@07-07-07 and @Episkopos, I would ask you this question:
You don't sin anymore?
When is the last time you sinned?
You don't sin anymore?
When is the last time you sinned?
Workers of the flesh will not inherit eternal life
- Thread starter 07-07-07
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The Scriptures most certainly do. You don't live by your sinful flesh, but by the Spirit of the living God. Listen and learn.
Romans 13
[14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Your mischaracterization does not make for truth.
No more.
Romans 6
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
A long time ago. The Saints live free from sin while sinners live in sin. You're one or the other: a Saint or a sinner -- and it's the Saints who go marching in. Professing Christians who still give over to the lusts of the flesh are on the broad road to hell fire; the power of God is simply not in their lives to overcome sin. Repent or you will perish.
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This is simply not the message that fills the pews of modern churches. The message of the cross is to they that are perishing foolishness. If there is no advantage to the flesh...the people walk out the door.
The gospel message begins with a free sample...but to buy the product one needs to pay all they have. And who wants God that much?
Salvation is a free gift (Romans 5:15-19); however what the gift amounts to is the righteousness of the Lord in your life (Romans 5:17, Romans 5:19, 1 John 3:7).
As to whether I have the perfection that you speak of, @07-07-07, I will be honest with you and say that I still struggle in some areas.
But if you have been perfected according to Hebrews 10:14, then you are in a position to pray for me (1 John 3:22); and I request of you that you would do so: because I feel that I have sins that still so easily beset me in life (Hebrews 12:1).
As to whether I have the perfection that you speak of, @07-07-07, I will be honest with you and say that I still struggle in some areas.
But if you have been perfected according to Hebrews 10:14, then you are in a position to pray for me (1 John 3:22); and I request of you that you would do so: because I feel that I have sins that still so easily beset me in life (Hebrews 12:1).
I appreciate your question. It's difficult to say....as I don't always walk in the Spirit. I can't judge myself in this regard. Out of the Spirit I certainly fail at times...
The closer we come to be with God the less we sin...that's for sure. I stay close to God. But there is a place whereby His keeping power keeps us truly holy and untainted with any spot or wrinkle. I have walked there for extended times...I'm not presently in that state at this time...but I have also learned to cling to God regardless so that whether present or absent from that walk in power and grace...I might still seek to be approved unto God.
If we humbly seek to be pleasing to God this takes us to a close place. A close following of the Lord eliminates many temptations and obstacles.
But what takes us the final step into His presence?
I believe we are meant to go in and out of the Spirit as this teaches us a full dependence on Him in maturity...as in...we look only to Him. We sin when we take our eyes off Him. He helps us by carrying us for a time. He helps us by giving us His strength. But we are learning to focus on Him alone. That takes maturity and that takes time. But make no mistake...we need to fully engage in this walk of faith and dependence on God. His strength then comes as we turn to Him in the moment.
Ultimately the walk with God is broken down into moments. Take it moment by moment. God is there in the moment. THAT's the walk of faith. The Spirit empowers us to walk in the moment....and from moment to moment. Our failings should convince us of our moment by moment need of God for His grace.
I'll keep you in my prayers. May the Lord bless you and keep you. :)
I will most certainly pray for you. My question, however, is: are you struggling with sin or are you simply being tempted? Our minds can become a battle field at times when the enemy is coming against us, so we must learn to discern. Furthermore, as disciples of Messiah, we must discipline ourselves to perpetual prayer, fastings and living in the Scriptures. This is our spiritual exercise and preparation for the day of battle. If neglected, we become vulnerable to the enemy because he will exploit our weaknesses.
I appreciate your answer...as well as your offer to pray for me (you also, @07-07-07).
I believe that John is using hyperbole in 1 John 3:9...that he is not necessarily speaking of sinless perfection, but that he is saying that there will be a definite change in the heart and life of one who is born again...that we have changed our direction of walking in life from heading towards sin, death, and hell, to walking towards righteousness, holiness, life, and heaven. When we are born again, we begin walking on an upward spiral. If we begin to ever head lower, we are backsliding (see Jeremiah 3:22, Hosea 14:4).
Pro 15:24, The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Pro 4:18, But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
What this amounts to is that entire sanctification may indeed even be attainable...although there is the possibility that there is not a plateau that we can reach in our quest for holiness but that the finish line is infinitely ahead of us...in which case, even in heaven, we will be reaching forward to what is ahead, and will be pressing toward the mark of the high calling of the Lord which is in Christ Jesus. But if there is a standard that can be reached, we may indeed obtain that level of holiness in this life if we are persistent in seeking to always increase in our level of holiness. Of course JTB said, "He must increase and I must decrease." but I don't think that he was talking about levels of holiness there but rather of John's influence as a prophet compared to the increased influence in comparison to John's that Jesus would have in the realm of the level of ministry that He would offer to the world.
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At this point I find that I still sin on a subconscious level...when I am asleep and dreaming, I sometimes have dreams that I am sinning against the Lord in some way, shape, or form.
But in my practical life, when it comes to outward manifestations of sin, I think that I might even be blameless.
But I think that I ought to count this blamelessness as dung in order that I might be found in Christ, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (see Philippians 3:1-9).
Such as what is spoken of in Acts 15:8-9.
Act 15:8, And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9, And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
It sounds that you're on the right road. Our minds are vulnerable to satan's attacks and from the fallen world that we live in, so the subconscious is affected. Your soul is clean, but the mind is an entry point for the enemy; this is part of our battle and test in this life. However, we can minimize our vulnerability by girding our minds with the mind of Christ. Shoot down the enemy's ungodly thoughts and temptations with the Word of God. Lift your head high as a Child of God, and let satan know that he can't make you sin against your God. Resist satan and he will flee from you. God promised to deliver you in time of trouble.
