So everybody who has been born again does not/cannot sin, and the fact that Moses sinned, Paul sinned, Peter sinned, John sinned, Ellen White sinned means they hadn't been born again?

Elle, there is no word "habitually" in the text. The word is necessary for the translation to convey correctly the meaning of the Greek tense.

Robertson on 1 John 3:9:

Did you read me saying they were not born again? I said Moses had stood on the Holy Ground in the presence of God, and David Had been anointed by the Holy Spirit, what in this did you not understand?

They left the shelter of their covering after the event of discovery, after their baptism in the Spirit when they had seen God, making their sins more grievous. God still forgave them; showing to what extent God can and will forgive, and how perfectly dependent on God we are to receive salvation. In fact the Elders of all the tribes of which the gates to God's capital are named, were all at one time terrible sinners.

The more you know, the more accountable you become to do what is right before Him.

It's interesting that you included Ellen White in the sin category, when I cannot come up with any references to that fact in history except when she was holding back in giving the messages given to her by God, showing a lack of faith for the first few visions. She was shown that the blood of those who would perish from her withholding of the Spirit would be upon her head.

The others are recorded for their sins in the history of scripture for a lesson.

It's very interesting that the majority of the cases in scripture, of men of God leaving God's service, were over a woman.

Look at what Mrs White says about being unequally yoked.

"To connect with an unbeliever is to place yourself on Satan’s ground. You grieve the Spirit of God and forfeit His protection. Can you afford to have such terrible odds against you in fighting the battle for everlasting life?" 12 {AH 67.1}

But we can also grieve away the Holy Spirit by indulging carnal passions...

"You should present encouragements before your children that a merciful God will accept true heart repentance, and will bless their endeavors to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. As Satan sees that he is losing control over the minds of your children, he will strongly tempt them, and seek to bind them to continue to practice this bewitching vice. But with a firm purpose they must resist Satan’s temptations to indulge the animal passions, because it is sin against God. They should not venture on forbidden ground, where Satan can claim control over them. If they in humility entreat God for purity of thought, and a refined and sanctified imagination, he will hear them, and grant their petitions. God has not left them to perish in their sins, but will help the weak and helpless, if they cast themselves in faith upon him." {ApM 22.2}

"We must keep close to the word of God. We need its warnings and encouragement, its threatenings and promises. We need the perfect example given only in the life and character of our Saviour. Angels of God will preserve his people while they walk in the path of duty; but there is no assurance of such protection for those who deliberately venture upon Satan’s ground. An agent of the great deceiver will say and do anything to gain his object... Pretending great interest in their welfare, he casts a spell over his unsuspecting victims, charming them as the serpent charms the trembling bird. Soon they are completely in his power, and sin, disgrace, and ruin are the terrible sequel." {CTBH 115.3}

Proverbs 24;16 for the righteous man falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

Amen. But where in the Bible does it say so? Please post five passages you believe say so. Thank you.


Amen. I agree with you that newborn believers do not sin while they are consciously, actively, aggressively choosing to abide in Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.

What is the difference between Christians "shall fail often" and they "do not habitually sin"?


Are we supposed to interpret these words to mean newborn believers sin often?

Born-again believers do not forfeit the ability or freedom to sin. It's just that they do not and cannot commit a known sin while they are consciously, actively, aggressively choosing to abide in Jesus and partake of the divine nature. To commit a known sin, therefore, they must first neglect or refuse to abide in Jesus. We are not free to sin until we are free from sin.

Does the growth, learning, and abiding more and more in Jesus that you speak of mean sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting over and over again? Or, does it mean "perfecting holiness"?

1Jo 3:9 Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

What in this did you not understand?


It grieves me that I have said or written anything to grieve you. Forgive me and I will be cautious not to start any subject to annoy and distress you. We are living in a most solemn time and we cannot afford to have in our old age [ELLEN WHITE WAS 48 YEARS OF AGE AND HER HUSBAND WAS 54 WHEN THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN.] differences to separate our feelings. I may not view all things as you do, but I do not think it would be my place or duty to try to make you see as I see and feel as I feel. Wherein I have done this, I am sorry. {DG 272.4}
I want a humble heart, a meek and quiet spirit. Wherein my feelings have been permitted to arise in any instance, it was wrong. Jesus has said, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29. {DG 272.5}
I wish that self should be hid in Jesus. I wish self to be crucified. I do not claim infallibility, or even perfection of Christian character. I am not free from mistakes and errors in my life. Had I followed my Saviour more closely, I should not have to mourn so much my unlikeness to His dear image. {DG 272.6}