These verses concern me. I can’t keep his commands all the time. Try as I might I just can’t. But it says “this is how we know we are in Him” in regards to keeping his commands. I love The Lord Jesus, but if I can’t keep his commands I’m a liar? I don’t want to be that at all. Do these verses mean, that if I don’t keep his commands that I’m really not saved or never was. I want to live a life for Christ but I’m not perfect and I don’t keep His commands 100% of the time. This verse makes me feel like I have to do works or I’m not saved if I don’t live as Christ lived. I’d really appreciate your help on these verses. It’s really getting to me.
Paul wrote that a born again believer still sins, but his sins are not counted against him because he is a new creation as righteous as God is.
John said a born again believer can’t sin. Since the bible is the Word of God, given to man though the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, there can’t be a conflict like this.
And since there is no such thing on earth as a born again believer who doesn’t sin, both Paul and John have to be talking about how we appear to God: perfect forever.
Those times when we sin, God does not see it as us sinning, but as the sin that still lives within us. (Romans 7:15-20) Because according to Hebrews 10:12-14 the Lord’s once for all sacrifice has made us perfect forever in God’s sight.
Therefore, Paul, John, and the writer of Hebrews all agree that from God’s perspective born again believers are sin free. And any sins we commit are not counted against us.
King David saw this fore coming 3,000 years ago when he wrote:
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1-2)