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- Objections to holiness
- Scriptural Objections to holiness
- Old Testament objections
- New Testament objections
- Paul not a sinner
- 1 John 1:8 no cloak for sin
- Some misunderstand definition of sin
- How sin is imputed
OBJECTIONS TO HOLINESS
Now in view of all the scriptures that teach
Christians are commanded not to sin and that
Christians do not sin, you cannot sin and still remain
Christian: why do we have those who deny holy, sinless
living? Well, these are many reason. Some
misunderstand the true bible definition of sin and how
it is imputed, others misinterpret various scriptures,
and of course some do not want to live holy, yet want
to be considered Christian. Another reason, perhaps
the biggest reason is because we see so little holy
living displayed in our present day. Since what is
called Christianity contains so many who believe
salvation lies in baptism, communion, or various
rites, we have many deceived into thinking themselves
Christian who have never been truly saved. Those who
have not been born again, of course, are unable to
live a sinless life. Then we have numerous religious
organization that may teach the correct necessary
conditions to receive salvation but still deny holy
living for Christians. If one is taught that
"everyone sins" no doubt before long he does
actually sin, thereby losing his experience, assuming
he had one. We realize these maybe shocking statements
to you but....HOLINESS IS WHAT THE BIBLE IS ALL
ABOUT. The true situation we face today is that
the majority of religious organizations deny this most
essential Bible truth. We remind you as does Paul in
Heb 12:14--Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord.
SCRIPTURAL
OBJECTIONS TO HOLINESS
We will now briefly consider
scriptural objections to holiness, for there are some
scriptures that appear to teach sinless living impossible.
The Bible, however, is not contradictory, but is found to
harmonize with itself when correctly understood.
OLD TESTAMENT
OBJECTIONS
Old Testament scriptures like 1
Kings 8:46--for there is no man that sinneth not...or Ecc
7:20..For there is not a just man that doeth good and
sinneth not: are simply teaching the fact of universal
fall and depravity of the whole human race. Keep in mind
that these scriptures were written in Solomon's time
hundred of years before Christ came to.....save His people
from their sins. (Matt 1:21) People living before Christ
were not "born again" but were accepted by God
on the grounds of living to the amount of light they had.
NEW TESTAMENT
OBJECTIONS
New Testament scriptures like Rom
3:10--As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one; also refer to those who have not been born again. He
says in V10,--As it is written-- and is referring to
Psalms 5:8-12 and Psa 14:1-4. In these Psalms we find the
very thing he quotes in Rom 3:9-18. These apply only to
the wicked, to those who do not seek God, but foolishly
say in their hearts...There is no God. But in both places
we find another class spoken of, a class who "put
their trust in God", "love His name", and
who are termed "the righteous" and "my
people". The context of Romans the third chapter
clearly shows this is not a description of the Christian.
Paul is teaching the universal need of salvation. Also in
the New Testament are Jesus words in Matt 19:17...there is
none good but one.. that is God...In these scriptures
Jesus is teaching the rich young ruler that no one is good
within and of himself, except God. Whatever goodness God's
creatures possess is derived from God as He is the source
of all goodness. Granted, if the righteous were to lose
God out of their hearts, there would be nothing good left
in them. But....as God hath said, I will dwell in them:
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people(2 Cor
6:16). The Bible also teaches that Joseph was a "good
man" in Luke 23:50 and Barnabas was a "good
man" in Acts 11:24. Then Jesus also taught in Luke
6:45, A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of
the evil treasure in his heart bringeth forth that which
is evil..
PAUL NOT A
SINNER
The seventh chapter of Romans is
often used by those who oppose holiness; however, in this
chapter Paul is describing his sinful experience while he
was under the law, seeking righteousness. He goes on in
the next chapter to tell of his life as a Christian and in
verse two of the eight chapter says, He....hath made me
free from the law of sin and death. Paul also testifies
that he lived holy and justly in 1 Thess 2:10.--Ye are
witnesses, and God also how holily and justly and
unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.
1 Jn 1:8 NO
CLOAK FOR SIN
The favorite verse of the
holiness fighters is 1 Jn 1:8 which reads, If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. To get the proper context, read a few verses
preceeding and few following this verse and it is clear
that the man who deceive himself is the man who thinks he
needs no cleansing, and not the man who has been cleansed
from all sin. Verse 6 teaches that we cannot have
fellowship with God and at the same time walk in darkness,
meaning sin. Verse seven looks at the other side and
teaches that the one who walks in the light does have
fellowship with Him, also the blood of Jesus cleanseth
such ones from all sin. The same writer goes on to
admonish in the first verse of the next chapter to....sin
not.
SOME
MISUNDERSTAND DEFINITION OF SIN
Some deny holiness through
misunderstanding the true definition of sin and how it is
imputed. As we said earlier, sin stated in one word is
disobedience. John tells of sin by commission in 1 Jn
3:4...sin is a transgression of the law. James gives the
sin of omission in James 4:17 when he says...Therefore to
him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it
is sin. In either case disobedience is a known act, a
willful transgression.
HOW SIN IS
IMPUTED
Sin is imputed according to our
knowledge and motive. Willful ignorance is not excusable
of course, but God is just, therefore our responsibility
is limited to our degree of enlightment. John 9:41 says If
ye were blind (spiritually) ye should have no sin....Rom
5:13 says....but sin is not imputed where there is no law.
Sin is a heart act, a deed done with good intent and from
a pure heart is not imputed as sin. (Titus 1:15) Then on
the other hand, evil intent makes a deed evil. Rom
14:14....to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to
him it is unclean. Mistakes and temptation are not sin. So
we say again sin is imputed to us or charged to us
whenever we commit or do something we know is wrong or
whenever we deliberately fail to do something we know we
should do.
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