reject with abhorrence the devilish idea that the grace of God and the sacrifice of Christ give license to sin, but we are not even to view them as a provision for the weakness of the flesh. “Sin not” is the peremptory and unqualified demand. It was as though the apostle had said, I would have you so narrowly watch your hearts and ways that no evil might slip into your lives, no wrong thoughts be allowed, no idle words be uttered. I would have you make this your serious and constant aim: not merely that you are to sin as little as you can, but that you are not to sin at all. Great care needs to be taken against lowering or whittling down the exalted standard of moral purity which God has set before us. “Sin not” is not to be restricted unto the commission of merely gross and flagrant offences, nor to open acts in the outward life, but to all inward sinning too.
Each statement of Holy Writ is to be given its full and fair meaning, and is never to be toned down or modified by us. “Sin not” is the standard of excellence which God has set before us, for the Holy One can claim nothing less, and our obligation fully to measure up to the same is beyond contradiction. It is the unabating requirement of the Gospel, for the object of Christ’s death was not only to make atonement for the sins committed by His people, but to supply motives to fortify and restrain their souls against continuing therein (2Co 5:14-15). To sin not is the Christian’s exalted ideal, the earnest pursuit of which is to engage all his faculties and powers. It is what every renewed heart ardently longs to attain unto. Few of our readers will be inclined to call into question the statement that nothing short of complete conformity to the image of Christ should be the daily endeavour of every saint, yet how few appear to make this their fixed resolution and purpose. Nothing short of abstaining from everything which is displeasing to Christ should be the task we set ourselves, and that without any secret reserve. Our eyes are to be fixed on our Rule and not on our infirmities. Say not beforehand a measure of failure is certain, but rather “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phi 4:13)."
*********
Now I often run up against believers who formulate all kind of excuses why we must sin, or can't help it, and say because it's in our flesh nature "we're going to sin." That statement right there is cringeworthy. It makes me squirm, not in the normal sense of squirming which is a negative, when one is caught, or trying to hide something, but it's uncomfortable, just like when you plunge a hook into a night crawler and it squirms. Such statements are lies of the devil, and therefore to me are like barbs and hooks, and I reject them in Jesus name. Then I remind the people that Christ calls us to be perfect, and we are to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, and John writes unto us that we sin not, and if anyone sins they have neither seen nor known God.
Why is it then, that so so many Christians have been led to believe they must sin and there is no choice but to sin. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he, the Proverbs say, and when you think in your heart that you're gonna sin, and it's inevitable, well, then you're gonna sin. But the Bible tells us not to sin, and plainly so very clear on these matters. IF we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. That comes after the Word tells us to SIN NOT, and is is then followed by the conditional particle "ean" translated "If," which means "in the event that, " or "in case that" or "in case you do" so it definitely implies that you do not have to sin, and certainly does not infer at all that you definitely are going to sin.
There are too many other portions of 1 John that would refute the argument that you must sin, will sin, are going to sin. Hey, you MIGHT sin, but you don't have to, and if you get in a daily close relationship with God, praying always, and being obedient, and meditating in the Word often, you will find it is possible to "sin not."
I personally believe sins of commissions can be completely overcome, including thoughts. Remember also, a temptation is not sin, nor a tempting thought: it's when you dwell on it and begin to entertain it that it becomes sin. I'd say sins of omission are the more difficult, and elusive to identify, such as not taking an opportunity to share the gospel when you should, or neglecting to help someone in need when you have the capacity to do so.
I know I've shared this in messages before, but repetition is good. We don't just read the Bible once and say "Oh that was a good book" and be done with it. We feed on it, and like food we ingest it daily, and more than once a day, and the variety comes in the different books, chapters, and verses, which should be well balanced. 1 John is like fish or lean meat which is healthy for you and strengthens you with its spiritual protein.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
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.
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.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."
(1 John 2:1-10)
The following is from Arthur W Pink's exposition on 1 John,
"“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” The standard of conduct which the Gospel sets before us is no less holy and perfect than that of the Law: no indulging of the flesh is permitted, no self-pleasing tolerated. When our Lord healed the impotent man His word to him was “sin no more” (Joh 5:14); and though it was not then His province to condemn to death the woman taken in adultery, so far from making light of her crime He said “go, and sin no more” (Joh 8:11). Nor was John the only one of the apostles who made this exacting demand upon the Lord’s people. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21) said Paul; and again, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not” (1Co 15:34). Likewise Peter, in his first epistle: “But as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1:15). And again, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (2:11-12).
Everywhere in Scripture the Gospel is represented to be “the doctrine which is according to godliness” (1Ti 6:3), which forbids us to regard sin as the normal element of the Christian life, or even to consider its commission as inevitable. Not only are we to reject with abhorrence the devilish idea that the grace of God and the sacrifice of Christ give license to sin, but we are not even to view them as a provision for the weakness of the flesh. “Sin not” is the peremptory and unqualified demand. It was as though the apostle had said, I would have you so narrowly watch your hearts and ways that no evil might slip into your lives, no wrong thoughts be allowed, no idle words be uttered. I would have you make this your serious and constant aim: not merely that you are to sin as little as you can, but that you are not to sin at all. Great care needs to be taken against lowering or whittling down the exalted standard of moral purity which God has set before us. “Sin not” is not to be restricted unto the commission of merely gross and flagrant offences, nor to open acts in the outward life, but to all inward sinning too.
Each statement of Holy Writ is to be given its full and fair meaning, and is never to be toned down or modified by us. “Sin not” is the standard of excellence which God has set before us, for the Holy One can claim nothing less, and our obligation fully to measure up to the same is beyond contradiction. It is the unabating requirement of the Gospel, for the object of Christ’s death was not only to make atonement for the sins committed by His people, but to supply motives to fortify and restrain their souls against continuing therein (2Co 5:14-15). To sin not is the Christian’s exalted ideal, the earnest pursuit of which is to engage all his faculties and powers. It is what every renewed heart ardently longs to attain unto. Few of our readers will be inclined to call into question the statement that nothing short of complete conformity to the image of Christ should be the daily endeavour of every saint, yet how few appear to make this their fixed resolution and purpose. Nothing short of abstaining from everything which is displeasing to Christ should be the task we set ourselves, and that without any secret reserve. Our eyes are to be fixed on our Rule and not on our infirmities. Say not beforehand a measure of failure is certain, but rather “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phi 4:13)."
*********
Now I often run up against believers who formulate all kind of excuses why we must sin, or can't help it, and say because it's in our flesh nature "we're going to sin." That statement right there is cringeworthy. It makes me squirm, not in the normal sense of squirming which is a negative, when one is caught, or trying to hide something, but it's uncomfortable, just like when you plunge a hook into a night crawler and it squirms. Such statements are lies of the devil, and therefore to me are like barbs and hooks, and I reject them in Jesus name. Then I remind the people that Christ calls us to be perfect, and we are to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, and John writes unto us that we sin not, and if anyone sins they have neither seen nor known God.
Why is it then, that so so many Christians have been led to believe they must sin and there is no choice but to sin. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he, the Proverbs say, and when you think in your heart that you're gonna sin, and it's inevitable, well, then you're gonna sin. But the Bible tells us not to sin, and plainly so very clear on these matters. IF we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. That comes after the Word tells us to SIN NOT, and is is then followed by the conditional particle "ean" translated "If," which means "in the event that, " or "in case that" or "in case you do" so it definitely implies that you do not have to sin, and certainly does not infer at all that you definitely are going to sin.
There are too many other portions of 1 John that would refute the argument that you must sin, will sin, are going to sin. Hey, you MIGHT sin, but you don't have to, and if you get in a daily close relationship with God, praying always, and being obedient, and meditating in the Word often, you will find it is possible to "sin not."
I personally believe sins of commissions can be completely overcome, including thoughts. Remember also, a temptation is not sin, nor a tempting thought: it's when you dwell on it and begin to entertain it that it becomes sin. I'd say sins of omission are the more difficult, and elusive to identify, such as not taking an opportunity to share the gospel when you should, or neglecting to help someone in need when you have the capacity to do so.
I know I've shared this in messages before, but repetition is good. We don't just read the Bible once and say "Oh that was a good book" and be done with it. We feed on it, and like food we ingest it daily, and more than once a day, and the variety comes in the different books, chapters, and verses, which should be well balanced. 1 John is like fish or lean meat which is healthy for you and strengthens you with its spiritual protein.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
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.
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.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."
(1 John 2:1-10)
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