Overcoming sin by David Wells

Overcoming Sin by Josephine Vine Augustine’s Wrong Theories       

No freedom of choice Predestination Once-saved-always-saved Victory over sin unnecessary for salvation Victory over sin is impossible, even in the power of Christ Original sin Christ possessed the unfallen nature of man and could not be tempted to sin.

Results Of Augustine’s Theories        

Immaculate Conception of Mary Christ could not help those who are tempted Christ could not be our example or mediator Mary and saints became mediators Unbaptized condemned to hell Guilt could be removed by baptism Infant baptism Limbo for unbaptized infants

New Theology based on wrong Augustinian principles have permeated Christendom and even come into the SDA Church. Examples are: New Theology: Man is born with original sin: you are sinful and guilty because you are born. Bible: Man is born with evil tendencies.  Isaiah 64:6;  Psalm 51:5;  Ephesians 2:1-3; New Theology: Sin results from human limitations. Bible: Sin is volitional disobedience.  1 John 3:4;  James 2:10; 4:17;  Acts 17:30;  Romans 6:16.

What is to bring the sinner to the knowledge of his sins unless he knows what sin is? The only definition of sin in the Word of God is given us in 1 John 3:4. "Sin is the transgression of the law." {OHC 141.3} New Theology: Saints continue to sin until Jesus comes. Bible: Saints can and will have victory over sin now.  Titus 2:14;  1 Corinthians 10:13;  1 John 2:1; 5:2,3; 3:3-10;  Romans 12:2;  Ephesians 5:25-27;  Jude 24;  Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21. The sin of evil-speaking begins with the cherishing of evil thoughts. Guile {See Rev 14:5} includes impurity in all its forms. An impure thought tolerated, an unholy desire cherished, and the soul is contaminated, its integrity compromised. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." If we would not commit sin, we must shun its very beginnings. Every emotion and desire must be held in subjection to reason and conscience. Every unholy thought must be instantly repelled, to your closet followers of Christ. Pray in faith and with all the heart. Satan is watching to ensnare your feet. You must have help from above if you would escape his devices. {5T 177.1} By faith and prayer all may meet the requirements of the gospel. No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must be first gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act before passion can dominate over reason or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for sin. "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers." Cry unto the Lord, tempted soul. Cast yourself, helpless, unworthy, upon Jesus, and claim His very promise. The Lord will hear. He knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart, and He will help in every time of temptation. {5T 177.2}

(Perfectionism is the belief that a person may become perfect by their own efforts.)

earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation. {SC 94.2}

New Theology: Denies both perfectionism AND perfection Bible: Denies perfectionism BUT NOT perfection  Job 1: 1  Genesis 6:9  1 John 3:9 5:18;  2 Corinthians 7:1; 13:11;  1 Thessalonians 3:10;  2 Timothy 3:16,17;  Psalm 37:37  Matthew 5:48  James 1:2-4;  1 Peter 5:10;

New Theology: We are not separated from God if the tenor of our life is right. Bible: One sin separates from Christ.  Genesis 3:22-24;  Numbers 20:11

Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God's law, and in this He set an example for every human being. The life that He lived in this world we are to live through His power and under His instruction. {MH 180.2}

Whenever men choose their own way, they place themselves in controversy with God. They will have no place in the kingdom of heaven, for they are at war with the very principles of heaven. In disregarding the will of God, they are placing themselves on the side of Satan, the enemy of God and man. Not by one word, not by many words, but by every word that God has spoken, shall man live. We cannot disregard one word, however trifling it may seem to us, and be safe. There is not a commandment of the law that is not for the good and happiness of man, both in this life and in the life to come. In obedience to God's law, man is surrounded as with a hedge and kept from the evil. He who breaks down this divinely erected barrier at one point has destroyed its power to protect him; for he has opened a way by which the enemy can enter to waste and ruin. {MB 52.1}

New Theology: Sin removed at the Second Coming. Bible: All sin may and must be put away now.  Galatians 5:(16-23),24-25 6:7,8;  James 1 :21;  Romans 6:6, 7; 8:5-8,14  Revelation 3:21;  1 Corinthians 15:34;  1 John 3:3-9;  Jude 24; The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by

It is not the greatness of the act of disobedience that constitutes sin, but the fact of variance from God's expressed will in the least particular; for this shows that there is yet communion between the soul and sin. The heart is divided in its service. There is a virtual denial of God, a rebellion against the laws of His government. {MB 51.3}

By venturing to disregard the will of God upon one point, our first parents opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. And every individual who follows their example will reap a similar result. The love of God underlies every precept of His law, and he who departs from the commandment is working his own unhappiness and ruin. {MB 52.2}

New Theology: Sanctification imperfect works for God.

man's

Bible: Sanctification is God's gift of holiness to man.  Titus 2:14;  Philippians 2:13;  Hebrews 13:20,21;  1 Thessalonians 5:23;  John 15:5. Nothing less than perfect obedience can meet the standard of God's requirement. He has not left His requirements indefinite. He has enjoined nothing that is not necessary in order to bring man into harmony with Him. We are to point sinners to His ideal of character and to lead them to Christ, by whose grace only can this ideal be reached. {MH 180.4} The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us "partakers of the divine nature," and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin. (MH 180.5} The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God. By trusting in God's promises, He received power to obey God's commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, "It is written." So God has given us His word wherewith to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by these we "might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. {MH 181.1} Bid the tempted one look not to circumstances, to the weakness of self, or to the power of temptation, but to the power of God's word. All its strength is ours. "Thy word," says the psalmist, "have I hid in mine

heart, that I might not sin against Thee." "By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." Psalm 119:11; 17:4. {MH 181.2} Talk courage to the people; lift them up to God in prayer. Many who have been overcome by temptation are humiliated by their failures, and they feel that it is in vain for them to approach unto God; but this thought is of the enemy's suggestion. When they have sinned, and feel that they cannot pray, tell them that it is then the time to pray. Ashamed they may be, and deeply humbled; but as they confess their sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. {MH 181.3} Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go. {MH 182.1} Men and women frame many excuses for their proneness to sin. Sin is represented as a necessity, an evil that cannot be overcome. But sin is not a necessity. Christ lived in this world from infancy to manhood, and during that time He met and resisted all the temptations by which man is beset. He is a perfect pattern of childhood, of youth, of manhood. {FLB 219.4} The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have. Then ask and receive. . . . Let your life be knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus. {FLB 219.5}