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from What the Bible Teaches by F.G. Smith In the preceding chapter we showed what constitutes real Bible conversion, what it means to be born of God. In this chapter we desire to show what the Bible teaches concerning the life of those who have been born of God. The New Testament standard for God's people is one of sinlessness. "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1 John 5; 18). WHAT IS SIN The same writer defines sin in these words: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 8:4). As we can more appropriately treat the subject of God's law in a subsequent chapter, it will not be necessary to enter into it in this place. Suffice it to say that the law by which our conduct will be judged, the transgression o1 which constitutes sin, is "the law of Christ" (Gal. e: 2). Jesus himself has said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). Since we shall be judged in the last day by the law of Christ, it is evident that it is the law of Christ that we are now held responsible to obey. But God is just; therefore our responsibility is limited to our degree of enlightenment, there being in the New Testament no such thing as sin in total ignorance of God's requirements. "If ye were blind [spiritually] ye should have no sin" (John 9:41). "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin" (John 15: 22). "Sin is not imputed when there is no law" (Rom. 5 : 13) . "For where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4: 15). There must be some knowledge of our obligations, so that the will is involved, otherwise we are not reckoned transgressors. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (Jas. 4: 17). So also, on this principle, To him that knoweth that he should not do evil, and then doeth it, to him it is sin. ALL MEN BY NATURE SINNERS It is a fact that in all places and in all ages of the world men have acknowledged that they were under sin; for all realize that their wills have been involved in acts which they recognize to be in their. very nature wrong. Therefore the Bible recognizes this universality of sin, saying: "There is no man that sinneth not" (1 Kings 8: 48). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 8:28). "The Scripture bath concluded all under sin" (Gal. 8: 22). But while the Old Testament recognizes the universal prevalence of sin, it also contains predictions of a divine provision for its removal. Isaiah, speaking of Christ, said, "He will come and save you" (Isa. 35:4). And Zechariah says, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness" (zech. 13:1). Here we find special provisions for sin. Daniel predicted the coming of the Messiah, saying, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy" (Dan. 9: 24). All these inspired prophecies met their fulfillment in that Christ who came to "save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). CHRISTIANS ARE SAVED FROM SIN "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him" (1 John 8: 5, 6). This is the uniform gospel standard, as we shall see. 1. Christ taught it. "Verily, verily I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin . . . . If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:84-86). Here is promised a perfect freedom from the bondage of sin. In the fifth chapter of John we read of a certain impotent man lying at the pool of Bethesda, whose infirmity was of thirty-eight years' duration. Jesus came along and healed him. "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (verse 14). Now, it is preposterous to suppose that Christ was unjust, giving a commandment that could not be obeyed-a commandment whose violation was to bring upon the poor man a sorer punishment than he had endured during those thirty-eight long years. It could be obeyed. This man received power from the Lord to go and live without sin. Again, in John 8:8-11 we read of a certain woman who was brought to Christ accused of great sin. After a short conversation, during which time the scribes and Pharisees, becoming condemned by their consciences because of their own sins, went away, Jesus turned to the woman and said, "Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee [legally]? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: GO AND SIN NO MORE." 2. Peter taught it. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out; when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 8: 19). "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Pet. 2: 21, 22). 3. Paul taught it. "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame" (1 Cor. 15:34, 35). Almost the whole of the sixth chapter of Romans is devoted to the subject of the Christians' deliverance from sin. I will notice just a few verses wherein it is stated. "What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (verses 1, 2). "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof" (verses 11, 12). "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (verse 14). "Ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (verses 17, 18). "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (verse 22). Some people attempt to prove that Paul himself was a sinner and a defender of sin; but this chapter alone is sufficient to forever settle his attitude as a Christian toward the subject of sin. This point we will refer to again in the present chapter. 4. John taught it. "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. If we say that we have no sin (to be cleansed from), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7-9). Here a perfect cleansing from sin is taught, upon condition that we do not cover our sins up and deny them, but "walk in the light" and "confess our sins." And the same writer also shows that we must live before Christ in this sinless state, for he says, "He that sayeth he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2: 6). How did Christ walk? Peter arms that he "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Pet. 2: 22). Hence we must do no sin This is the Christian standard. So John writes again, "My little children, these things I write unto you, THAT YE SIN NOT" (1 John 2: 1), In the same verse he goes on to show that "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." This shows that, even if men should by some means depart from the Christian standard by falling into sin, it is possible for them to be recovered, because Christ would be willing to forgive again. This; however, does not in the least weaken the standard here set forth that "he that sayeth he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (verse 6). But the apostle goes a step further; he shows not only that Christians "ought" to walk this way, but that they really do. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him" (1 John 8: 6). "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (I John 5:18). "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he can not sin, because he is born of God" (I John 3: 7, 9). Reader, mark this fact: John does not say that God's people confess their sins every day or repent of them frequently, but says that they "DO NOT COMMIT SIN." Thousands of professed Christians have asked the question, "Who are those just persons which need no repentance,' of which Christ speaks" (Luke 15: 7) ? The answer is very clear: They are the Christians, those who have been born of God; for "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." They need not, and hence could not, repent.
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