Justification has not come about because of anything believers are capable of achieving on their own
- Thread starter Peterlag
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It is astounding that you ask that question. I will continue to read Scripture for the rest of my life and I caution you to do the same.
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
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Well, you must not have talked to the people at my church nor the preachers that preach there! 
I see the "sin nature" as something that existed before Jesus Christ destroyed it when the spirit of Christ came within the believer. This spirit is indeed a life form that is in all Christians and it seems to me one cannot understand and therefore function or be in the spirit if our old nature (which is dead) thinks in it's unrenewed mind that it suppose to be fighting against the new nature. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" That's what I'm talking about. I now understand being in Christ is being in the spirit and neither of them (in Christ or in the spirit) has anything to do with the darn flesh. It now seems perfectly clear to walk in the spirit is the same as putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The new creature in Christ (the new man) at at the spirit level of the believer does not and cannot sin. Paul says in Galatians 5:16:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not (double negative in Greek!) fulfil the lust of the flesh." So if we follow the Spirit living in the new creature of our spirit all of the time we will not sin.
But if we follow our flesh (which we all still have), then we will commit acts of sin. God has given all of the provisions for each one of us to live above sin. Have you never sinned (in your flesh) in the past year? For myself, I have failed, followed my flesh, and sinned too many times in the past year!
But, and here is the key, I have no plans of ever again following my flesh, and committing another act of sin! I want and commit to follow my Redeemer and my Lord with my whole heart, soul, and mind.
(And if I do fail, I have an advocate with the Father)
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not (double negative in Greek!) fulfil the lust of the flesh." So if we follow the Spirit living in the new creature of our spirit all of the time we will not sin.
But if we follow our flesh (which we all still have), then we will commit acts of sin. God has given all of the provisions for each one of us to live above sin. Have you never sinned (in your flesh) in the past year? For myself, I have failed, followed my flesh, and sinned too many times in the past year!
But, and here is the key, I have no plans of ever again following my flesh, and committing another act of sin! I want and commit to follow my Redeemer and my Lord with my whole heart, soul, and mind.
(And if I do fail, I have an advocate with the Father)
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No, sorry, you're incorrect.
John is still talking to those in Christ, same as in 1 John 2:1-2 which follows the same context, audience, intent and purpose of his epistle.
The context of 1 John 1 does not change from being to the church 1 John 1:1-7, to the lost in 1:8-10 then back to the church yet again. Therefore the "we" in 1:8-10 are the saved, referring to those in Christ.
Claiming the audience changes is to conveniently put in a plug for your error by taking the text out of context to support it, and is a failure of 2 Timothy 2:15.
The entire epistle is to the church and is used to test false teachers and false teachings (which includes yours) and serves as a test between the "we" (the saved) and the "they" (the deceived and unsaved).
As @Nehemiah6 pointed out, you are deceived, and you do in fact sin. Saying you are without sin is to call God a liar; 1 John 1:10 and that in itself is a tremendous sin.
Certainly you're not going to accept correction; 2 Timothy 3:16, this is for others who may be deceived by your error in order to prevent this from happening, for those newer to the faith, or as a reminder and edification to all in Christ who know these things to be true.
John is still talking to those in Christ, same as in 1 John 2:1-2 which follows the same context, audience, intent and purpose of his epistle.
The context of 1 John 1 does not change from being to the church 1 John 1:1-7, to the lost in 1:8-10 then back to the church yet again. Therefore the "we" in 1:8-10 are the saved, referring to those in Christ.
Claiming the audience changes is to conveniently put in a plug for your error by taking the text out of context to support it, and is a failure of 2 Timothy 2:15.
The entire epistle is to the church and is used to test false teachers and false teachings (which includes yours) and serves as a test between the "we" (the saved) and the "they" (the deceived and unsaved).
As @Nehemiah6 pointed out, you are deceived, and you do in fact sin. Saying you are without sin is to call God a liar; 1 John 1:10 and that in itself is a tremendous sin.
Certainly you're not going to accept correction; 2 Timothy 3:16, this is for others who may be deceived by your error in order to prevent this from happening, for those newer to the faith, or as a reminder and edification to all in Christ who know these things to be true.
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More SELF-DECEPTION by one who is trying to deceive others also. Looks like we have another false teacher on board, perhaps influenced by the Hyper-Grace false teachers.
"He is not talking to those who are in Christ" is totally refuted by the apostle John right at the beginning. He did not leave any room for deceivers to try and fool Christians into thinking that he was addressing the unsaved.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 Jn 1:3,4)
The Bible clearly teaches that only those who are in Christ can have fellowship with others who are in Christ. In other words, there can be no fellowship between believers and unbelievers: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (2 Cor 6:14; Eph 5:11)
But John -- who is an apostle of Jesus Christ -- speaks to those who can indeed have fellowship with him, as well as with the triune Godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). He is clearly addressing the children of God (as we see throughout this epistle)
EVERY REFERENCE TO "FELLOWSHIP" CONCERNS TRUE BELIEVERS
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:9)
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 Jn 1:7)
BUT TRUE BELIEVERS CAN AND DO SIN, AND MUST DEAL WITH SIN
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 Jn 1:8-10; 2:1)
The New Testament is full of exhortations to Christians to walk in the Spirit and to also examine themselves. In fact, John, when addressing Christians also says "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 Jn 5:21). And "little children" are indeed children of God.
"He is not talking to those who are in Christ" is totally refuted by the apostle John right at the beginning. He did not leave any room for deceivers to try and fool Christians into thinking that he was addressing the unsaved.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 Jn 1:3,4)
The Bible clearly teaches that only those who are in Christ can have fellowship with others who are in Christ. In other words, there can be no fellowship between believers and unbelievers: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (2 Cor 6:14; Eph 5:11)
But John -- who is an apostle of Jesus Christ -- speaks to those who can indeed have fellowship with him, as well as with the triune Godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). He is clearly addressing the children of God (as we see throughout this epistle)
EVERY REFERENCE TO "FELLOWSHIP" CONCERNS TRUE BELIEVERS
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:9)
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 Jn 1:7)
BUT TRUE BELIEVERS CAN AND DO SIN, AND MUST DEAL WITH SIN
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 Jn 1:8-10; 2:1)
The New Testament is full of exhortations to Christians to walk in the Spirit and to also examine themselves. In fact, John, when addressing Christians also says "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 Jn 5:21). And "little children" are indeed children of God.
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