Before DHK closed a thread he said: “I will say this:
Jesus never commanded anyone to be sinless and didn't expect anyone to attain such until we reach heaven.”
That sounds twisted and deceitful to me.
To you perhaps. But what does God really intend for the believer?
He commands us to daily:
If we confess our sins he is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
--The verse would not be in the Bible if we did not have sins in the Bible.
This is something every believer should be doing on a daily basis. However there are some that think they don't have sins to confess. John has something to say about these people also. This is what he says:
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
--Right before and after the verse quoted above (1John 1:9), John says that if you claim you do not sin, this is what you are saying:
1. You deceive yourself.
2. The truth is not in you.
3. You make Christ a liar.
4. The Word is not in you.
The person who claims that he is sinless stands on the brink of heresy.
We are told for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.” See 1 Peter 1:16.
The word "holy" is "agaios," meaning "separated" or "set apart." It has no such meaning as sinless.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Holiness does not mean sinlessness. It means set apart, as in set apart from the world, and set apart for God's service.
1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
But it doesn't say to be sinless. We all have sinful desires. We need to abstain from them. That doesn't guarantee anyone a sinless life.
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
The verbs here are in the present continuous tense indicating a lifestyle. For example one may commit the sin of adultery (we hope that doesn't happen). But if one continues in a lifestyle of adultery, then we would conclude that that person is probably not born again.
1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
See explanation given above.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “the Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
Turning away from wickedness does not guarantee sinlessness.
We do not have to be done with sin you say. I will believe God’s Word and not you.
We live in a sinful world. We see sin every day; it is all around us. We are confronted with it on a daily basis. If you believe you are sinless you stand on heresy.
Which are you? A sinner that sins? Or a heretic according to 1John 1:10?
Those are the only two options.