This is a subject that separates many churches and even Christians within the same denomination. One's salvation can be at stake if he/she does not understand this subject well. Along with the subject thread here are four questions to tag with the subject:
1. Does God expect Christians to live a sinless life?
2. Does God expect Christians to live holy?
3. Does Jesus Christ expect a sinner to go on sinning until death?
4. Can a born again person live a sinless life?
John answers these questions with two very different passages. At 1 John 1:6-7. and 3"6 we see that as born anew believers we are sinless, because all our sins, past, present and future have been taken out of the way. However, take a look at 1 John 1:8, which says we all sin. So how do we fit these two ideas into a coherent message?
From God's perspective, even though we think and do sinful stuff, we remain perfect and holy and blameless. However, we as individuals know (especially with the conviction of our indwelt Holy Spirit) that we sin. So we are to strive, to pick up our cross daily, and do our dead level bast to live like Christ - sinlessly.