[Biblemat] S) AND HE CANNOT SIN (1)

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is the first part of a study 
from my ancient files.  Use to the glory of God.

AND HE CANNOT SIN  (1)

       "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" (1 Jno. 3:9).

       This passage of Scripture is often misinterpreted because of
a failure to interpret it in light of other passages; some of which
are by the same author.  When one's interpretation of a passage
of Scripture contradicts the plain teaching of another passage
in the Bible he may know that his interpretation is wrong.  This is
a very basic and essential rule of interpretation.

       In an effort to prove the false doctrine of the impossibility of
apostasy, better known as "once saved always saved", many
denominational preachers wrest such passages as 1 Jno. 3:9.
To support their theory, these preachers insist that 1 Jno. 3:9 
teaches that it is impossible for a "born again man" to sin at all.
For example: Baptist preachers teach that only the "inward man" is born 
again, and that after this birth the "heart" or "inward man" cannot sin; and they 
mean by that that it is IMPOS-
SIBLE for him to sin.  They teach that only the outward man can
sin after the new birth.  The Bible does not teach this, however.
The Bible teaches that man is a twofold being, but it does not 
teach that ony the inward man is born again, and that after the
new birth all sins are committed by the outward man.  Paul said,
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature;" (2 Cor.
5:17).  Paul did not say, "Therefore if the inward man be in Christ
he is a new creature;"  He said, "If any MAN", and a man is both
inward and outward man; both are in Christ, and both are born
again.  Jesus said, "Except a MAN be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot 
enter the kingdom of God" (Jno. 3:5).  This man, or this one (R.V.), includes 
all of a man, inward and outward man.  If it does not, then the inward man 
would be in the
kingdom, or church, and the outward man woulf be out of Christ, orout of His 
kingdom, hence a child of the devil.  If this
were true, the inward man would have to employ a child of the
devil to do everything he would do for the Lord.  One could not
even preach without employing a child of the devil; one could
not even think, because  we use our brains to think, and our 
brains are a part of the outward man.  Such but shows how utter-
ly rediculous and absurd such a doctring is, and yet millions
profess to believe it.  Now observe another of the passages in
1 John:

       "But fi we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fell-
owship one with another, adn the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us form all sin.  If we say we have no sins, 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 we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and 
His Word is not in us.  My little children, these 
things I write unto you that  you sin not.  And if any man sin, we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"
(1 Jno. 1:7-10; 2:1).  One might be beset with a difficulty in deter-
mining just what 1 Jno. 3:9 teaches, but he would know that it
does not teach that it is impossible for the "born of God" man to
sin.  Why?  Because, John plainly teaches in the above quotat-
ion that  we not only can sin, but do sin, have sinned, and expresses the 
possibility that we will sin.  John was not talking
about the sins of the outward man only.  (We would never learn
such from the Bible, we have to go to the Baptists to learn this).
Without the inward man, the outward man would be dead (Jas.
2:26),  and it therefore could not sin or do anything else.  The 
Baptists tell us that if the inward man is born again, it is not only
impossible for it to sin, but also that the outward man will be re-
deemed in the resurrection, regardless of how many sins it com-
mits, just so the inward man has been born again.  If this were
true there would be absolutely no need of, "confessing our sins".  Why would 
it be necessary to have the blood of Christ to
"cleanse us from all sin"?  Why pray for the forgiveness of our
sins?  Why any of this "confessing", "praying", and "cleansing"
if only the outward man can sin, since, say the Baptists, that the
outward man will be redeemed in the resurrection, regardless
of its sins?  Will some Baptists answer these questions?

       Just as surely as the outward man sins, the inward man, or
heart, is involved in that sin.  Jesus is the author of this doctrine,
not this scribe.  "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil 
thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all of these evil things come from
within and defile the man" (Mk. 7:21-23).  Can a born again man
commit adultery?  If he can, he can sin with his inward man!  Be-
cause Jesus said that this sin comes from the heart, or inward
man.  However, according to Baptist doctrine, the born again man who commits 
adultery, or any other sin, could just say, "It
was not I that sinned, it was just my outward man".  Can a Christ-
ian have an evil thought?  Certainly he can.  And when he does
he sins with his inward man.  Simon thought an evil thought as
recorded in Acts chapter eight.  And Simon was a born again
person.  But because of his one evil thought, Peter said to him,
"Thy money perish with thee, because thou has thought that the
gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20).  Peter
inferred that Simon would perish if he did not repent, all because
he had thought one evil thought.  Note the difference in the rea-
son that Peter gave as to why Simon would perish, and the rea-
son tht Baptist preachers give as to why he was going to perish.
Baptist preachers say he was going to perish because he had 
not really been born again, but Peter said that it was because he
had thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money
The sin of Simon is summed up by the apostle Peter as the 
thought of his HEART!  "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness
and pray God that if perhaps the thought of thine HEART may be
forgiven thee" (Acts 8:22).

       Therefore, we know that 1 Jno. 3:9 does not teach that it is
IMPOSSIBLE for the born again man to sin.  Children fo God can
sin, and are warned against apostasy thoughout the Bible.  The
book of Hebrews was written for the express and specific purpo-
se of restoring some who had evidently departed from the living
God, and for the purpose of preventing others from falling from
grace.  Some are mentioned in the sixth chapter who had fallen
so far away that it was impossible to "renew them again to repen-
tance".  The following quotations are three examples of the teaching of the 
book of Hebrews on this point!  "Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of 
you an evil heart of unbeleif, in
departing from the living God." (3:12).  "Looking diligently lest
any man fail of the grace of God." (12:15).  The marginal reading
says, "fall from the grace of God".  "Let us labor therefore to
enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief" (4:11).  (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, 
the Lord willing.  JWS).   </HTML>
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