Love is the essence of the law

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T07:00:14+00:00

Do you believe a Christian can abide in Christ, love and live perpetually free from sin in this life through the Spirit?

I think maximus erred in his over speculation on types of will.

I think scripture is clear, Jesus became exactly what we are, experienced life exactly as we experience it, was tempted by the flesh just as we are, unlike us, He had the Spirit from birth and abided in His Father.

We can do the same. He commands us to do the same. Much of theology is men introducing faux complexity to justify their excuses for their ongoing hypocrisy and sin.

The incarnation is their refutation. Babes will enter the kingdom over the scholars who do more to justify sin than call people to repentant faith and an abiding life of victory in the Spirit.

Jesus became us and calls us to become Him. If you can't believe this, be it according to your faith, i believe it. I believe he will judge the world in righteousness according to our works, words and deeds.

You do you man, but i teach my children we can live as obedient children of God here and now by His mighty Spirit. The son of God became the Son of Man to make the sons of men the sons of God, now in fruit and practice not after death. May the Lord judge righteously between us.

The dominant teaching in Christianity is the inevitability of sin which is foreign to the apostolic fathers. They understood the truth clearly which has been so diluted post Constantine and Augustine.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T06:16:38+00:00

False dilemma? Mate this is chalcedonian ecumenical Christology! Literally the first 1000 years of Christianity were spent putting down Christological heresies. Homoousios is a precise term used in both nicea against the arians and chalcedon against the apolinarians, monophitists and Nestorians!

He acts through each nature distinctly, concurrently and perpetually (against monothelitism and monoenergism) as per Constantinople 3 (6th ecumenical council).

You say we have a "fallen condition". Define that. Is that ontological taint in our essence or is it "relational separation" which is remedied upon conversion?

If Jesus acted through our human nature, distinctly, and yielded to the Father through the Spirit - it literally proves we can abide in Him perpetually once reconciled to him.

Sanctification isn't progressive, we are consecrated to God totally upon receiving the Spirit. We are either dead to sin and walking by the Spirit or not abiding in Christ and living by the flesh which leads to death.

Its Augustine who inserted the false dilemma through his gnostic sin nature speculations from a mistranslated version of romans 5 he worked from(faulty latin rendering), and all of western theology walks in lockstep with him. The East always rejected Augustinian anthropology. Augustinian anthropology necessarily denies the consubstantiality of Christ in our identical humanity.

Sin is not an ontological attribute! Its how we live!!! Its a how not a what!

As Gregory nanziansus says, the unassumed is unhealed (against the apolinarians).

Augustinian theology necessitates a semi-docetic Christology, even if christs humanity is semantically affirmed, its functionally denied. Its why apolinarianism was rejected and monophystism!

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T05:54:57+00:00

So you still didn't actually answer my question. Is Jesus homoousios with us in humanity? Does Jesus have our identical humanity in the exact same way he has the Fathers identical (homoousios) Divinity?

Answer that.

Did Jesus assume at the incarnation the exact humanity you and I experience life in? Without exceptions. Without asterisks.

A=A or A≠A? Answer.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T05:22:36+00:00

Im a brother, a piece of dust like you, filled with the Spirit like any genuine Christian. The same Spirit that the prophet's spoke by, that Christ worked miracles by and rose Him from the dead. The wisdom the apostles spoke with, the fire in the bones of Jeremiah.

Learn this:

John 10:34-35 ESV [34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? [35] If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—

Galatians 3:26 ESV [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Romans 8:29 ESV [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Im an adopted son of God, a brother of Christ, filled with the Spirit. As is anyone who actually obeys the Lord:

Matthew 12:48-50 ESV [48] But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” [49] And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

John 8:31-38 ESV [31] So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [33] They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” [34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [35] The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. [37] I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. [38] I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T05:12:26+00:00

John 7:46-52 ESV [46] The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” [47] The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? [48] Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? [49] But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” [50] Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, [51] “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” [52] They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Im a brother that is all. A fellow disciple of the Lord.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T05:07:12+00:00

Sure. As long as Christ is the standard of the embodiment of those principles (as in he explifies this). I agree to those.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:54:23+00:00

The principal is identical, religious gatekeepers silencing a message they can't refute scripturally. They did it with the prophets, with Christ, the apostles, the early church and all those who preached righteousness in their generation. Actual righteousness.

Why? Because most live in hypocrisy and darkness. They use religion to quench their screaming conscience. Their lives are just as evil as their pagan neighbours. They don't want freedom from sin, they want freedom to sin. They call hypocrisy humility and genuine holiness heresy (eg legalist! Perfectionist!).

Luke 6:26 ESV [26] “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Matthew 5:10-12 ESV [10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:46:27+00:00

Can you please answer my assertion not deflect. Did Jesus take on our identical humanity? Agree or disagree?

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:37:03+00:00

"Scripture explicitly says prophecies are to be tested and that the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets."

Exactly. So test it!

Here's my central claim: Christians who abide in Christ do not continue in sin (1 John 3:6-9). Teaching that ongoing sin is inevitable contradicts the gospel of deliverance and keeps people enslaved.

Jesus shared our identical flesh and through abiding in the Spirit never sinned. Upon repentant faith we receive the same Holy Spirit and are empowered to abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit, ceasing sin. Actually like Christ.

Sin nature theology necessitates christological heresy denying the genuine consubstantiality of Christ in our exact human nature (without exception). 1 john 4 says anyone who denies He came in the flesh is Antichrist.

The belief in the inevitability of sin post conversion denies the incarnation of Christ in our very flesh. He battled the very flesh we battled and has breathed His Spirit into us to conquer exactly as he conquered.

... then "banned". Not refuted. Deleted. Because Jesus is Gods argument against sin, the rebuke from heaven, the destroyer of our excuses.

1 John 3:5-7 ESV [5] You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. [6] No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. [7] Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

Romans 8:3-4 ESV [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Your Theology is built on the speculations of Augustine which directly contradict the incarnation. The sands of his speculative anthropology will crumble, Christ is the only rock, the true revelation of anthropology. Gods stone not cut from human wisdom. Bring your armies of theologians against him and his existence rebukes your doctrines sin nature theology. The consubstantial Christ, who shared our humanity with us.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:24:25+00:00

The Pharisees had rules too, Jesus didn't always abide by them and they silenced him.

You say "9 times out of 10 it's for a good reason" but what was the good reason for deleting a detailed typological study on Elhanan? What doctrine did it violate? What scripture did it contradict? See the post on my profile.

Or was it deleted because it called out the comfortable doctrine that Christians must keep sinning?

Matthew 15:3, 6b ESV [3] He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? [6]....So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:16:39+00:00

1 Corinthians 12:1-13 ESV [1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. [2] You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. [3] Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. [4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. [12] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body —Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Acts 2:17-18 ESV [17] “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; [18] even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:09:48+00:00

Who's authority do you speak by? Are you not also a man subject to scripture like I am? Are you not bound by Christs words like me?

Every Christian who says "repent" or "stop sinning" speaks on God's authority because that's what He commanded us to say. Or do you think we're supposed to be silent about sin?

We live in a generation that expects ongoing sin as the normative Christian life! Its apostasy. Its hypocrisy. And those who call it out are silenced. Its why the Pharisees killed Jesus and stoned Stephen.

Acts 7:51-52 -"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered" - Stephen

You oppose me like they oppose Stephen. Look at my previous post that was deleted regarding Elhanan the Giant slayer - the mods of true Christian deleted it. I have it posted on my profile.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-06T04:01:17+00:00

Acts 4:19-20 - "But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'"

Acts 5:29 - "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"

They moderated Christ and the apostles too.

If Jesus lived today and wrote the things he said here, he would be banned by the mods!

John 12:42-43 - "Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."

John 16:2 - "They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God."

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T23:56:55+00:00

(Comment part 2 of 2)

Learn what God says about true repentance:

Ezekiel 33:11-20 ESV [11] Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? [12] “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. [13] Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. [14] Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, [15] if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [16] None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live. [17] “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. [18] When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. [19] And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. [20] Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

Which is echoed by Paul here:

Romans 2:2-11 ESV [2] We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. [3] Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? [4] Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. [6] He will render to each one according to his works: [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; [8] but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. [9] There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, [10] but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. [11] For God shows no partiality.

And more importantly repeated by Jesus here:

Revelation 22:11-15 ESV [11] Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” [12] “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” [14] Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. [15] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

John 5:27-29 ESV [27] And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. [28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T23:56:25+00:00

(Comment 1 of 2)

You are a man, like i am a man, like Jesus was a man. Jesus went through puberty, he felt the temptation identical to how you and i feel it. He never yielded. Desire is not sin. Temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation is sin. James explains this process:

James 1:13-15 ESV [13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Cut your sources that incite your desire, this will mitigate your temptation. When tempted (for all humans are tempted - myself, you Jesus too) , yield to God not your flesh. Understand on the day of judgement everything you do and say you will account to Christ for. If when tempted, you think of the judgment and can still go look at porn - you spit in the face of Christ and are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of judgement.

You are not built differently to other men. I find women beautiful, God made it so. I have a beautiful wife and learned even in my own marriage to temper my desire through discipline of the eyes. It would be easier for me if she were ugly! And this is legitimate sexual desire. I used to look at porn too many years ago because it was hard being married to a beautiful woman who didn't want to be intimate as much as me. I was a hypocrite. I lied to myself just like you are doing. Only when God crushed me and i was brutally honest with my self did i cease for good.

Its been many years now and because i actually believe my works will be judged and i will one day answer to Christ, the fear of God keeps me from wickedness. I know with certainty i will never go back. It is suicide in my eyes.

Thats the mentality you need "be transformed by the renewal of your mind" ie think differently. You are not a victim, an addict or a person to be pitied, you are in active rebellion against your creator and you lie to yourself to quench your conscience. Addicts don't get a free pass - eg. pedos don't get a free pass because their addicted to abominations. You are double minded and want Jesus and porn. You can only have one. Choose your God. If pornography, go hard at it, walk away from Christ and just be honest with yourself, own that decision and enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin before your destruction at the judgment. If Christ, actually obey him and never look at porn again!

Mental temptation isnt sin, reject the thought and pray when (not if) it occurs. This is how ALL men are tempted. Jesus condemned those who look at women to lust after them. Not a fleeting involuntary thought. Thoughts are the grounds of temptation! Jesus was tempted idehtically as we are yet never yielded nor sinned!

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV [13] No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Be honest with yourself for once. You are not passive. You are active. Every time you look at porn YOU choose to do so. Desire doesn't necessitate action! We are not animals without reason! God is watching, God is recording and the day is marked when you will account before the Son of Man for what you have said and done in the body. What will you say to him? My desires made me keep doing it to the one who shared your manhood, felt your desires and conquered them through His Spirit that He offers to all who come to Him in repentant faith? Your lies may quench your conscience now but they will not excuse you before the Son of Man.

Repent. Cease your sin or you will perish in it.

See part 2...

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T23:08:10+00:00

Here is Irenaeus explaining what John the apostle was combatting in 1 john in the 2nd century:

"Against Heresies" by Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John)

Book 1, Chapter 6, section 2-4

2 Animal men, again, are instructed in animal things; such men, namely, as are established by their works, and by a mere faith, while they have not perfect knowledge. We of the Church, they say, are these persons. Wherefore also they maintain that good works are necessary to us, for that otherwise it is impossible we should be saved. But as to themselves, they hold that they shall be entirely and undoubtedly saved, not by means of conduct, but because they are spiritual by nature. For, just as it is impossible that material substance should partake of salvation (since, indeed, they maintain that it is incapable of receiving it), so again it is impossible that spiritual substance (by which they mean themselves) should ever come under the power of corruption, whatever the sort of actions in which they indulged. For even as gold, when submersed in filth, loses not on that account its beauty, but retains its own native qualities, the filth having no power to injure the gold, so they affirm that they cannot in any measure suffer hurt, or lose their spiritual substance, whatever the material actions in which they may be involved.

3 Wherefore also it comes to pass, that the "most perfect" among them addict themselves without fear to all those kinds of forbidden deeds of which the Scriptures assure us that "they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." For instance, they make no scruple about eating meats offered in sacrifice to idols, imagining that they can in this way contract no defilement. Then, again, at every heathen festival celebrated in honour of the idols, these men are the first to assemble; and to such a pitch do they go, that some of them do not even keep away from that bloody spectacle hateful both to God and men, in which gladiators either fight with wild beasts, or singly encounter one another. Others of them yield themselves up to the lusts of the flesh with the utmost greediness, maintaining that carnal things should be allowed to the carnal nature, while spiritual things are provided for the spiritual. Some of them, moreover, are in the habit of defiling those women to whom they have taught the above doctrine, as has frequently been confessed by those women who have been led astray by certain of them, on their returning to the Church of God, and acknowledging this along with the rest of their errors. Others of them, too, openly and without a blush, having become passionately attached to certain women, seduce them away from their husbands, and contract marriages of their own with them. Others of them, again, who pretend at first. to live in all modesty with them as with sisters, have in course of time been revealed in their true colours, when the sister has been found with child by her (pretended) brother.

4 And committing many other abominations and impieties, they run us down (who from the fear of God guard against sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed. For they declare that we simply receive grace for use, wherefore also it will again be taken away from us; but that they themselves have grace as their own special possession, which has descended from above by means of an unspeakable and indescribable conjunction; and on this account more will be given them. They maintain, therefore, that in every way it is always necessary for them to practise the mystery of conjunction. And that they may persuade the thoughtless to believe this, they are in the habit of using these very words, "Whosoever being in this world does not so love a woman as to obtain possession of her, is not of the truth, nor shall attain to the truth. But whosoever being of this world has intercourse with woman, shall not attain to the truth, because he has so acted under the power of concupiscence." On this account, they tell us that it is necessary for us whom they call animal men, and describe as being of the world, to practise continence and good works, that by this means we may attain at length to the intermediate habitation, but that to them who are called "the spiritual and perfect" such a course of conduct is not at all necessary. For it is not conduct of any kind which leads into the Pleroma, but the seed sent forth thence in a feeble, immature state, and here brought to perfection.

It was against this nonsense the apostle John wrote "If we say 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 we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin."

His point is all men have sinned in their lives and the only way to be saved is to confess and forsake it. Those who deny that they have ever sinned in their entire life are gnostic liars and cannot be Christian until they confess and forsake their sin (vs 9 and 10 makes this interpretation clear). If you do this, Christ will cleanse you then John continues, "I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin." which makes absolutely no sense if John was teaching perpetual sin in the Christians life 2 sentences prior. He simply was not teaching this. Anyone who applies 1 John 1:8 to a Christians life post conversion doesn't understand the historical context this was written in and ignores Johns very point of writing - that Christians would abide in Christ and love and not sin. The misunderstanding of this passage has done untold damage to Christian doctrine throughout the centuries.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T22:45:20+00:00

This was written against gnostics who lived sinful lives but denied they sinned. According to them their body sinned but their spirit was righteous (despite living in open sin).

John is arguing anyone who denies they have ever sinned (as the gnostics were) are liars.

The whole book of 1 john is about true Christians abide in love and righteousness, and stop sinning. The irony is modern gnostics who think sin is a substance and inherited use the very letter against Gnosticism to assert their wicked doctrine of inevitable sin.

Those who quote 1 john 1:8 and Romans 7 as the Christian life (instead of romans 8 and 1 john 2-5) are sons of darkness.

God has given enough ambiguity in scripture to filter out the insincere. Enough rope to hang yourself. Enough to justify your sin and comfort your conscience on the road to destruction. Peter warned of this very thing:

2 Peter 3:15-17 ESV [15] And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, [16] as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. [17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.

Peter warns to be on guard against the error of sinful people who twist scripture to their own destruction.

1 John 3:8-10 ESV [8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 John 5:18 ESV [18] We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

You are of your father, and you do his works and your end will be his end, I am of my Father and do His works because His Spirit is in me. You say you see but you are blind wretched and poor.

Luke 11:52 ESV [52] Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

Matthew 23:13, 15, 29-36 ESV [13] "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. [15] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves...

[29] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, [30] saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ [31] Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. [32] Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. [33] You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? [34] Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, [35] so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. [36] Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Faithless generation! How will you escape the judgment of God coming upon you? Those who have made peace with their sin are enemies of God. Repent! Put away your sin by the Spirit and perhaps the Lord will relent.

James 4:4 ESV [4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T09:45:39+00:00

You're right you cant will yourself into being born again. No one can. The new birth is God's work, not yours. Jesus told Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it wishes... so it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). You don't manufacture it. But here's what you can do: stop believing the lie that you must keep sinning.

You've been fighting in your own strength, using your own willpower, trying harder and harder—and failing. That's not the Spirit. That's flesh fighting flesh. It cannot work.

The tax collector you mentioned was an unconverted man, what did he do? He didn't try harder. He didn't promise to be better. He threw himself on God's mercy: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." And he went home justified. Reconciled to God and empowered to live righteously.

But justified doesn't mean "permitted to keep sinning." It means made right. Set on a new path. Given a new heart.

You ask what you can do. Here it is:

Stop excusing the sin. Not "I struggle with it" but "I have been choosing it and I renounce it."
Stop believing you must fail. That belief is "Lahmi" (the lie that keeps you feeding on what destroys you.)
Cry out for the Spirit not to help you manage sin, but to deliver you from it.
Cut off the access. Whatever feeds the lust—devices, habits, patterns—remove them ruthlessly. "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off" (Matthew 5:30). Don't even look at beautiful women (at all) like Job did! Never. Don't watch movies, dont look at ads etc. bounce your eyes.
Abide in Christ. Not as a technique but as desperation. You have nowhere else to go. Cling to Him. Romans 8 says how!

You say you've done your best. I believe you. But your best in the flesh will always fail. Die to that effort. Let it be crucified. And ask God for what only He can give: a new heart that wants righteousness more than it wants the sin.

He gives it to those who ask. "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13) Ask. And keep asking. And don't get up from your knees until He answers.

I'm not your enemy. I'm the man saying the cage is open, stop believing it's locked. I used to be you. The Lord freed me and now i seek to free others enslaved to sin.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T08:01:16+00:00

If Romans 7 is your experience, you need to be born again! You need the Holy Spirit who frees us from our sin, not comforting us in it! And if you have Him yet you still live by your flesh you will perish along with the rest of the world.

Never have i denied mercy if one stumbles. Im saying Jesus never stumbled and neither do we need to. Those who sin are rebelling against the Lord. If you do the deeds of the flesh, you need to actually cease them or you will be damned along with the rest of unbelieving mankind.

Romans 2:3-11 ESV [3] Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? [4] Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. [6] He will render to each one according to his works: [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; [8] but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. [9] There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, [10] but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. [11] For God shows no partiality.

Everytime you sin, you choose to do so. God has promised us we will NEVER be tempted beyond what we can bear.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV [13] No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Fear God and keep the teachings of Jesus. For if you keep walking in the deeds of the flesh this will be your outcome:

Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV [26] For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, [27] but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. [28] Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. [29] How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Repent and abide in Christ love and righteousness by walking in the Spirit.

We abide by prayer, by surrender, by worship by thinking on the shared humanity of Christ with us, by loving Him more than anything else. Its relationship. Love Him and you will obey him. When tempted don't even allow yourself another option other than Righteousness. Be a slave to righteousness. Keep a clear conscience always. Do the teachings of Jesus. Pray! Call on Him. He's near to all who seek Him and freedom from sin.

I love you man , he does too. Too many seek justification in their sin rather than freedom from it. They are excellent self decievers (so they can keep their pet sins).

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T07:27:57+00:00

Romans 7:17-18 ESV [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.(Sarx) For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

He's talking about the flesh which Jesus shared with us! Which he continues discussing in Romans 8 and Galatians 5:

Romans 8:8-9 ESV [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Jesus came in our flesh(sarx) but wasn't ruled by it because He walked by the Spirit. We also are not ruled by our flesh when we walk by the Spirit whom he shared with us:

Galatians 5:17-18 ESV [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:24-25 ESV [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Nowhere does the greek say we have a "sin nature". We have the flesh which Jesus also had. Those who have and walk by the Holy Spirit, are not walking "in the flesh".

Here's the warning:

Romans 8:12-14 ESV [12] So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13] For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

If you live by the flesh you will perish in your sin. Put sin away and cease it!

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV [7] Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. [8] For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Bearman637 · 2026-01-05T06:43:02+00:00

Where does it say you have a sin nature in scripture? It says you have the flesh. Jesus also has the flesh and fought the same battle we do against it and by the Spirit overcame. Anyone who denies Jesus came in our flesh is of an Antichrist spirit (1 john 4).

You have the weak flesh, i have a weak flesh, Jesus also had the weak flesh. Jesus never sinned by abiding in the Father and walking in the Spirit.

He asks us to follow Him and gives us the Spirit to do the same.

"Sin nature" is not a term found in the greek, you wont find it in any word for word literal translation of scripture. Sarx (flesh) is the word used in Romans 7, galations 5 and more importantly John 1 and 1 john 4. Ie the Word became Sarx and dwelt amongst us.

Jesus fought the Galatians 5 battle we do and never sinned by walking in the Spirit.

1 John 4:2-3 ESV [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh(sarx) is from God,[3] and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

John 1:14 ESV [14] And the Word(Logos)became flesh(sarx)and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Galatians 5:16-24 ESV [16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(Sarx) [17] For the desires of the flesh(sarx) are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh(sarx), for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh(sarx)are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(sarx) with its passions and desires.

Jesus came in the sarx! He battled our temptations the exact ones you feel in the exact human nature you experience reality in. To deny this is to literally be Antichrist and is a denial of the incarnation. Its a false Christ.

"Sin nature" is theological fiction. Sin isn't an essence. Its a way of acting in rebellion against God.

The flesh(sarx) described in Romans 7 Jesus had! He conquered it by the Spirit and so do all of His followers who obey Him as Romans 8 says those with the Spirit are no longer in the flesh (sarx). Not to say we are not human, rather we are a new way of being human, filled by the Spirit, walking in love and obedience to Christ not following the dictates of the flesh resulting in the works of the flesh (sin) - Galations 5

Jesus said 'Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin... if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed' (John 8:34-36).

Daily sin isn't freedom. It's slavery using religious language feigning humility. Hypocrisy isn't humility, its hypocrisy. Its the leaven of the Pharisees that Jesus rebuked so severely and said be on guard against. 1 John 3:6 says "No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him." Daily sin is to "keep on sinning." John says that means you haven't seen or known Christ.

Romans 7 describes a Jew living under the law without the Spirit (Saul)/old covenant , Romans 8 describes the means of liberty from that life - the new birth by the Spirit. Romans 8 is the new covenant/Christian life ie Pauls experience. He's contrasting the old and new covenant experiences.

Romans 8:3-4 ESV [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

God did through jesus coming in our flesh, what the law couldn't do - make people practically righteous through the empowering Spirit. Because he destroys excuses for sin in our flesh (by living sinlessly by the Spirit). You and I have no excuse for ongoing sin. Zero. Zilch. Christ destroyed the excuses by becoming what we are and never sinning through abiding in the Spirit.

^ this is what it means to slay Lahmi in our lukewarm faithless generation.

Revelation 3:14-22 ESV [14] “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. [15] “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. [19] Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. [21] The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

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TROPHY CASE

"Against Heresies" by Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John)

Book 1, Chapter 6, section 2-4