Deuteronomy 30:11 Affirms The Possibility Of Sinlessness

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach."
--Deuteronomy 30:11


It is no wonder that Deuteronomy 30:11 is not a familiar verse for many Christians.  Not only are modern evangelicals reluctant to engage the Old Testament honestly, but they are also prone to deny that it is truly within human power to not sin.  Of course, this stance, when accepted by the majority of Christians in a given setting, inevitably leads to moral stagnation of varying extents, or to the excusing of miscellaneous faults.

Moses himself directly, explicitly says in Deuteronomy 30:11 that the fullest range of Mosaic Law's commands (including the ceremonial and dietary laws) is not something that humans cannot bear.  If this was true in the days of ancient Israel, then it is inescapably true in the modern era, when there are at least some parts of the original Mosaic Law--not the legal punishments, however [1]--that are not obligatory [2].  The reduction of even a single obligation makes upholding the Law a simpler matter; Christians have even less of an excuse for sin than the ancient Jews did.

Sinlessness in human life would only be unachievable if such a thing was beyond our metaphysical ability to pursue.  Since there is not a single individual instance where someone has to sin (outside of very specific circumstances [3], I must clarify), it is not logically necessary for anyone to sin at all, however strong a temptation might be.  Now, human sinlessness is certainly rare--though not unheard of in Biblical narratives.  However, it is obviously possible due to the fact that there is no logical contradiction that prevents a person from consciously moving away from sin and into a state of moral perfection.

The most effective ways to avoid fighting sin are to either not recognize it as sin or to fallaciously think that sin cannot truly be defeated.  A sound moral epistemology, which is nothing other than a rationalistic and theonomist ethical framework, is the only way to combat the first problem, as it is a problem of ignorance.  The second problem is one that knowledge of what defines something as sinful cannot resolve on its own.  A personal resolve to live rightly is also required.

That sinlessness can be achieved by humans is one of the most empowering truths that could be discovered by a Christian.  To tell someone that they can stop sinning is to emphasize that they are not a helpless slave to sin, but a being with an autonomous will, the capacity for redemption, and the ability to correctly identify what is sin and what it is not according to Scripture.  Indeed, it is degrading to regard a person, including oneself, as incapable of choosing righteousness over moral error.  Furthermore, it is contrary to Moses' statement in Deuteronomy 30:11, as well as contrary to Jesus' command in Matthew 5:48.


[1].  https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-consequences-of-non-theonomy.html

[2].  https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-old-covenant.html

[3].  https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-morality-of-vows.html