Question: The Lord Jesus died on the cross for us, He forgave all our sins and redeemed us from the hands of Satan. That is to say, He did this to save us and grant us access to the kingdom of heaven. Even after this redemption, we continue to sin and we have yet to be cleansed. Nevertheless, I believe that the Lord’s forgiveness has made us righteous through our faith. As long as we sacrifice everything else to work and spend for God, as long as we are willing to endure suffering and pay the price, we’d be raptured into the kingdom of heaven. I think this is the Lord’s promise to us. However, some brothers and sisters have now questioned this belief. They say that although we labor and work for the Lord, we still sin often and then confess our sins, so we have not yet been cleansed. They have stated that the Lord is holy, so unholy people cannot meet Him. My question is: We who have sacrificed everything else and spend for the Lord, can we really be raised up into the kingdom of heaven?
We who have sacrificed everything else and spend for the Lord, can we really be raised up into the kingdom of heaven?
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Lambano
Well-Known Member
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
What does it mean to "walk in the light"?
What does it mean to "walk in the light"?
We should not be counting what we do.
We are justified through Jesus, and after that we become a new man, and want to do His will. I don't think we are supposed to count the cost--things done for the Lord arise out of love for Him and a desire to please Him.
You can't keep score. Nothing on your own.
He has promised to come back for you. Let that be enough.
Lambano
Well-Known Member
You mentioned being “cleansed” twice, which is holiness language. The 1 John scripture I quoted promises that Christ’s blood cleanses us from all sin. Makes us holy. But the promise was conditional, the dependency being we walk in the light. So, I’m wondering aloud what that means. The context of 1 John 1 - 2:2 makes me think “walking in the light” doesn’t mean living completely without sinning in thought, word, and deed, though that is certainly a worthy (but perhaps unobtainable) goal. We can talk about that.
i think being cleansed doesn't mean completely holy or sinless perfection, but it means freed from sinful nature. If one can fear God and shun evil, obey God, love God, and do God's will, we can say this person is holy relatively, like Job, Peter, Abraham,etc. These people are approved by God. I mean, God sets requirements for man, and if man can meet God's requirements, then these people can be called holy, and be allowed to enter into heavenly kingdom. being cleaned is like being purified. And man's being holy is different from God's holiness, because God has no corruption, God is perfect, only God's substance is the "real holy".
i believe that Lord Jesus will return in the last days to speak many words to guide us into all truths, purify us, and then bring us into heavenly kingdom. let me write down some bible bases.
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13).
“And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects Me, and receives not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:47–48). “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: … And He gave Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man” (John 5:22, 27).
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17).
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.（John 17:17）
i believe that Lord Jesus will return in the last days to speak many words to guide us into all truths, purify us, and then bring us into heavenly kingdom. let me write down some bible bases.
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13).
“And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects Me, and receives not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:47–48). “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: … And He gave Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man” (John 5:22, 27).
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17).
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.（John 17:17）
this is a good topic. i think we can get the answers from the below movie clips. before i also have the same confusion. But after watching them, all my confusion is clear away. I strongly recommend that you guys can take a look at them.
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This is not a Christian teaching.
We will get to heaven because of what Jesus did at calvary and through the faith that God has given us.
Our getting to heaven has nothing to do with any sacrifice or good deeds we may have done.
Eternal salvation is for all believers born again by the Spirit.
When you believe in Christ, right then you have eternal life.
John 5
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 10
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
Not even the devil's temptations can snatch you out of God's hands.
God works all things to the good of who?
The love of God for you is everlasting as when you become a child of God, that means He has given you to Christ to be saved and his will is you will not be lost.
John 6
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Romans 8
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God's will and purposes cannot be thwarted, all the words of God will be fulfilled.
When you believe in Christ, right then you have eternal life.
John 5
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 10
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
Not even the devil's temptations can snatch you out of God's hands.
God works all things to the good of who?
The love of God for you is everlasting as when you become a child of God, that means He has given you to Christ to be saved and his will is you will not be lost.
John 6
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Romans 8
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God's will and purposes cannot be thwarted, all the words of God will be fulfilled.
VictoryinJesus
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- Jan 26, 2017
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What to walk in the light means to me. I’m not saying it’s right but only what in my opinion of “walking in the light” means. This world teaches us it’s all about image. There is so many disorders and illnesses and fears over loss of image. So we put on a false image. We lie to ourself and to others not allowing our weakness to be revealed, instead we cover it up. To me walking in the Light means getting honest with yourself and others. To me it doesn’t mean confessing your faults in prayer by yourself but believing that if you confess before others. those faults brought into the Light for others to see and you acknowledge which also encourages them also to confess their faults. Like the saying “nothing gets worked out in secret”. The reason I say that I don’t think it is confessing in prayer while alone in your private space is because to me it is the willingness to get real in “walking in the light” being exposed, becoming naked…knowing He clothes you. Not your hidden lies.
I can go up stairs into my attic and pray and confess a hundred things I do wrong that I’m coming clean about. But if I’m too afraid to confess it before others…then I’m still protecting a false image presented before others. To me that could be why He says if you have something against your brother leave your sacrifice and go tell your brother. That is the fear…of getting honest to one another.
But it is frightening to give up the false image. an example …if I say a person is rotten and I mock the things they do but at the same time I lie to others and mostly to myself not able to see I do the same things…then there is no Light because I’m blind to my own doing of those things which I mock others for. Denial. Building up an image. Raising up a false image against brothers; This is what you are (tearing them down) while this is what I am (building yourself up). To me that is the false balances God hates. The balances are false. Lying about the truth. No humility of acknowledgment or able to see your own weakness. To me that denial of the truth and denial of light that your deeds be made known and made manifest …instead to protect your false image because of being proud of yourself and who and what you are when it is all based off of denying what is the truth “inside the heart” to shield yourself from ridicule by your deepest denials and falsehoods coming into the light …it’s all a powerful thing. Self-denial to me is the most freighting thing. The lies we convince ourselves of and the lies we tell ourselves. I was actually thinking about this last night…I’m starting to wonder if I can trust a single thing that I tell myself. I’m the worst liar of all. There’s two voices that I hear. One is my own that I’ve listened to and heard for 54 years. Cliche but after hearing and listening to that voice for 54 years I know the voice like the back of my hand. But there is another Voice and it’s foreign to the voice I’ve heard and listened to. There is a difference. Last night I was thinking about the voice I know like the back of my hand and I am almost convinced it’s the Antichrist. I say this because the voice I know like the back of my hand does everything possible to deny, reject, over-talk, shut-up, speak and convince against the other Voice that is so different from my own. The voice I know like the back of my hand is always saying “no. You are crazy. You are mentally ill. You are sick. You are not loved. All of your weakness are pathetic and you can’t be loved. Go back into your prison. Go back into your cage. You are not safe. You can’t be.” …which sounds nothing like His Voice which says things I’ve never heard before. That is why I’m beginning to see which voice is anti-Christ warring against His Voice?
That is what “walking in the Light” means to me. Letting go of the false image we use to clothe and hide ourselves while at the same time doing all we can to expose others so we feel better and prideful over “our clothing” which is false because it’s based off of our own denial. Our denial of our false image mostly to ourselves. “Walking in the light” not a one time act but a way of walking in what we say we believe which is our Father forgives our sins. Yet we hide them which is contrary to what we say we believe which God is graceful and merciful and quick to forgive.
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Lambano
Well-Known Member
Victory, this is a great answer, and I don’t know why I didn’t see it or expect it.
Lambano
Well-Known Member
This needs to happen, but I don’t know when it happens. Some people say it can happen in this life. I don’t know about that. All I know is that it hasn’t happened to me or anybody I know. (And I’ll bet a Starbucks pumpkin spice muffin that I’ll regret saying that publicly. Sheesh, talk about wanting to maintain a false public image…)
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Scripture is and has the perfect answer, otherwise it is just talk and may or not be really representing God.
2 Timothy 3
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Lambano
Well-Known Member
Yes, and the verse immediately after the one I quoted, and immediately before another one on cleansing, confirms her answer.
Lambano
Well-Known Member
I don’t doubt that God can remove the sinful nature in this life; “with God, all things are possible”. Then the question becomes, “Will He?” Under what conditions?
I know some folks who have prayed and begged for release from addictions and besetting sins, and for whatever reason, the answer was, “No, my grace is sufficient for you”.
The real answer is in this:
In whom do you put your full trust and faith for salvation? Yourself (good works) or Jesus Christ (and His finished work on the cross)?
Matthew 7:22-23
[22]Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23]And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Notice how these begin to name all their good works, believing that is what merits them entry into the kingdom of Heaven. These people have placed their trust in the wrong place. In the verses that follow, Jesus speaks of building our house on the Rock (which is Him). That is the only way our house will stand. Our righteousness (all our good works) is filthy rags. That's why He came ....so by faith IN CHRIST, we are clothed in HIS righteousness.
Do you see?
1 John 1 - 2:2
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Have to have sin to be forgiven of it. All have sinned and do sin, but you do not continue to be saved again and again, lost, saved, lost, saved over and over ad infinitum.
Matthew 9:6
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
The thing is a Christian is forgiven all of their sin, including into the future. As a Christian you are joined to the Lord as one spirit with God. And since a Christian is a new creation in Christ, what sins we do are those deeds done in the body, and we know the body is dead because of sin, (true of all living flesh), but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. and our righteousness is imputed to us by God through faith.
Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Further evidence of eternal salvation
Ephesians 2 speaks not of sin but of grace that saves us by the means of faith. only the faithless do not have their sins forgiven. You must believe in Christ to be saved.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses (sins), made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
And furthermore .....once we have placed our faith where it belongs, and we just love Him ....because He first loved us ....we are more able to walk in the good works He has ordained us to do. But .....those works are not our source of salvation. HE is!
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