{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050375.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050375.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050375.htm","text":"Chapter XVIII.\u2014(39.) The Eighth Passage. In What Sense He is Said Not to Sin Who is Born of God. In What Way He Who Sins Shall Not See Nor Know God.\n\u201cThey also quote,\u201d says he, \u201cthis passage, \u201cIf we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.\u201d 1554 And this very clear testimony he has endeavoured to meet with apparently contradictory texts, saying thus: \u201cThe same St. John in this very epistle says, \u2018This, however, brethren, I say, that ye sin not. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin.\u2019 1555 Also elsewhere: \u2018Whosoever is born of God sinneth not; because his being born of God preserveth him, and the evil one toucheth him not.\u2019 1556 And again in another passage, when speaking of the Saviour, he says: \u2018Since He was manifested to take away sins, whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.\u2019 1557 And yet again: \u2018Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope towards Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.\u2019\u201d 1558 And yet, notwithstanding the truth of all these passages, that also is true which he has adduced, without, however, offering any explanation of it: \u201cIf we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.\u201d 1559 Now it follows from the whole of this, that in so far as we are born of God we abide in Him who appeared to take away sins, that is, in Christ, and sin not,\u2014which is simply that \u201cthe inward man is renewed day by day;\u201d 1560 but in so far as we are born of that man \u201cthrough whom sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men,\u201d 1561 we are not without sin, because we are not as yet free from his infirmity, until, by that renewal which takes place from day to day (for p. 174 it is in accordance with this that we were born of God), that infirmity shall be wholly repaired, wherein we were born from the first than, and in which we are not without sin. While the remains of this infirmity abide in our inward man, however much they may be daily lessened in those who are advancing, \u201cwe deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, if we say that we have no sin.\u201d Now, however true it is that \u201cwhosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, nor known Him,\u201d 1562 since with that vision and knowledge, which shall be realized in actual sight, no one can in this life see and know Him; yet with that vision and knowledge which come of faith, there may be many who commit sin,\u2014even apostates themselves,\u2014who still have believed in Him some time or other; so that of none of these could it be said, according to the vision and knowledge which as yet come of faith, that he has neither seen Him nor known Him. But I suppose it ought to be understood that it is the renewal which awaits perfection that sees and knows Him; whereas the infirmity which is destined to waste and ruin neither sees nor knows Him. And it is owing to the remains of this infirmity, of whatever amount, which remain firm in our inward man, that \u201cwe deceive ourselves, and have not the truth in us, when we say that we have no sin.\u201d Although, then, by the grace of renovation \u201cwe are the sons of God,\u201d yet by reason of the remains of infirmity within us \u201cit doth not appear what we shall be; only we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.\u201d Then there shall be no more sin, because no infirmity shall any longer remain within us or without us. \u201cAnd every man that hath this hope towards Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure,\u201d\u2014purifieth himself, not indeed by himself alone, but by believing in Him, and calling on Him who sanctifieth His saints; which sanctification, when perfected at last (for it is at present only advancing and growing day by day), shall take away from us for ever all the remains of our infirmity.\n1 John 3:5, 6.\n173:1558\n1 John 3:2, 3.\n173:1559 173:1560 173:1561 174:1562","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise Concer...","type":"page"}