| Romans 6:18,22 18 Having then been set free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.7 [He is speaking to very mature Christians, who have suffered on the cross to be free with sin; but they can still fall to temptation if they are not watchful because they have not received the second step of perfection: to be born of God and unable to sin again because the Father protects them. 1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:18, John 10:29. A slave of righteousness does only what he is ordered to do and says only what he hears from the Spirit immediately before speaking.] 22 But now being made free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have the fruit [reward] of holiness, and at the end, everlasting life.9 [To be a slave to God does not mean you go to Bible College or Seminary; that would be totally counter productive. To be a slave to God is to follow the Spirit's continual guidance and commands that you hear and see — but to your supreme joy of sharing in his works of love. Every word and every action is virtuous and perfect because God prompts them; you are doing his will on earth as it is done in heaven by the angels, as you remain in whatever is your current, honest occupation. See this verse's footnote for a more detailed explanation.] | 1 John 2:13,14 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, young children, because you have known the Father. [In this verse the Greek for young men that have overcome the devil is neaniskoi <3495>, and the Greek for young children that know the Father is paidia <3813>; these are not the little children disciples who still sin. The young children of this verse know the Father; to know the Father is to be a son freed from all sin, in union with God, and in the kingdom.] 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.2 [The Greek for the young men in this verse is again neaniskoi <3495>; and they are strong. In this chapter John addresses disciples who still sin, without salvation; plus John addresses three groups of sons of God with salvation, freed from sin: 1) young children of God who know God, 2) young men of God that have overcome the devil and grown strong in the measure of the Word of God (Jesus) living in them, 3) stronger still, fathers capable of developing other children.] | 1 John 5:5,4 4 For whoever is born of God overcomes [has conquered] the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. [John tells us what it means to overcome the world in 1 John 2:17: the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it. Paul confirms: they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world have (past tense) come; the world has been crucified to me, and me to it, Gal 6:14. To overcome the world is to be crucified from the lusts of the world: to have mortified the lusts and desires for things, wealth, bodies, sex; that is the victory that overcomes. But the only victory the believers of Christendom have experienced, is victory over their conscience and guilt for committing sin .] 5 Who is he who overcomes [has conquered] the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [Unless you believe Jesus, you will never be able to overcome the world; but the converse is not true. Just because you believe Jesus is the Son of God, does not mean you have automatically conquered the world; to conquer the world you must crucify your sinful nature on the inward cross of self-denial.] | 1 John 3:9,5:18 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, for his seed [Christ] remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.5 [To be born again, you must be crucified, which destroys all desires to sin in you. As a new creature you are then raised to heaven by Jesus who shows you the Father, and then you belong to Jesus and the Father. Once you are in the Father's hand, you are protected from ever sinning again. "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; instead God protects the one he has fathered, and the wicked one does not touch him." 1 John 5:18.] 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; instead God protects the one he has fathered, and the wicked one does not touch him.5 [The one whom God has fathered is a new creature, who is the believer with Christ resurrected within him; both then are raised to the heavens, to sit down in Christ, who never fell. He cannot fall to sin again because God protects him. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:29. Those born again live in heaven, but they also still walk the earth with Christ dwelling within them and guiding them with all words to speak and all deeds to be performed.] | Titus 2:13-14 13 As we receive the blessed fulfillment of our hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, [The great God, the Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, are revealed as they come and make their home in the hearts of who love and obey Jesus. John 14:23. From the Word of the Lord within: "The second coming is a personal experience. The second coming is in the hearts of purified believers."] 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity [lawless deeds, sin], and purify for himself a people who are his very own, zealous for good works.1 [Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh [the sinful nature] with its passions and desires [lusts and affections], Gal 5:24, to become pure. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. From the Word of the Lord within: "If you are still sinning, you belong to sin and not to Me."] | |||||