Mike, I don't think you are right to suppose that we can be instantly sin free simply by abiding in Jesus. That is an overly simplistic view that breaks down in light of other balancing passages and context.


Note that in the above passage, I have underlined the "in progress" or "continuing" verb participles. They indicate that it is a process, not an instantaneous sanctification. God may justify us to see us as if we had never sinned the moment we accept Him, but this does not in that same instant sanctify us completely, removing all of our sins. Mrs. White tells us the work of sanctification is the work of a lifetime.

Let us look at an example. Suppose we recognize that Martin Luther had an abiding faith in Christ. Did he no longer sin? What about the Sabbath? Was he a Sabbath-breaker still? Yes, he was. He was ignorant, but breaking the Sabbath is still a sin, is it not? This is at least one sense in which one can be "abiding in Jesus" and yet sinning. There may be other senses. But it is certainly true that we may be sinning unawares.

John
3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Galatians
5:16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Matthew
28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 Peter
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious.

1 Peter
4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Corinthians
7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1 John
3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:9 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.

One ray of the glory of God, one gleam of the purity of Christ, penetrating the soul, makes every spot of defilement painfully distinct, and lays bare the deformity and defects of the human character. It makes apparent the unhallowed desires, the infidelity of the heart, the impurity of the lips. The sinner's acts of disloyalty in making void the law of God, are exposed to his sight, and his spirit is stricken and afflicted under the searching influence of the Spirit of God. He loathes himself as he views the pure, spotless character of Christ. {SC 29.1}

The life of the vine will be manifest in fragrant fruit on the branches. "He that abideth in Me," said Jesus, "and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing. {DA 676.4}

God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perfection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing. We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. {COL 330.2}

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Through obedience comes sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. This sanctification is a progressive work, and an advance from one stage of perfection to another. {ML 250.4}

1. Does the Bible say post-conversion sinning and repenting is natural, automatic, inevitable, unavoidable? Does it say unbroken, continuous, uninterrupted obedience is impossible? Paul wrote, "If any man sin". He didn't write, "When people sin," or "People will sin."

2. That is the point. Maturing daily in the fruits of the Spirit is a reality for people who abide in Jesus and partake of the divine nature.

3. Again, the fruits of the Spirit do not add to or subtract from what Jesus accomplishes for us. Our salvation is based solely on what Jesus does for us - not on what He does in and through us.

M: Does the Bible say post-conversion sinning and repenting is natural, automatic, inevitable, unavoidable? Does it say unbroken, continuous, uninterrupted obedience is impossible? Paul wrote, "If any man sin". He didn't write, "When people sin," or "People will sin."

J: No one can claim they live perfectly sinless ever since the day they were reborn.

1 John 1:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

What does these verses indicate?

Post-conversion sinning/repenting does, unfortunately, happen. However, it does not disprove what the Bible says about believers abiding in Jesus, namely, "whosoever abideth in him sinneth not."

The fear of the Lord dwelt in the heart of Luther, enabling him to maintain his steadfastness of purpose, and leading him to deep humility before God. He had an abiding sense of his dependence upon divine aid, and he did not fail to begin each day with prayer, while his heart was continually breathing a petition for guidance and support. “To pray well,” he often said, “is the better half of study.” {GC88 122.1}

Going back to Luther, by your words here, Luther never in his life abode in Jesus. This is because he was always a Sabbath breaker. But Ellen White practically states that Luther did indeed abide in Christ, or Christ in him.



How do you, then, rectify your position with these things?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.