Re: 1 John 3:9 Can a True Christian Sin? Part 2

Saywhatagain, I don't see Ephesians 1:13 in the KJV as reading all that different than the ESV. I still see this passage in the KJV as saying that believing on Christ and being sealed with the Holy Spirit go together and see no reason from other scriptures that there would be a lapse of time between the two.

Yes, we must endure to the end. The scriptures are clear about that. But I believe those with true faith in Christ will endure to the end because I believe it is God's power that keeps them in faith, and he does not fail.

1 Peter 1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jude 24 Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence

And this passage is a warning about grieving the Holy Spirit whom we are sealed, which obviously means we can still sin against the Holy Spirit even though we are sealed to Him:

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

This passage confirms Ephesians 4:30

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Phil 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 5:24 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.

In Romans 7:24, where Paul says,
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" I don't believe he was talking about a past state that he had overcome. I believe he was saying, "who will deliver me from this body of indwelling sin", because we know sin equals death, the wages of sin is death.
I believe that is what this passage (Romans 8:10) is saying, that we all still have a body of death until we receive our glorified bodies, but if we are in Christ, we are a new creation because we are born of the Spirit and now have Christ's righteousness:

Romans 8:10
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

I believe Paul in Romans 7 is describing the struggle that all Christians go through until the end of their lives. Christians desire to be perfectly obedient to the Father, but they are not, and it grieves them, as it should. I believe there is always a battle with the flesh to the end of our days, as long as we are in these bodies of death.

Galatians 5:17
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

If we understand we are in this battle, then we will not have a lack of assurance that we are still in Christ when we fail but will get right back up and keep running to the finish line with zeal, knowing that we are secure in Christ and that we are going to make it because he's already won the battle even though we are still enduring through it.

You said:

"What you were quoting to me he was saying "I wanted to follow the law of God because it was a righteous law but no matter how hard I tried, I could now follow the law because of the sinful flesh". Then in 8:1-4 He explains how to get past that, because the flesh is sin and death we must rely not on our own flesh but the Spirit of life in Christ, then we can walk "not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"."

I agree that when Paul says to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, he is saying what you said, don't rely on the flesh (Romans 7:5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death) but rely on the Spirit (Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?).

But still, even in relying on the Spirit, I believe we will still battle the flesh. The flesh wars against the Spirit and vice versa. But the good news is that the Spirit will win! The flesh will eventually die and we will be free of it!

I Corinthians 15:

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.


For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.