Originally Posted by
GraftedIn73
Hi SbT,
Regarding question 2, yes, I believe it is possible for a true Christian to commit an act of murder, as well as an act of adultery, as well as an act of fornication, an act of envy, an act of drunkenness, etc. Note that I am saying an act. I am not saying that these acts are normative in that Christian's life. If these acts are the normative produce of a person’s life, he or she falls under the following description:
"19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal 5
When a Christian has committed any of these sins, including envy and hatred, forgiveness from God is available if they truly repent by God's grace.
Regarding question 3, yes I believe that it is possible for a Christian who has committed any of these acts of sin to truly repent.
"8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:8-10
"6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He 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.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:6-9
"16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18We 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 5:16-18
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1
These scriptures, which to some seem contradictory, teach that those whose lives are filled with the deeds of the flesh, are of the flesh and the devil and are liars if they claim to be born of God.
On the other hand, they also teach that if we say the we have no sin, we make God to be a liar.
So two errors are addressed: 1) False professions, those who claim to know Christ, but don't, as evidenced by their lives, and 2) false doctrine, the doctrine of sinless perfectionism.
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not" - Does not persist in an ongoing, unrepentant lifestyle of living to the flesh
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." - No sinless perfection
And when a Christian does sin:
"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Regarding the specific question of true repentance, I believe that this is the mark of a true Christian. God gives His people the ability to repent and turn from their sins. When they do, He forgives and cleanses them.
As far as the Holy Spirit ceasing to dwell in us, we who are Christians are clean because of the work done for us and in us by Christ. We are not perfect and holy in and of ourselves. We are made holy by God's work on our behalf. It is in this imputed righteousness that the Holy Spirit is able to dwell in us as temples. We are sanctified by God. If we think that murder or fornication or any 'big' sin like that is the only thing that can defile us, then we have a poor view of the reality of sin before God. Christ said our very thoughts make us impure and that hate is the same as murder and lust is the same as adultery.
In summary, God can and does forgive acts of sin by Christians. God says that those whose lives are dominated by the sinful nature are alienated and hostile to God and are not Christians.