I struggled with the first letter of John because it seemed to conflict with itself in the way you mentioned.
I know some people explain away verses like 1 John 1:8-10.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Others explain away 1 John 3:6-9.
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
Here’s how God explained it to me. The moment I was born again, Christ was born within me. My flesh (body) isn’t born again. From the moment of receiving Christ, I was dead to my flesh. However, my flesh (body) still wants control. It’s rebellious. Christ in me cannot sin. My flesh has neither seen nor known Christ.
I identify with the Christ in me as my true identity. The true me is Christ in me the hope of glory. I HAVE a sinful fleshly nature. I AM a spiritual being and son of God. Christ in me can’t sin. My flesh can’t get anything right.
God has put it in my hand to decide if I will obey the Christ in me of the fleshly nature. Christ means the Anointed one, and the Anointing refers to the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ. God leads me constantly. Any time I fail to follow His leading, that’s sin and requires confession–admitting the failure. If I make the right choice and follow the Spirit, Christ is formed more fully in me. If I fail and confess, the act of confession forms Christ more fully in me since repentance is only possible by the Holy Spirit. In this way, I go from glory to glory. The flesh loses influence.
In the final step, Christ will be fully formed in me. The fleshly veil will be totally removed. And the body will be changed to be like Christ’s glorious body. This is a partial revelation, so I expect God will continue to show me how to walk into unfolding revelation.
There are Christian groups and individuals who believe in what is often referred to as “sinless perfectionism” or the “perfectionist” view of sanctification. This belief holds that once someone is “born again” (saved), they can reach a state where they no longer commit sin. While not all proponents of this view claim that it happens instantly upon salvation, some do.
Groups and Teachings Associated with Sinless Perfectionism:
Wesleyan and Holiness Movements:
Some branches within the Wesleyan and Holiness traditions teach the possibility of living a life free from willful sin through a second work of grace, often called “entire sanctification” or “Christian perfection.”
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, taught that Christians could be made perfect in love (entirely sanctified) in this life, meaning their motivations and actions could be aligned with God’s will. However, Wesley did not equate this with absolute sinlessness.
Certain Pentecostal and Charismatic Groups:
Some Pentecostal groups emphasize the idea that the Holy Spirit’s power enables Christians to live sin-free lives, often pointing to evidence of a Spirit-filled life.
Radical Anabaptists and Other Movements:
Certain smaller Christian sects, such as some Anabaptist groups, have taught or implied that a true Christian will not sin after conversion. This is often linked to their focus on strict discipline and holy living.
Independent Teachings:
Some independent preachers or movements take an extreme view of sanctification, teaching that any sin after being “born again” indicates a false conversion.
Criticism of This Belief:
Biblical Tension: Critics point to passages like 1 John 1:8-10, which state that claiming to be without sin is self-deception and contrary to the truth.
Human Nature: Many Christians believe that even after conversion, the “old nature” or “flesh” continues to wage war against the Spirit (Romans 7:15-25; Galatians 5:17), leading to ongoing struggles with sin.
Humility and Growth: Others argue that the Christian life is one of ongoing growth, repentance, and dependence on God’s grace, rather than immediate sinlessness.
This belief isn’t widely held among mainstream Christian denominations, but it does exist in various forms. Would you like to explore any specific Scriptures or theological ideas related to this?
I wondered how they justify this. I suspected they define sin as a narrow set of rules that must be followed. Otherwise, they aren’t very aware of their own behavior.
Here’s what I found. It often comes down to how they define sin and their understanding of sanctification. Many who believe in sinless perfectionism emphasize a narrower definition of sin, focusing on intentional, willful disobedience to God rather than including unintentional sins, sins of omission, or the deeper nature of sin as described in Scripture. Let’s break this down:
1. Defining Sin Narrowly
Willful Sin Only: Some groups define sin as deliberate, conscious acts of rebellion against God’s commandments. They may argue that once a person is born again, they no longer desire to rebel against God, and thus, they no longer sin.
Unintentional Sins Excluded: They might exclude sins done out of ignorance or weakness from their definition, viewing them as mistakes rather than actual sins.
Sins of Omission Overlooked: Scriptures like James 4:17 (“To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”) often don’t factor into their definition of sin.
2. Focus on Outward Behavior
Avoiding “Big” Sins: They might equate sinlessness with avoiding specific outward behaviors (e.g., lying, stealing, adultery) while neglecting inner sins like pride, jealousy, or self-righteousness.
Rules-Based Living: In some cases, the Christian life is boiled down to adhering to a set of rules or a moral code. If they follow these rules, they view themselves as sin-free.
3. Minimizing the Depth of Sin
Ignoring the Heart Condition: The Bible portrays sin as more than just actions—it’s also about the condition of the heart (Matthew 5:21-28). Jesus pointed out that anger is akin to murder and lust is akin to adultery, showing that sin often resides in our thoughts and intentions.
Self-Deception: As you mentioned, some might lack awareness of their own behavior. This could lead to a blind spot about sins like self-righteousness or lack of love, which they might not recognize as sin.
4. Theological Justifications
Misinterpreting 1 John 3:6-9: These verses say that those who abide in Christ do not sin. Some take this literally to mean Christians cannot sin, without considering the broader context or the ongoing need for grace (1 John 1:8-9).
Romans 6:14: “For sin shall not have dominion over you” is interpreted as total victory over sin, without accounting for the already-but-not-yet tension in the Christian life (sanctification as a process).
Perfection as a Command: Verses like Matthew 5:48 (“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”) are taken as evidence that sinlessness is achievable now, instead of as a call to grow in Christlikeness.
5. Unawareness of Their Own Sin
Self-Righteousness and Pride: Ironically, believing they’ve attained sinlessness can lead to pride or looking down on others who admit their struggles with sin—ironically sinful attitudes!
Neglecting the Holy Spirit’s Conviction: A shallow view of sin may prevent them from allowing the Holy Spirit to convict them of deeper issues in their hearts.
Scripture That Challenges Sinless Perfectionism
1 John 1:8-10: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Romans 7:15-25: Paul, as a mature believer, admits his ongoing struggle with sin.
Philippians 3:12-14: Paul acknowledges he hasn’t yet attained perfection, but presses on toward the goal.
It seems likely that these groups either fail to grasp the depth of sin or focus so heavily on external rules that they lose sight of the internal, ongoing battle described in Scripture.
The main problem, as with so many “I have arrived” theologies or “I’m just waiting” theologies is that these theologies eliminate any need for growing into the fullness of Christ. Since they are already there, why bother being led by the Holy Spirit and yielding to His righteousness in willing obedience?