Hi,

this topic is widely discussed among many Christians, and I am not to start a big discussion here. Just some thoughts on two Bible passages from Romans and 1John:

As I found from the Scripture I think we are not longer under the law of sin (Rom 8:2), i.e. it is not a "must" to the believer as it is to an unbeliever. By our *status* we are ones who are cleansed from sin (XIao quoted many of these verses), but in our *practical life* we still do commit sins though we do not really want to (see Rom 7:17+20). Rom 7 shows us that we are not free from the indwelling sin. Paul describes a man who is fighting against it - but cannot beat it, for he is not perfect (as Christ was).

1Jo 1:8+9: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." All passages from 1John must be understood in the sense of 1Jo 2:1 "These things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" - we still do sin, but God is grieved about it (and we should also be any time we recognize that we have done so). He will forgive, which does not mean we can sin as we like for he will fix it anyway! We strife to commit no sin, but as we all know, we will not be perfect.

We do not have any promise that we will never sin again - sin is still there (even in us, our old nature), and we have to deal with it. Instead we have the promises that there is no condemnation for those who believe in Him (Rom 8:1; Jo 10:28), that we will bring fruit if we abide in Him (Jo 15), and many others.

Blessings,
~ Little Tree ~