An answer to the sinless day

Wow... that's pretty harsh.

I've said that I'm not sure if I have gone 24 hours, but I have gone for at least several hours when I was deeply involved in ministry work.

I can't speak for him, but pride was the last thing on my mind. I was concerned with the needs of others and following the leading of God.

Let's go back to the real issue. Did Jesus teach that it was possible to have victory over sin and live in a way that pleased God. Did He ask us to "go sin no more" (or was that only for that one woman caught in adultery)?

If Jesus taught that it is possible, then you have no basis to condemn other who report that the words of Jesus are faithful.

 

Are you sure? Not even the least sin of omission? There was nothing you could have done that you didn't do?

Are you sure? Are you 100% certain that 100% of your motivation was selfless? Is it even remotely possible that a fraction of a percent had to do with self-gratification or pride? Being human and not God, can you say with 100% certainty that there wasn't even the tiniest element of "being proud of being humble" in there?

I get the point of the power in Christ, but I'm amazed that anyone would be so certain they were sinless for any period of time whatsoever. I don't know 100% of my motivation for doing anything at any given time, so I would never be so arrogant as to claim I know it is purely out of the right passion, loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Sorry, but I simply can't make a statement like that. I'm not qualified. Only God knows my heart through and through, which is why the psalmist asks God to search his heart.

 

That's a strange way to look at things. I was being led by the Spirit... why should I do things the Spirit did not lead me to do? To do so would be sin. As I pointed out before, even Jesus did not heal everyone or "fix" everyone's problem. Why do we think we have to do everything? Let the Master assign your work to you, don't assume you have to do everything.

I realize that these questions are posed to make me look incredibly arrogant and in denial if I disagree with your point of view... However, when you are led by the Spirit, you don't think in terms of self-promotion or pride. Certainly there is great pleasure ("gratification") and a sense of accomplishment ("pride?") in working with God to help people and set them free, but it doesn't fall under the category of sin.

Why won't anyone answer the question regarding what Jesus taught about the subject? If things are as you say, why can't anyone show me scripture that says a believer, walking in the power of the Spirit, is actually caught in sin?

Certain? Well, when I am ministering in the Spirit, I don't have time for endless self-analysis. I don't worry about doing wrong, I concern myself with doing right. And frankly, once you busy yourself doing the work of God, you'll notice that you don't have as much time for or inclination toward sin. Doing the work of God is transformative in nature.

So why do you obsess about it if you can't figure it out! Why don't you get busy being a disciple (one who learns by doing alongside) of Jesus?

There seems to be a lot of "humility" around here that is actually rooted in false teaching. Does the New Testament teach that we can be victorious over sin or not?

You're right, you're not qualified. Neither am I. So why are you searching your heart for sin that may or may not be there? Let God be God! Stop obsessing about potential sin in your life and get to following Jesus. Let the Spirit convict you of sin, not guilt feelings put onto you by other believers who are not interested in helping you become like Christ.

 

How do you know everything you were doing was because you were being led by the Spirit? How do you know the Spirit wasn't trying to lead you to do one other thing, or one more thing, but you weren't listening?

You don't know. Claim that you do all you want. God will correct you.

 

I see from this thread that some folks have a theology that does not exclude boasting. Shame, shame!

 

Offensive attack on my brother, His Blood Spoke My Name. Just because Dale does not believe Christ is able to keep one from sinning for any length of time does not give him right to attack as he has... nor anyone else!

 

Just curious as to why 24-hours is the magical time period here. When's the last time anyone went a week wthout sinning? How about a month, six-months, a year? Are these time frames equally as possible? By some accounts they should be.

 

This is an interesting read on sinlessness (odd looking word isn't it?)

http://www.bcbsr.com/topics/sinless.html

It deals with John Wesley and Finney and some charasmatic theology. Yesterday I came across a really good transcript of a sermon, but didn't bookmark it. Now I can't locate it! *sigh*

This link is from the Boston Christian Resources group. I don't know anything about them. BUT they aren't the only ones to tell about John Wesley and his belief in a sinless state, PCA (a site I do read) also has a page about this very topic http://www.mbrem.com/life/dab-wesl.htm .

 

Thank you.

 

You have always been a great blessing to this board, Doc.

 

Interesting stuff! A lot of this is new to me, so thanks for the links. The second link reads just like the threads.

 

Not sure if the Baptist Only remark was toward me, but my pastor will tell you we are Baptist. My wife will tell you the same.

My mother may grumble when she tells you I am baptist, as she is not... she is Pentecostal down to the last wagging tongue and getting up off of the floor.

 

Does that explain the Wesleyan influence?

 

I thought so. I didn't know anything about this area of Wesleyan theology. It has certainly surprised me!

AND I did notice the similarity in that second link. :tongue3: