Avalee,

Who is the author of this quote that you posted here?

The gospel saves from sin in this present age. I hope this is a surprise to no one. It is very good news indeed!

Amen Larry is it good news indeed. What a peace we have when we allow God to work in us to perfect our character into the likeness of Jesus' Character. Yes, this is good news indeed. God leaves no one in the dark about what it takes to have eternal life. Amen

Truth! We may in this lifetime reach the condition of sinlessness which Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden before their Fall. But when? the moment we are born again or after years of overcoming so-called unknown defective traits of character?

It's important to remember that Adam and Eve were no more than mere newborn babes in Christ when they fell. Which is exactly what we are the instant we're born again. Which is also how Jesus began as a human. I believe we begin at the instant of rebirth in the same condition of sinlessness Adam and Eve and Jesus began at birth.

1 Peter
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
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.

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.

1 John
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
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.

[ August 05, 2003, 04:28 PM: Message edited by: Mike Lowe ]

When will this state of sinlessness be reached?

S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 6----CT- Ephesians
-PG- 27 (John 14:15). Reaching the Condition of Sinlessness. --Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God's commandments will reach
the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all His precepts (MS 22, 1901).

In Heavenly Places-- Freedom Through Christ
-PG- 146

Those who believe on Christ and obey His commandments are not under bondage to God's law; for to those who believe and obey, His law is not a law of bondage, but of liberty. Everyone who believes on Christ, everyone who relies on the keeping power of a risen Saviour that has suffered the penalty pronounced upon the transgressor, everyone who resists temptation and in the midst of evil copies the pattern
given in the Christ life, will through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. Everyone who by faith obeys God's commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in
which Adam lived before his transgression.

Selected Messages Book 1- Tempted in All Points Like as We Are -PG- 256

Sinlessness of Christ's Human Nature

In taking upon Himself man's nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Matt. 8:17). He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all
points tempted like as we are. And yet He knew no sin. He was the Lamb "without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Could Satan in the least particular have tempted Christ to sin, he would have bruised the Saviour's head. As it was, he could only touch His heel. Had the
head of Christ been touched, the hope of the human race would have perished. Divine wrath would have come upon Christ as it came upon Adam. Christ and the church would have been without hope.