A SINLESS NATURE IN THE BELIEVER?

 

What is it to be sanctified unto the Lord?  Some a purporting that it is by the Spirit of God creating in the sinner a perfect, sinless nature that is just as holy as God himself.  Does such teaching come from Scripture or is it the invention of men? 

  1. If being sanctified means having a sinless, holy nature, how can it be said that the elect were sanctified in eternity by God the Father in election, before regeneration? Jude 1.  Or sanctified by God the Son in redemption at the cross before regeneration? Hebrews 10:14.  Even in regeneration, through sanctification of the Spirit, what is it that is said to be our sanctification?  It is the truth of Christ, His Word, the Gospel, implanted in the heart of the regenerated sinner, the Spirit HIMSELF being an earnest (2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5). [An earnest is  money which in purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid, i.e. final glorification]   It is the Spirit’s presence in the heart, revealing the truth of Christ’s blood and righteousness already applied in the death of the Lord Jesus that gives us assurance of Christ’s work FOR us and gives the knowledge of forgiveness of sins and justification already by the death of the Lord Jesus, Romans 8:10.
    1. John 17:17- Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
    2. 1 Peter 1:23- Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
    3. I John 2:27-But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
    4. Romans 6:17- But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart [regenerated by the Spirit] that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Does the Spirit work apart from the doctrine of Christ at any time?

 

  1. Are we sinless in our persons because we are forgiven, justified, and given the Holy Spirit? Absolutely not. We are regenerated in our human spirit, given the Spirit of life, but the old nature (the flesh) has not been removed and will remain until we die-Romans 8:7.  The Spirit of God, having quickened the dead heart (mind and soul) of the sinner, directs the heart and mind by His grace, continuing to renew it (Titus 3:6) reigning over the fleshly, human sinful nature- Galatians 5:17.

 

  1. If there is given us a sinless holy nature, why do we read such comments pertaining to the renewing of the mind of the believer?- Romans 12:2; 2 Cor. 7:1 [making it our aim to glorify God’s holiness and His righteousness in Christ Jesus, adorning the Gospel by our lives to the end of his life, persevering in the faith, "in the fear of God"; not in a servile slavish fear, a fear of hell and damnation, but in a filial fear, a reverential affection for God, an humble trust in him, and dependence on him, for grace and strength].

 

  1. If there is a sinless, holy nature created in us, why the necessity to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord- 2 Peter 3:18.  Does a sinless, holy nature need grace?  If one has the very nature and mind of Christ, what need is there for growing in the knowledge of the Lord?  Would not that mind and heart already know Him perfectly without any more need to learn of Him, as Christ said, ‘Take my yoke upon you and  LEARN of me?’ Matt. 11:29.

 

  1. If there is a sinless, holy nature given now in this flesh, what need more is there for the blood and righteousness of Christ?  What can be more sinless than sinless?  And what does that say about the necessity of Christ’s blood and righteousness?  Did He not accomplish perfection for His own by His righteous obedience already imputed to their account? 2 Corinthians 5:21.

 

  1. If there is a sinless, holy nature given now in this flesh, what need more for the continued work of the Spirit of God in the heart? Galatians 5:17.  What men attribute to a ‘nature,’ the Bible attributes to THE SPIRIT of God alone!

 

  1. If there is a sinless, holy nature given now in the flesh, what need more is there for glorification?  I John 3:1- “it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but when we shall see him, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  What some say they have now, although they can give NO evidence of even a sinless thought, the Scripture teaches us that we await that day when we shall be certainly changed into the likeness of His image.  Even then, however, we cannot be said to be equal with Christ, but LIKE Him!  Not even the angels are holy in His presence (Job 15:15), and even throughout eternity, we will never cease to stand in need of His blood and righteousness imputed- Revelation 5:12.

 

  1. If the very nature of God is what is said to be created in the sinner, can Divinity be created?  The Spirit of God is HOLY and His nature as God indwells those that He regenerates, but can a divine nature be created?  A finite nature is created, and that is what we have already in our human sinful flesh inherited from Adam.  That which is finite can be renewed, regenerated, and rejuvenated, much as we see take place in this earth in the spring time, although it is a cursed sin-laden earth.  A finite object or being can be re-created, as will be in the end of this age when heaven and earth shall pass away, and God shall bring in a NEW heaven and earth, Isaiah 65:17, but what is now in this flesh, although regenerated, renewed, and rejuvenated daily by the Spirit, is still what it is- sinful, fallen flesh!  Romans 7:18.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

Let each of us weigh prayerfully the Word of God above even the commentaries of men, and Scripture in its context, interpreting the more obscure passages by the clearer.  The conclusion of the matter is that all we are right now in this flesh is sin- I John 1:10. ‘How can he be clean that is born of a woman? Job 25:4.

 

What has cleansed and justified us is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ through His death at Calvary- I John 1:9 with Romans 5:9-11.  It is this finished work and successful Savior who is   REVEALED to the mind and heart of regenerated (born again) sinners- Romans 1:17.  Christ is all our righteousness, seated in the heavenlies having finished the work completely on behalf of His people (Hebrews 1:3), and it is THERE that the Spirit causes our affection to be fixed on HIM as our only righteousness (Colossians 1:3), all the while in this flesh groaning for the day when WE SHALL be truly made like HIM in our glorification and deliverance from the body of this death in which dwells NO GOOD THING (Romans 8:19-27). 

 

If a sinless nature were already our portion now, what need is there for hope?  ‘But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.  Likewise, the Spirit HELPETH our INFIRMITIES…’  Romans 8:26.  Having the election of God for us, the work of the Son for us, and the Spirit’s intercession for us, we can and do patiently wait that day, having God’s Word, the Gospel of Christ to teach us, and thereby strengthening or inner man (the regenerated mind and heart)- Ephesians 3:16.