My point was that because the Holy Spirit is actually doing something, which is to constantly calls one's attention to Christ, in order to disconnect, one must resist the Holy Spirit, which is sin. So one cannot disconnect without sinning. That doesn't make sense to me.

Here's a problem with this idea. Who's responsible for our maintaining a connection with Christ? Under your view, we are, right? I suppose we do this by prayer, Bible study, etc. So this is a work that we do. So as long as we do this work, we are OK. So our abiding in Christ is dependent upon our works, which sounds like righteousness by works.

What I believe is that the Holy Spirit is constantly seeking to draw our attention to Christ, and our choice is either to His work, which is a faith response, or to choose to resist, which is unbelief. There are only two choices: faith (which keeps the connection) or unbelief (which is sin). ("Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin").

To make God's grace our own, we must act our part. The Lord does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be aroused to cooperate. The Holy Spirit works in us, that we may work out our own salvation. . . . Fine mental qualities and a high tone of moral character are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. The openings of Providence must be quickly discerned and eagerly entered. There are many who might become mighty men, if, like Daniel, they would depend upon God for grace to be overcomers, and for strength and efficiency to do their work. {AG 111.3}

It is necessary to maintain a living connection with heaven, seeking as often as did Daniel--three times a day--for divine grace to resist appetite and passion. Wrestling with appetite and passion unaided by divine power will be unsuccessful; but make Christ your stronghold, and the language of your soul will be, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). Said the apostle Paul, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27). {AG 111.4}

Let no one think he can overcome without the help of God. You must have the energy, the strength, the power, of an inner life developed within you. You will then bear fruit unto godliness, and will have an intense loathing of vice. You need to constantly strive to work away from earthliness, from cheap conversation, from everything sensual, and aim for nobility of soul and a pure and unspotted character. Your name may be kept so pure that it cannot justly be connected with anything dishonest or unrighteous, but will be respected by all the good and pure, and it may be written in the Lamb's book of life, to be immortalized among the holy angels. {AG 111.5}

Man, in the work of saving of the soul, is wholly dependent upon God. He cannot of himself move one step toward Christ unless the Spirit of God draws him, and this drawing is ever, and will continue until man grieves the Holy Ghost by his persistent refusal. . . . {HP 27.2}

The Spirit is constantly showing to the soul glimpses of the things of God, and then a divine presence seems to hover near, and if the mind responds, if the door of the heart is opened, Jesus abides with the human agent. . . . {HP 27.3}

The Spirit of God does not propose to do our part, either in the willing or the doing. . . . As soon as we incline our will to harmonize with God's will, the grace of Christ stands ready to cooperate with the human agent; but it will not be the substitute to do our work independent of our resolving and decidedly acting. Therefore it is not the abundance of light, and evidence piled upon evidence, that will convert the soul. It is only the human agent accepting the light, arousing the energies of the will, realizing and acknowledging that which he knows is righteousness and truth, and thus cooperating with the heavenly ministrations appointed of God in the saving of the soul. {HP 27.4}

I do not believe it is a sin to unwittingly neglect to abide in Jesus. If they deliberately choose not to abide in Jesus they will simultaneously commit a sin. But it is impossible to sin while abiding in Jesus.

M: I do not believe it is a sin to unwittingly neglect to abide in Jesus. If they deliberately choose not to abide in Jesus they will simultaneously commit a sin. But it is impossible to sin while abiding in Jesus.

T: This is obviously false. Say a person is abiding in Jesus. If what you were asserting were true, it would be impossible for this person to deliberately choose not to continue to abide in Jesus, sin doing so would be sin, and a person can't sin. Also, if one is abiding in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is constantly and actively speaking to that person, so that the person has to resist the Holy Spirit to discontinue abiding in Jesus, that would be a sin, wouldn't it? That is, isn't it a sin to resist the Holy Spirit?

Eve had overstated the words of God's command. He had said to Adam and Eve, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." In Eve's controversy with the serpent, she added "Neither shall ye touch it." Here the subtlety of the serpent appeared. This statement of Eve gave him advantage; he plucked the fruit and placed it in her hand, using her own words, He hath said, If ye touch it, ye shall die. You see no harm comes to you from touching the fruit, neither will you receive any harm by eating it. {Con 14.2}

T: This is obviously false. Say a person is abiding in Jesus. If what you were asserting were true, it would be impossible for this person to deliberately choose not to continue to abide in Jesus, sin doing so would be sin, and a person can't sin. Also, if one is abiding in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is constantly and actively speaking to that person, so that the person has to resist the Holy Spirit to discontinue abiding in Jesus, that would be a sin, wouldn't it? That is, isn't it a sin to resist the Holy Spirit?

M:Let's consider Eve. At what point was she guilty of sinning? When she unwittingly left Adam's side? When she realized she was alone and did not immediately return to Adam's side? When she continued dialoging with the serpent even though she was alarmed? When she added to God's prohibition (see quote below)? When she received the forbidden fruit? Or, when she actually ate it?

Tom, I don't believe it is a sin to deliberately choose not to abide in Jesus. What I believe is sinning follows this choice so closely that it appears to be simultaneous, but in reality they are two separate steps. The sequential relationship between faith and works is similar.

T: As I pointed out, the Holy Spirit is constantly seeking to draw our attention to Christ (AA 52). Therefore to "disconnect" one must resist the Holy Spirit. Resiting the Holy Spirit is sin. Please note, I didn't write that "unconsciously, unwittingly neglecting to abide in Jesus is a sin," but that resisting the Holy Spirit is sin.

M:...By the way, I agree with you that consciously, deliberately resisting the wooing influence of the Holy Spirit is a sin. But I do not believe this happens while people are actively, aggressively abiding in Jesus.

As with Eve, it is not a sin to unconsciously neglect to abide in Jesus,

but it certainly results in sinning. Although Eve took many fatal missteps, she did not actually commit a sin until the instant she bit into the forbidden fruit.

Do you see that "sinful nature" is different than "sinful flesh"?