Look at the quote you provided, with the rest of the paragraph included:
This is talking about the "true follower of Christ." And this person needs "continual repentance."

What do you think he is repenting of? Is he repenting of willful sins? Purposeful sins? Or is he repenting of things that are not sins at all?

Here's my answer:
The true follower of Jesus, the one who has a deep-seated love for Him, continually repents because of his own sinfulness and moral deformity. Surely, such a one does not sin willfully. I would even say that such a one does not sin outwardly, since Saul the Pharisee managed to do that without the benefit of Christ's grace. Nevertheless, he repents.

Therefore, I disagree with your sentiment that so long as we can prevent sins from resurfacing, all is OK. The fact is the true Christian, who does not sin (1Jn 3:9), lives in continual repentance for the sin in him (1Jn 1:8).


M.L. Andreasen disagrees. Here's an excerpt from the chapter "The Last Generation" in The Sanctuary Service:


The SOP above tells us that the true Christian lives in continual repentance. Here's another one:
Can we be without sin? Not according to the SOP:

If this was the case, human beings wouldn't be able to commit the sin against the Holy Spirit, the unpardonable sin, would they?

Thank you for clarifying what you believe.


Again, thank you for clarifying what you believe.


I hear you saying that initially the “most obvious” sinful traits and habits are confessed and crucified. Do you think these things cease being defects, weaknesses, imperfections? And, do you think they cease being sources of temptations?

I also hear you saying that after their initial victory the Holy Spirit gradually, over the course of a lifetime, makes them aware of more subtle traits and habits, which they confess and crucify either easily or with difficulty. Do you think these things cease being defects, weaknesses, imperfections? And, do you think they cease being sources of temptations?


It depends on if they complete the process of converting to obeying and observing everything Jesus commanded. If they have, then I believe it is possible for them to abide in Jesus, walk in the Spirit and mind of the new man, partake of the divine nature and thereby “sin no more.” Again, it doesn’t mean they lose the ability or freedom to sin if they so please.


I agree.


I agree repentance deepens, not because they continue to sin, but because, as you say, they sense more deeply the hideous nature of the sins Jesus has forgiven.


I agree. But what do you think constitutes an unknown sin? Above you seem to be implying it is unknown because the Holy Spirit has not yet made them aware of it. What particular kinds of sins do you think fall into this category (besides things people do because they haven’t read about it in the Bible, i.e. Sabbath-keeping, diet and dress, etc).

Arnold, I didn't realize you believe this way. Thank you for clarifying what you believe.

PS - Arnold, I can't help but believing I have misunderstood you. Are you saying "whosoever abideth in him sinneth not . . . 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" must be taken to mean they continue to sin therefore they continue to repent?

Our faith, righteousness and holiness is always laced with sin. Even our prayers,

Quote:


If all our righteousness isn't laced with sin, and we stop ALL sinning in our lives at conversion, why would we still need Christ to cover our "religious services, the prayers, the praise" with His merits to make it acceptable?

Why are true believers still engaging in
"penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers"

These are true believers --
Are you saying true believers are not converted?

D: I don't believe there is ever a time when we can say "I've arrived, I no longer sin".

MM: Thank you for clarifying what you believe.

[quote]Neither Joseph, Daniel, nor any of the apostles claimed to be without sin. Men who have lived nearest to God,
men who would sacrifice life itself rather than to knowingly sin against Him, men whom God has honored with divine light and power, have acknowledged themselves to be sinners, unworthy of His great favors. They have felt their weakness and, sorrowful for their sins, have tried to copy the pattern Jesus Christ {FW 43.4}

MM: I hear you saying that initially the “most obvious” sinful traits and habits are confessed and crucified. Do you think these things cease being defects, weaknesses, imperfections? And, do you think they cease being sources of temptations?

When a person first accepts Christ and becomes a member they stop working on the Sabbath and start going to church, they stop smoking, drinking, eating unclean meats etc. They start paying tithe --

In other words they give up the "culture of the world" and start living the "culture of Adventism". And yes, for many they find the culture of Adventism pleasant and don't feel any desire to go back to the culture of the world.

They have "conformed" their lives to the outward requirnments established by the church (and supported by scripture). They have done so in all sincerity as they have accepted Christ.

But they are just beginning the walk! They have much character change still ahead.
These things are "outward"
the Holy Spirit has to do a lot of "inner" work , or even these initial outward reforms done in the flush of "first love" for Christ, will gradually become meaningless. Indeed they may become stumbling blocks in further advancment as people THINK they are now within God's will.

True love for one's God, and one's neighbors -- that is the goal.

Hate, envy, pride, bitterness, evil surmising, lusting, unforgiving spirit, vengeful thoughts, selfishness, stinginess, greed, dishonesty ( and the list is much longer) are also sin.

Then there are all the sins of OMISSION, it's not just the sins of commission.

Even Sabbath keeping --
Just because one doesn't work and goes to church is no guarantee that the person is "keeping the Sabbath holy unto the Lord"

Sin isn't that simple --
One may think they have the victory over one sin (one way that sin expresses itself in the life) only to find the SAME sin popping up in a totally new expression when the old way of expressing it is squashed. What they thought was victory, was merely a transferance .









MM:I also hear you saying that after their initial victory the Holy Spirit gradually, over the course of a lifetime, makes them aware of more subtle traits and habits, which they confess and crucify either easily or with difficulty. Do you think these things cease being defects, weaknesses, imperfections? And, do you think they cease being sources of temptations?

God doesn't hit us over the head all at once with all the sins we have to overcome, but leads us gradually.

And yes, even once a sin is put down, without constantly abiding in Christ it can pop up again!
Indeed that is one of the greatest dangers of believing that once we are converted we no longer can sin -- because people's greatest sin is thinking they are strong enough to stand, not realizing that their dependance upon their "renewed self" is causing them to sink in the quick sand of sin. Oh, it might not be the "worldly sins" but sins of pride, intolerance, selfishness etc.etc.

But doesn't 1 John 3 tell us a born again Christ can not sin?

"Everyone that has been born from God does not go on doing sin because his seed remains in him; and he is not able to go on sinning because he has been born from God." 3:5

A person born from God does not continue on in their life of sin. He keeps purifying himself or sweeping out sin.
His seed (the Word of God [see 1:10, 2:24]) which is truth and the commands of God, abides in Him. Hebrews, quoting from Jeremiah, states it is written upon mind and heart.

Thus now -- the person seeks God's will, and no longer continues doing sin.
He may not be perfect (as in no more sin in him) -- but his focus is on Christ, His Word, and for him the life of sin is no longer an option, it's impossible for him to continue in the life of sin.

Conversion -- about face
Through the grace and power of Christ we get off the road of sin leading to death, and onto the road of righteousness.
This doesn't mean we've already arrived (sinless) but our life is turned around, now we are focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and we run with patience, casting off the sins that so easily beset us.

Rosangela,

Do you think that people commit the unpardonable sin because there is a sin so great that God will not pardon it? or is it because they do not ask forgiveness, having seared their consciences? If it is because of the latter, do they not ask because of a full knowledge of God and His character, or are they in ignorance of this and of the full ramifications of their choice?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.