Man Can Remain without Sin
Mormon Doctrine, pg 320; “But, notwithstanding all this, he [Jesus] kept the law of God, and remained without sin, showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep the law and remain also without sin; and also, that by him a righteous judgment might come upon all flesh, and that all who walk not in the law of God may justly be condemned by the law, and have no excuse for their sins.”
Romans 7:23; “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
Galatians 5:17; “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.”
James 4:1; “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
1 Peter 2:11; “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”
Our Lord God has made it abundantly clear we are not perfect. When Adam sinned and got kicked out of the Garden a sin nature was then inherited by every single person ever conceived. It is impossible for us to please Him without Jesus’ shed blood that redeems us from this awful predicament we find ourselves in.
Only Jesus was born perfect. 2 Corinthian 5:21 is a great verse to share with the Mormon to show that man is not born perfect.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
We can’t be perfect just because Jesus was perfect. It’s not in our nature to do so and it’s virtually impossible even when we want to!
We’re declared righteous by God because of what His Son did for us but His sacrifice didn’t purge us of our lustful heart. As Paul stated in Romans chapter 7 “why do I keep doing the things I don’t want to do and don’t do the things I know I should”. If it was possible for us to behave just because Jesus did then why would we need Him? I could just copy His behavior.
This reminds me of when someone tells me God isn’t going to give you anything you can’t handle. This little phrase that makes its rounds through the body of Christ every few years is false as well.
Jesus said you won’t be tempted beyond what is common to man, but nowhere in scripture does it say God won’t give you anything you can’t handle.
If I could handle things why would I need His strength? Why would I rely upon His mercy? He gave us a reminder that we can rely upon Him in a beautiful picture from the Last Supper – take a look.
John 13:23; “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
This passage wasn’t placed in the Bible to fill space on a page my friends! It’s there to give an example of how we can lean on our Lord and know He is our protector, provider and supplier of truth.
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