07/02/13 IF ONE, THEN ALL
This statement is both practical and theological.
We are all born with the potential, even the propensity for all kinds of evil, because we are all born with a Sinful Nature, (known in the Bible as; Old Man, the Carnal Mind, the Evil Heart of Unbelief, the Law of Sin and Death, the Double Mind, the Root of Bitterness, the Flesh), which we inherited from Adam. We are born with the capability and the inclination to sin against God. However, we are not born as Practicing sinners. In other words, everyone will sin, according to his own choosing, but no one is born as a bank robber, a liar, an adulterer, a thief, a child molester or a homosexual. Though our sinful nature will tend toward certain desires and actions, we are not born as practicing sinners.
Being born again gives us a new nature, a new beginning, old things are passed away, all things become new. So, whatever sins we have chosen to embrace and enact are done away with in Christ. Even though you have lingering desires for God's forbidden fruit after you are saved, you can still resist temptation by the power and grace of God, and you can be completely cleansed, even from all unrighteousness.
But, we must confess our disobedience to God, turn from our sins, believe on the saving work of Christ and receive His salvation by faith.
Therefore, if any believer can escape some sins in his past, then all believers can escape all sins in their past, because we escape Satan's grip and sins control by trusting and following Jesus. Jesus saves His people from their sins.
SOME PASSAGES for some of the points above...
OLD MAN...
Romans 6:6
(6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Ephesians 4:22
(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Colossians 3:9
(9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
CARNAL MIND...
Romans 8:7
(7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:6
(6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 7:14
(14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
(1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
(2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
(3) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
(4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF...
Hebrews 3:12
(12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
LAW OF SIN AND DEATH...
Romans 8:2
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 7:21
(21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
DOUBLE MIND...
James 1:8
(8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 4:8
(8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
ROOT OF BITTERNESS...
Hebrews 12:14-15
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
(15) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
FLESH...
(Remember, both carnal and flesh are used in reference to both the sinful nature and the physical body, so we must understand the context. Notice also, the word "sin" is a term that is sometimes used interchangeably in reference to the sinful nature.)
Romans 7:17-20
(17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
(18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
(19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
(20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Romans 8:1-5
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:8-10
(8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
(9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:12-14
(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
(13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 13:14
(14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians 5:16-25
(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
(18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
ADAM, OUR SOURCE OF SINFUL NATURE
Romans 5:12
(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:17-19
(17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:22
(22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
SPIRIT NEW BIRTH BRINGS NEW LIFE...
John 3:6
(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Romans 6:4
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
(17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Peter 1:23
(23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 John 3:9
(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.
1 John 5:4
(4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:18
(18) We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
RESIST TEMPTATION...
1 Corinthians 10:13
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
CLEANSED FROM ALL SIN...
1 John 1:7
(7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:9
(9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
