As little children grow in their rooted faith, the norm becomes a life free from deeds of the body, consistent with their new nature in Christ. Deeds of the body include unconscious actions, words, thoughts, behaviors, or gestures that are not fully voluntary and, although evil in their nature, do not constitute a total break in fellowship with God when they occur without conscious knowledge or consent.
1 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The apostle John expresses a clear expectation of total holiness for those who are born of God. Sin whether habitual or occasional must never be the norm of the Christian life. Followers of lying movements seek to excuse sins by misinterpreting John’s words as applying indiscriminately to everyone (mature Christians or not), thereby normalizing occasional and periodic sins.
In 1 John 3:4–9, John cannot contradict himself between chapters 2 and 3, nor deny himself. He affirms clearly that “he who sins is of the devil,” and that “he who abides in Him does not sin,” neither in practice nor on occasion.
According to 1 John 3:9–10, the norm is explicit: to never sin again. John establishes a clear distinction between the Christian and the pagan.
1 John 3:9–10
Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
In verse 18, John states again:
“He who is born of God does not sin; he keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him.”
In verse 17, John clarifies that all unrighteousness is sin, but he distinguishes this from the normal state described in verse 18. When John says “we know,” he refers to the normal, settled state of the true Christian: born of God, not committing sin.
At the same time, 1 John 3:10 declares:
“By this we know the children of God and the children of the devil…”
This verse establishes a decisive line between the sons of God and the sons of the evil one.
The Blood of Jesus and Responsibility
The blood of Jesus must never become a license to commit sins—neither consciously nor occasionally. On the contrary, the awakened believer must analyze his sins, understand where he fell, what influenced him, and ensure that it never happens again.
The blood of Jesus becomes effective in the life of a believer from the moment he has a contrite heart, confesses his sins and abandons them, walking all the days of his life according to the Law of God, out of love for God, in complete holiness in deed, word, thought, imagination, and behavior.
Distinction Between the Awakened Believer and the Mature Christian
There is a clear distinction between:
the awakened believer who may still fall occasionally, and
the mature Christian who no longer sins at all.
This corresponds to the “father” stage of maturity.
1 John 3:13
I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
The mature Christian is fully regenerated, having experienced the new birth a prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of God and wages victorious war against the desires of the flesh and the deeds of the body by growing in holiness without sin.
Normalizing occasional sin because of supposed weakness leads to demonic fatalism, destroying the victorious and serene mentality essential to holiness—and therefore to salvation.
Actions of the Body vs Works of the Flesh
It is essential to distinguish between:
conscious works of the flesh these must be crucified once for all and must never reappear, even once; Galates 5:24
unconscious deeds of the body which may temporarily persist in spiritual “little children” without conscious awareness, but must progressively be put to death as light increases.
John defines sin as the transgression of the Law of God (1 John 2). What is unconscious and not known as evil by the conscience is not yet willful sin, but it must still be corrected as light grows.
Three Stages of Spiritual Growth
1. Child stage
The believer has dominion over sin but may still exhibit unconscious deeds of the body, which must be put to death as understanding increases (Romans 8:13). He begins to walk in the light as Jesus is in the light.
2. Young adult stage
1 John 3:13–14
“I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.”
At this stage, discernment increases. Even subtle unconscious deeds of the body are recognized and mortified. Strength, victory, and spiritual authority develop.
3. Father stage (mature Christian)
This stage represents complete holiness without sin. The believer is free even from unconscious deeds of the body and embodies the stature of Christ.
This is the indispensable state on earth for salvation the final, normal state described by John as born of God, producing no sin.
Crucifixion of the Flesh: Permanent and Irreversible
The crucifixion of the flesh is once for all.
The flesh does not come down from the cross, sin, and return again.
Romans 6:6–7
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him… for he who is dead is freed from sin.
A dead man does not revive.
Likewise, one who is dead to sin cannot return to it, even occasionally.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15
One died for all, therefore all died… that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him.
Romans 6:5–6, 12 confirms that sin must no longer reign not once, not occasionally.
1 Peter 2:21–24, especially verse 24:
“…that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.”
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
What is destroyed must never reappear, not even once.
Freedom Once for All
When a slave is freed, he does not return to his former master.
Romans 6:22
Being freed from sin, you became slaves of God.
Freedom from sin is once for all.
Crucifixion of the flesh is once for all.
The agony of the flesh is permanent, but victorious.
Galatians 2:20
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
Paul’s carnal self is dead once for all.
The Christian life is not a life without temptation, but a life without sin.
Conscious works of the flesh must never occur again.
Unconscious deeds of the body must progressively disappear as maturity is reached.
The norm is clear.
The standard is clear.
Complete holiness without sin.
This is the biblical doctrine.
This is the will of the Father.
This is the state required for salvation.