What Does 'Cannot Sin" Mean?

F____ wrote:

Hi Mike

I totally agree on "lay hands on no man suddenly". What is that verse "He that trusteth, shall not
make haste" (Isa 28:16). Whenever I get that "uncomfortable rushy" feeling, I know it's time to
stop and have a change of mind.

I just noticed the verse following:

Isa 28:17 But I will make—Justice the line, and Righteousness the plummet,—And the hail shall,
sweep away, your refuge of lying, And your hiding-place, the waters shall overflow;
...a message outlining God's plan for the "man of sin within me" if ever I read it.

Even though I apprehend so little of the Word, I somehow sense the vast import behind every
word; it's as if God allows me to feel and love the hum of the engine under the hood even though
I haven't learned to drive very well yet.

Like that beautiful verse that Danny shared...

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were
written,
The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. (NASB)
...that whole psalm just blessed me as I read it.

The preceeding verse...

Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully
wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
WOW!

...and the verse that follows...

Psa 139:17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
The sum of them! Every word, so powerpacked!! So FULL of spiritual significance beyond
calculation and EVERY WORD applicable to US!!! FULFILLED IN US!!!

It's not hard to agree with the Lord through Paul...

2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; truly to be spiritually minded is LIFE
...and truly He is the Way the Truth and the Life.

I was aware of Deedle and Marissa expecting a child (megablessing). I told Him to treasure
every moment because before you know it they are all grown up. If I had my time over, I would
spend even more time with my infant kids than I did, and I spent a lot of time with them!
Thank God for my wife and kids. I often used to remark to myself when everything seemed to
have gone wrong (or right depending on how you look at it) "thank God something went right
and that something is my family."

A good wife and three wonderful kids are more to be treasured than any honour this world can
bestow.

Now, back (or forward) to that book mentioned in Psa 139:16, I sense the link with...
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were
written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
...and...
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in
the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
I see one of those not written in the book as the "man of sin" in me that must be rendered
impotent and taken away so that the second adam, the Lord from heaven, may be established and
rid His temple of any impediment to perfect conformity.

And Christ in me (and in you) abides into the age, but the servant of sin within us is rendered
impotent by the work of God in Christ and finally removed as the last impediment to entering
into the joy of the Lord.

We have the firstfruits, we have the earnest, and if we endure to the end, we shall inherit the
promises (the ones I have so much more to learn about); which brings me to a line of doctrine
that I wanted you to check for me. You mentioned in that wonderful recap of "the first 10 years
of IWWB" (thank you so much, Mike for taking the time to write that)...
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God.
I have been interpreting that verse as 'Christ in me does not sin and so the more I am in the spirit,
the more He increases and I decrease, the less dominion over me sin has.'

Sin can be rendered powerless (walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh) but
sin still there in the flesh so that he who thinks he stands should take heed.

I have a problem here. I have 4 tons of revelation, but only a rickety old wheelbarrow to carry it
in so I will have to share one barrowload at a time, LOL!

All my life I felt like this...

Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
I never felt "at home" (though God blessed me), and now when I am sharing with those of the
same mind, I suddenly and unexpectedly feel that I am closer to that city I was born to be
brought to.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
I feel like the lively stones being built up into a habitation are my home.

Well, one thing is for certain...

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.
...and...
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even
as he is righteous.
Seed of the woman, Christ in me, mystery of godliness...
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever
doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Seed of the serpent, sin in the flesh, mystery of iniquity...I see them both within me, and I see
only one winner
Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
Much love to you and yours. Mike. May God prevail mightily on our behalf.

I am so keen to be rid of false doctrine; I want that leaven out! ...and I want it out yesterday! But
as usual the only thing I can do is wait on God's mercy.

F____
Hi F____,

Thank you for sharing with me about your family. I am so happy for you that God has blessed
you with a loving respectful family.

And thanks for pointing out what is in the rest of Psalms 139, especially this verse:
Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully
wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
I just had not noticed that, and I'm sure it will serve to clarify other parts of God's Word.

The apostle who wrote:

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Also wrote:
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
That word 'sinned' is in the perfect tense, according to KJC+TVM. Here now, is the previous
verse:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
What is the need to confess our sins if we "cannot sin?" When should we "confess our sins?"
Should we ask God to forgive us of our sins at the beginning of our walk? In the middle of our
walk? When should we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness? Here is our Lord's answer to
that question:
Matt 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they
shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matt 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need
of, before ye ask him.
Matt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye : Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be
thy name.
Matt 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.
And so we go back just one verse more in 1 John 1, to get more of the sum of God's word on our
present condition in this 'vessel of clay:'
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
That word 'have' according to my KJV + TVM is in the present tense. We have sin! 'If we say we
don't have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.' I repent for ever having had such
a thought that this could even be so while in this marred body. And yet, as you point out, as I
decrease, He increases to the point that sin no longer has dominion in my life. I abide in Him
more each day and thereby "die daily" to "the body of this death."

So we have verses 8 and 10. Verse 10 says "if we say we have not sinned" and verse 8 says "If
we say we we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the Truth is not in us." The words "have,
deceive and the word 'is' are all three in the present tense. We are sin and we have sin and "when
we pray" we need to ask for forgiveness for our sin and our trespasses."

So "cannot sin" has reference to being ruled over by sin. It does not have to do with present
perfection while yet in this "sinful flesh." Perfection and flesh are not compatible.
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for
our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow
after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus .
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [Greek - aorist - being perfected], be thus
minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us
mind the same thing.
Here is Paul on this subject:
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under
grace.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God
forbid.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to
whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin , ye became the servants of righteousness. [Being free
from sin is taking away sin's dominion.]
Peter agrees with Paul:
1 Pet 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise
with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1 Pet 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men,
but to the will of God.
So as we are "being perfected...let us walk whereto we have already attained" willingly
acknowledging that we have not yet been perfected while as yet in this vessel of clay. Willard
Rogers was as loving, forgiving and as generous a man as I know, but he still had to relinquish
his "sinful flesh" in order to be perfected. This was required of our Lord Himself. So it is with us
all. That is why we all "die daily" until there are no more days in which to die.

I know that you know that it is the sum of God's Word that comprises Truth. That 'sum' clearly
admonishes us to be daily vigilant against that ever-present body of death that is sinful flesh. If
we are through "Christ in you" vigilant, then the flesh will never again have dominion. We will
continue to be "free from sin['s] dominion," we will "abide in Christ" and "sin not." And yet the
sum of God's Word tells us that "if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves." The whole
point is to encourage vigilance in the lives of God's elect. It is not to tell us that we must either
submit to sin or that we have already been perfected. It is all about vigilance:
1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
As always, your epistles are both informative and encouraging. I just love the positive
understanding which you show to all the apparently negative statements involving the flesh.

["Seed of the woman, Christ in me, mystery of godliness

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever
doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Seed of the serpent, sin in the flesh, mystery of iniquity. I see them both within me, and I see
only one winner
Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name."]
The Lord will eventually win in every man who has ever lived. What is negative for the flesh is
positive for the spirit. Consequently the entirety of scripture is good news; the gospel of the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.
My days and your days were all in God's "book" while as yet there was not one of them." I find
that very comforting. God apparently has what he calls for our benefit a "book'' with the days of
every one who comes out of Adam, in that 'book.'

Just like you, I know that it is ordained to be a trial, but I look forward to seeing what is on the
next page.
I take great comfort in those words and I know that you do, too.

I want you to be aware that there is a whole family of God, a whole body of Christ and a temple
of lively stones, here in the U.S. that loves and cares for you!

Your brother in the Christ,

Mike