Born in Spirit, Perfection, Sanctification, Sin No More

[pappq]

Jesus Christ said,

Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5 [NIV])
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Don't be astonished that I told you, 'All of you must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. That's the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:7-8 [ISV])
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This birth in spirit is related to,

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 John 3:9 [KJV])
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To be born of God is to be born in spirit, and thus anyone receiving the spirit of God fulfills this prophecy,

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:26 [NASB])
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And thus whoever receives the spirit cannot sin, because he is caused to walk in the statutes and ordinances of God by the spirit of God. The removal of the heart of stone is the removal of evil desires, as the heart is where the desires are, otherwise called the "fleshly" nature within, which is the cause of sin, and a new heart is given with godly desires. This is why Paul stated that he was freed from sin and no longer walked in flesh,

[1] In nothing then is there now condemnation to the ones in Christ Jesus, not walking according to flesh, but according to spirit. [2] For the law of the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of the sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2 [ABP])

But you are not in flesh, but in spirit, if indeed spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, this one is not of him. (Romans 8:9 [ABP])

The fleshly nature that he no longer walked in was what he previously described as,

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:14-15 [NIV])
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And thus in receiving the spirit he became free of this evil nature, and he then began walking in the spirit, as no one that does not receive the spirit can walk in spirit, nor does he belong to Jesus Christ, nor is he able to stop sinning on his own. Jesus Christ not only came to atone for sin, but also bring an end to sin,

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24 [KJV])
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And she shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall deliver his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21 [ABP])
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As he is the only sacrifice that is able to cause a man to stop sinning as the blood of animals were not,

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of he-goats to remove sins. (Hebrews 10:4 [ABP])
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And all this coincides with why Jesus Christ said, "be perfect" and "sin no more",

You shall be then yourselves perfect, as your father, the one in the heavens is perfect. (Matthew 5:48 [ABP])
And she said, No one, O Lord. And Jesus said to her, Nor I condemn you; go and from now sin no more! (John 8:11 [ABP])
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And also coincides with what Jesus Christ said here,

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36 [NIV])
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You can only be set free from sin and become perfected if you are born in the spirit, and thus receive its sanctification to never sin again,

For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the ones having been sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 [ABP])
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Receiving the holy spirit comes with a sign of having received him, usually speaking in different languages not known to the believer or prophesying,

And spirit of the LORD shall spring upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and you shall turn into another man. (1 Samuel 10:6 [ABP])

And they were filled all together of holy spirit, and they began to speak with other languages, as the spirit gave to them to be declared. (Acts 2:4 [ABP])

Notice how Saul was "turned into another man" when the spirit of the Lord entered him. This was a type of the baptism of the holy spirit that was later given at Pentecost, which was the "new spirit" spoken of in Ezekiel, which would cause whoever receives him to also be "turned into another man", yet also "perfected", which is what made this "new spirit" distinct from the spirit given to prophets before the offering up of Jesus Christ. The holy spirit is not just a metaphor that many people foolishly mistaken him for, but he is a literal spirit that enters the body and causes sanctification. Just as there are unclean spirits that can enter the body and possess the body to cause evil, so there is holy spirit that enters the body and brings forth sanctification, comfort, guidance from within, and even power,

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26 [NIV])

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true--it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (1 John 2:27 [NLT])

Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:6 [HCSB])

This holy spirit that is given to the elect is of the same kind of holy spirit that guided the Israelites, who was an angel of God,

In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. (Isaiah 63:9-10 [NIV])
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And as such, each believer that is baptized in the holy spirit receives a distinct spirit that is holy, hence why this passage states that each spirit within a prophet is subject to the control of the prophet,

The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. (1 Corinthians 14:32 [NIV])
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And just as the holy spirit that guided the Israelites did not forgive sins,

"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. (Exodus 23:20-21 [NIV])
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So does the holy spirit that is given to the elect does not forgive sins either,

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin." (Mark 3:39 [NIV])

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
(Acts 5:3 [NIV])

Ananias lied to the holy spirit within Peter, and because of this the holy spirit took his life. And even if it were possible for a man of God having the holy spirit to sin, just as Ananias was destroyed because of his sin against the holy spirit, so would that man of God also be destroyed,

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which templeye are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 [KJV])

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This is why in Hebrews it is also stated, that even if it were possible for a man to fall away who already shared in the holy spirit, it would be impossible for him to ever be granted repentance,

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
(Hebrews 6:4-6 [NIV])

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If you still find yourself sinning, then you truly have not received the holy spirit. Do not be deceived into thinking that you can still continually sin and somehow God will always grant forgiveness, as even in Hebrews we have this warning,

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26-27 [NIV])
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And indeed all have sinned, which is why it is said,

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 [NIV])
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[8] If we should say that we do not have sin, we mislead ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we should acknowledge our sins, he is trustworthy and just that he should have forgiven us the sins, and should have cleansed us from all iniquity.
(I John 1:8-9 [ABP])

This is why we must repent, which means to stop sinning,

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (John 5:14 [NIV])

and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:2 [NIV])

So that we can then be forgiven and cleansed from all iniquity. And once you stop sinning by repenting, then can you seek to be baptized in the holy spirit, which will free you from sin. It is only possible to be freed from sin by his spirit.

 

[BenFTW]

There was some good stuff in there and some bad stuff. Your use of certain verses in contrast to others make a contradiction to your premise. If someone continues sinning and there remains no sacrifice for sins but an expectation of judgement and the Holy Spirit doesn't forgive sins then why did you put up the verse that says to confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive them?

Also, you said that repenting means that one stops sinning altogether but why is it that when one is walking in the light then the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin? VVhat sin could there be in the light (that is actually Christ) if repenting is not sinning at all? There wouldn't be anything to cleanse if repenting was not sinning at all.

I think its wonderful you want to stop sinning, as should all believers have such a desire. Its just your use of certain verses to bring about a conclusion are contradictory. If repenting means to stop sinning and if you sin then the Holy Spirit isn't inside of you this would eliminate all of the body of Christ from entering the Kingdom. I know He said few but come on now. All isn't few. Not to mention you have misrepresented the Holy Spirit as unforgiving, when in fact He is quite patient. Trust me He has to deal with all of us, haha.

 

[Cee]

Love is the result of not sinning. Your post doesn't contain this idea. Pray about what it means to love one another. And how it connects with not sinning. We do have an advocate in Christ IF we sin. But the Spirit of God completes us in Him as we walk with Him.

Adam didn't have a sin nature.
But he still sinned.

 

[pappq]

There was some good stuff in there and some bad stuff. Your use of certain verses in contrast to others make a contradiction to your premise. If someone continues sinning and there remains no sacrifice for sins but an expectation of judgement and the Holy Spirit doesn't forgive sins then why did you put up the verse that says to confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive them?

Also, you said that repenting means that one stops sinning altogether but why is it that when one is walking in the light then the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin? VVhat sin could there be in the light (that is actually Christ) if repenting is not sinning at all? There wouldn't be anything to cleanse if repenting was not sinning at all.

I think its wonderful you want to stop sinning, as should all believers have such a desire. Its just your use of certain verses to bring about a conclusion are contradictory. If repenting means to stop sinning and if you sin then the Holy Spirit isn't inside of you this would eliminate all of the body of Christ from entering the Kingdom. I know He said few but come on now. All isn't few. Not to mention you have misrepresented the Holy Spirit as unforgiving, when in fact He is quite patient. Trust me He has to deal with all of us, haha.

Because all have sinned in the past, and must confess those sins to then receive forgiveness. If any still continues to sin, present and future, then there is no sacrifice for sins left as that person has not stopped sinning.

 

[pappq]

Love is the result of not sinning. Your post doesn't contain this idea. Pray about what it means to love one another. And how it connects with not sinning. We do have an advocate in Christ IF we sin. But the Spirit of God completes us in Him as we walk with Him.

Adam didn't have a sin nature.
But he still sinned.

And Jesus Christ was born into the flesh that was of Adam, and he did not sin.

 

[Cee]

And Jesus Christ was born into the flesh that was of Adam, and he did not sin.

Yes that's why we want His righteousness. Not our own.

 

[Cee]

Because all have sinned in the past, and must confess those sins to then receive forgiveness. If any still continues to sin, present and future, then there is no sacrifice for sins left as that person has not stopped sinning.

That Scripture is talking about the finality of Christ as our sacrifice. Keep sinning in this context was living by the law. There is no sacrifice left for sins under the law. The blood of bulls and goats pointed to Christ. Now that we are in a new covenant the sacrifices that pointed to Him are no longer acceptable.

 

[pappq]

Yes that's why we want His righteousness. Not our own.

Hence why we must be reborn into the spirit of Christ.

 

[Cee]

Exactly.

And the Spirit renews our mind to prove His will in our lives.

We know believers sinned because Scripture writers told them to stop sinning. Pointing to their new identity in Christ as their argument.

Hence why we must be reborn into the spirit of Christ.

 

[pappq]

That Scripture is talking about the finality of Christ as our sacrifice. Keep sinning in this context was living by the law. There is no sacrifice left for sins under the law. The blood of bulls and goats pointed to Christ. Now that we are in a new covenant the sacrifices that pointed to Him are no longer acceptable.

Have you not read,

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men (1 Corinthians 6:9 [NIV])

These sins are based on the Law of Moses, and as such, whoever keeps on breaking these laws will absolutely not inherit the kingdom of God. Don't be a fool and deceive yourself into thinking you can still continue sinning and enter into the kingdom of God.

 

[pappq]

Exactly.

And the Spirit renews our mind to prove His will in our lives.

We know believers sinned because Scripture writers told them to stop sinning. Pointing to their new identity in Christ as their argument.

Yet if you are still sinning, you have not received the spirit of Christ. As the spirit of Christ frees from sin.

 

[Cee]

Actually I have.

Read the next verse.

Have you not read,



These sins are based on the Law of Moses, and as such, whoever keeps on breaking these laws will absolutely not inherit the kingdom of God. Don't be a fool and deceive yourself into thinking you can still continue sinning and enter into the kingdom of God.

 

[BenFTW]

Because all have sinned in the past, and must confess those sins to then receive forgiveness. If any still continues to sin, present and future, then there is no sacrifice for sins left as that person has not stopped sinning.

You must live under a lot of pressure. Didn't Jesus say that His yoke was easy and His burden light? To enter His rest? If we must stop sinning in order to be saved as opposed to sin not being imputed to us, I think that doesn't bode well for any of us.

 

[blessedjohn80]

Yet if you are still sinning, you have not received the spirit of Christ. As the spirit of Christ frees from sin.

Freed from sin does not mean you cannot and shall not ever sin intentionally or unintentionally. Freed from sin means that the sin has been paid and therefore no punishment shall come upon the sinner.

The law states that if you sin in even the slightest smallest way, you are a sinner. And sin will not go unpunished. How did you receive the spirit of Christ? Was it when you were sinless or a sinner?

 

[Cee]

And the truth shall set you free.
Because whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Truth sets us free to walk in our freedom.

This is renewing the mind.

Yet if you are still sinning, you have not received the spirit of Christ. As the spirit of Christ frees from sin.

 

[pappq]

You must live under a lot of pressure. Didn't Jesus say that His yoke was easy and His burden light? To enter His rest? If we must stop sinning in order to be saved as opposed to sin not being imputed to us, I think that doesn't bode well for any of us.

His yoke is easy because all it takes to be freed from sin is to receive the holy spirit, not one's own effort.

 

[blessedjohn80]

His yoke is easy because all it takes to be freed from sin is to receive the holy spirit, not one's own effort.

Yes, receiving is all it takes and receiving is also what it takes to be free from sin.

 

[pappq]

And the truth shall set you free.
Because whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Truth sets us free to walk in our freedom.

This is renewing the mind.

In freedom from sin, not in freedom to sin. You err in your way of thinking to justify your own sin.

 

[blessedjohn80]

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

 

[Cee]

His yoke is easy because all it takes to be freed from sin is to receive the holy spirit, not one's own effort.

I personally can agree with that. But for those who do still struggle with lies and are not fully sanctified they have provision in Christ as their Advocate.

What does not sinning look like to you? Do you feed the poor, take care of orphans and widows, etc?