I feel that there is a different gospel being pushed on this thread, "Salvation by works".
More like "salvation
unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10)
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
1 John 1:8
Notice that, that verse does not say, "
If we say that we do no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."
If it did, it would be in contradiction to 1 John 3:5-9.
1 John 1:8 is speaking of indwelling sin. And, indwelling sin can be rendered dead (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:24, Romans 7:8) so that it no longer has any say over our behaviour (Romans 6:14).
Yeah, I don’t know if there’s any way to help it. It becomes such a huge dang mess, just like when the Pharisees were running the show and greatly concerned with perfecting themselves and everyone else. When you try to perfect yourself then hold yourself up as the shining example and everyone else as the problem, you can’t even smell how odious you are.
Now, I do not hold myself up as the shining example with everyone else as the problem; while I can say that the Lord has done a work in me and that I am not the man I used to be.
Jesus did say that "
Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)
Now, I do not consider myself to have apprehended such a righteousness as that (except for that the Lord has shed abroad His love in my heart); for the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was impeccable according to the law.
Our righteousness must exceed outward impeccability; and I believe that the way that the Lord has shown for us for that to occur is for us to walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). And this means that we confess our sins, and He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I think that most people gloss over the latter part of that last verse.
It has to do with being cleansed from the inside out. Being outwardly, impeccably righteous will not cut it with the Lord because He desires that you be righteous on the inside.
When you try to perfect yourself then hold yourself up as the shining example and everyone else as the problem, you can’t even smell how odious you are. And most of the time, you haven’t even changed inwardly even one inch but somehow, you’re convinced you did even though you remain the same...
The guy doesn’t trust Jesus nor the Gospel to Save him —- he’s gonna do it Himself with his magnificent “ self- control”.....Paul warned about ” Will-Worship” and “ Will- Power is Grailhunter’s “ god”........
He admires the way that he is changing the “ outside of the Cup”.....and make no mistake— God “ does” want us to be “ good”, but any “ goodness” That Counts with God is a result of the TRANSFORMING of the “ inside of the cup”.....
Any man can change—- “ turn over a New Leaf” and the like and that is better than nothing, but Even though a man can change his outside behavior and impress the local “ Fruit inspectors” , only God can change the “ INSIDE of the Cup”, and that takes TRUST. Trust is another word for Faith and if you don’t exchange your “ WILL” worship to “ Christ” Worship.....you are in Serious Jeopardy.....
If the inside of the cup and platter has been made clean, the outside of the cup and platter will also be clean...
So, if the outside has been made clean, who are we to judge another, and say that his inward parts have not been cleansed?
I prayed for my mom to go recently. She was in pain, bed-ridden, 88 years old and it was time. An hour or two later she passed. I am happy she is with the Lord.
I understand the confusion about 1 John 3:9, I stumbled on that one for awhile when I was an infant Christian. What the sceipture is saying is that we do not continue practicing sin, which would be willfully rebelling against. This would mean that there has not really been a change of heart or maybe just a shallow belief where you are not willing to examine yourself and look at your own sins. And deal with them. A more amplified version of that scripture is needed.
"No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again--who is reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him." 1 Cor. 3:9
What you have to watch out for with that interpretation is the tendency to say, "I can commit this sin, just this one time, because it is just this one time, and therefore I am not committing it habitually. I am not practicing sin because I am only committing it this one time."
What you will find is that if you can do that once, you can do it again. And you will also find in the long run that you are in fact committing that sin habitually and are practicing it.
The point is that Zacharias & Elizabeth were able to keep the Law, Blameless! It is not Imposible!
True. And my point is that being righteous according to the law will not save a person. You must have the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:8-9) in order to be forgiven of your sins; and you can be certain that you have sinned in times past (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:10).
