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I only sin once in a while but I’m not a sinner, said no honest person ever.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Now various verses in 1st John appear to contradict one another to the natural man.
For example the following three verses.
1Jn 2:1 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:
1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
1Jn 3:9 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 above verses contradict the 2000 year old Christian belief that immediately we repent we are saved.
Revelation 3:14-22, the church of Laodicea proves that God's servants, those who seek him and are being sanctified are not saved until Jesus comes into their heart (the Spirit of Christ possesses them)
This time is unknown to us beforehand and that is the reason that Jesus uses the statement - He that endureth to the end will be saved. (God usually appears in a time of visitation of refreshing and we usually at this time we will be thrown in one of 2 camps, either with the sheep or with the goats.
Salvation is the most complex topic in the bible because God is complex and unreachable except through Jesus Christ, who stands in our place. It cannot be simplified as the entire bible is about salvation (and God wrote thousand of pages dealing only about salvation from Genesis to Revelation) The angels and the prophets also were baffled by this salvation thing and themselves looked into it, to see what it was all about.
Peter comes very close (also Paul) in defining the steps of salvation.
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
God's call to us is first. Those of us who respond appropriately (are obedient) are called elect.
Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Sanctification is second. Jesus Christ promised us that he would send the Spirit of Truth that would teach us the truth, unto our obedience.
This step is the longest (like the children of Israel in the wilderness who were constantly being chastised and honed into a perfect child of God. Many did not make it. But those who persisted and endured made it. (They are called the remnant)
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Third is Jesus Christ in-dwelling us. (Called the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ)
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Fourth and final is Redemption (which Paul speaks about)
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Paul says this:
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
I am very much biased towards Peter who lays everything on the line. He also says it is easy for the unstable to be thrown overboard by Paul's writing.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which 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.
Another tid-bit is that Peter was apparently given the head of taking care of all of God's sheep. (of who we are a part in these last days) (Paul was sent to the Gentiles of the 1st Century only)
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
I went completely off course from the book of 1st John, explaining who is a child of God and how it relates to sin. I will get back to it in my next post. (Unfortunately posts are not allowed to go over a certain amount of words.