2. Thesis

The belief of the inevitability of sin in Christians' lives post-conversion is a dominant teaching within broader Christendom. Many denominations firmly maintain sin is inevitable until we die. Much of the West holds that sin is a fundamental component of human nature, as natural as breathing or something that takes a lifetime to eradicate. Something God is powerless to eradicate in us in this life, overlooking the fact that Jesus became human just as we are, to make us like Himself. The East in theory has a more optimistic view of human nature and God's power to transform people in this present life. However, in practice, this potential for transformation is often seen as achievable only through severe asceticism, and typically only by a few elite saints. It's not a belief or practice commonly pursued by nominal adherents.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ESV
[4] For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. [5] We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

My aim is to challenge man-made assumptions, interpretations, traditions and arguments that underpin a mindset which asserts we cannot perpetually abide in Christ, walk in love and avoid sin. This common mindset diminishes living obedient lives in love by the Holy Spirit. These man-made traditions present a justification, an expectation and an excuse for sin in people's lives. This mindset undermines their defences in times of temptation, fortifying them in lives of hypocrisy. This creates a perpetual cycle of sin and expectation to sin. When a person seeks help for this cycle are often consoled with "you are only human" or "God doesn't expect you to be perfect, you cant be". They are falsely pointed to Romans 7 and told this is the normal Christian experience that even Paul lived, reassuring them in their hypocrisy and slavery. This ignores the true Christian life of the Spirit Paul taught in Romans 6 and 8. They are taught Luther's concept of simultaneously "Righteous yet sinner" - though this is the literal definition of both a hypocrite and a double minded person, unstable in all their ways.

James 4:7-8 ESV
[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Psalm 119:113-115 ESV
[113] I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. [114] You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. [115]  Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

I humbly ask you to suspend all you know about Christianity while you read this work and rebuild on the foundation of the incarnate Christ who is the only rock and sure foundation. I will challenge this mindset with Christs genuine humanity and sinlessness, and the true divinity and power of His Spirit who resides in Christians. He alone is the way the truth and the life. Do not build on the sand of traditions and fallible theologians. I anticipate some opposition and rejection, for the tradition of the inevitability of sin has been formally ingrained into Christian theology since the 4th and 5th centuries. This was the era of the Roman Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity. In my opinion, it was at this time many nominal converts flooded the church out of political expediency not sincerity, diluting the purity and high moral expectation of the church that believed in the power of the Holy Spirit to actually transform believers lives into the image of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV
[1] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

This resulted in theological disputes within the church and I believe a compromised pessimistic position regarding sin, human nature and the nature of salvation from sin in this life, won out. While opposing the stance of the inevitability of sin will challenge the dominant world view of most Christians, I believe it necessary if we are to truly renew our minds and thinking as scripture commands and as a result practically purify our lives.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV
[1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Beware of following any man, check all things against scripture and consider how the very disciples of the disciples understood scripture and spoke (Polycarp, Ignatius and Clement of Rome). It is unreasonable to think all of their immediate disciples departed from their teaching. The apostles and their disciples faithfully preserved and conveyed the teachings of Jesus, the only authority.

Matthew 23:8-12 ESV
[8] But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. [9] And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. [10] Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. [11] The greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 ESV
[5] Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. [6]  He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. [7]  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. [8]  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” [9] The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? [10]  “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

I have read through the first 2 centuries of the early church (prior to emperor Constantines conversion) and many of the earliest Christians from these centuries did not hold to the inevitability of sin. If you take the time to read them without presupposing this perspective you will see this with great clarity.  They presented a Christianity which began with a radical break from all sin through repentant trust in Jesus for mercy, followed by baptism in water, receiving the Holy Spirit who shares His divine power with the Christian to perpetually walk like the Son of God in this life.  While growth in love and virtue was expected, sin was not expected. Provision for forgiveness was clearly taught if one stumbled but they did not expect to stumble as almost everyone does in the modern era.

Jude 1:24-25 ESV
[24]  Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, [25] to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 ESV
[7] so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, [8] who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin is a possibility, not an inevitability. This means we can actually abide in Christ, walk in the Spirit, and live lives of perpetual love (which is righteousness), maintaining clear consciences and pure hearts before God.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
[5] The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

This teaching of Christian maturity and Christ-like living is often derided as 'perfectionism' which is a label used pejoratively by those who may not fully understand or accept its biblical basis. However, it's crucial to recognize that this doctrine is rooted in scripture and the teachings of the early church. Critics who label this teaching as 'perfectionism' might inadvertently find themselves at odds with Christ's own words. Jesus Himself commanded, 'You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' (Matthew 5:48). Jesus wasn't teaching "mistakelessness", rather he was teaching people to abide in His love and teachings, with pure hearts and clear consciences, maintaining goodwill to God and man by a surrendered walk to Him in the Holy Spirit. This walk is far from sin, just as light is far from darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 ESV
[14] Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? [15] What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? [16] What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17] Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, [18] and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” [1] Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Promoting righteous living in Christ can face opposition, as it challenges both worldly values such as the unbridled pursuit of pleasure, wealth, luxury and the pride of life, and certain religious traditions that have normalized ongoing sin in believers' lives. The apostles themselves faced similar challenges when preaching about holy living, as seen in passages like 2 Timothy 3:12-13.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 ESV
[12] Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, [13] while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

My aim is to encourage all believers to fully embrace the transformative power of Christ in their lives, avoiding the self-deception that they are righteous while still living sinful loveless lives and pursuing mature righteousness, which is genuine divine love, that Christ made possible through our participation in His Spirit. John termed this perfect love.

1 John 4:12 ESV
[12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:17-18 ESV
[17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

James 1:22-27
[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. [26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I write this soberly and with great care with an eye to the great judgement, where all will stand before Him and account for every deed done in darkness, every idle word spoken (and written), where the hearts and consciences of men will be laid bare. Let us profess our faith with righteous, loving and obedient lives by God's grace through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 ESV
[3] But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. [4] For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. [5] Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Seeing the discrepancies between the preaching of the early church and the modern theological landscape across all traditions has resulted in personal cognitive dissonance that has been a serious mental burden weighing me down for many months. Though I hesitate to challenge this long held tradition due to my own weak mental constitution, I see it necessary for Gods glory and also love towards those perishing in their own enslavement to sin. I feel Paul's burden and grief below as i think few in the 21st century really grasp how narrow the narrow way is that leads to eternal life in Christ:

Philippians 3:17-19 ESV
[17] Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [18] For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Titus 1:15-16 ESV
[15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. [16] They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

I write that the glorious light of the good news may shine forth again so that men may stand in the true liberty Christ's blood purchased for them. Liberty not merely from the power of death but liberty from the slavery of committing sin. Actual freedom to abide in Christ and walk in love, not simply the label of freedom while still being enslaved to sin. To assert the inevitability of sin post conversion is to preach of slavery to sin and oppose the apostolic doctrine.

2 Peter 2:19 ESV
[19] They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

John 8:31-36 ESV
[31] So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [33] They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” [34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [35] The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus has indeed set us free from sinning by His Spirit, if indeed we abide in His love and obey His teachings. In Him, we abide in His house, which is all of creation - forever. Be found in Him on the last day being doers of His teaching, not merely hearers or professors of Christ. For many will indeed seek to enter but not be able.

Luke 13:23-24 ESV
[23] And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The will of the Father is to trust in and obey all the Son taught us:

John 12:44-50 ESV
[44] And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. [45] And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. [46] I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. [47] If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. [48] The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. [49] For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”