You are right, that is self-righteousness. The test of whether you are born again is if the DESIRE to sin has been taken away by Christ,
@marks and
@Behold?
cc:
@2nd Timothy Group
The proof of salvation is not if you have no longer any temptation.
The proof of salvation is that you are born again.
For example, charismaticlady, Jesus was tempted.
So, There is no end to the flesh wanting to be satisfied, and if you never have any more desire for what is sensual, then that is because you are in the grave.
As that is where temptation and lust and the desire to fulfill it, ends for your body, or the "flesh".
This is why Paul, when talking to the BORN AGAIN.....tells them "dont use your Liberty (Grace of God) for an occasion to the FLESH".
"occasion to the flesh" is the carnal desires, fulfilled.
Notice that Paul didn't say..."now that you are never going to want to sin again,""
He does not say that, as that would be foolish... and not the truth.
So, this completely defies and contradicts your odd theology that you teach.
See, Jesus gives us power to NOT give in....to the lust, to the carnal. = To OVERCOME.
To try to falsely teach, as you do, that you never have a sinful thought, or a carnal desire, is the real proof you are born again, has no connection to Christian Reality.
And one more for you Reader..... "Paul tells you to put on the Armour of God" so that you can "STAND" against the temptations....of your FLESH.
So, if you never, as some deceived Charismatics teach, have any more desires for the carnal, the you would not need to put on spiritual armour =to Stand against the Temptations of this World, ....would you?
What God provides is VICTORY over your Flesh, because your Flesh is never going to leave you alone, even tho its crucified with Christ.
Paul teaches it like this...... When the law's dominion had him... when he was trying to stop sinning by WILLPOWER< he found himself in this situation....."oh wretched man that i am"". How can i be delivered from my carnality, my LUST.....this BODY of DEATH".
And he learned that the problem was.....when you resist sin by will, the Law's dominion causes you to want it more and you fall into it more.
"
the POWER OF SIN = IS THE LAW"...
= "that which i would not do,,,,,I DO IT"..
See that?
That is what happens when you try to fight the good fight in your own power.
= 100% failure rate.
But once Paul learned to stop resisting the Carnal, and live in God's Grace, (Right Believing) He found in THERE the "Christ always gives me the Victory" over the lust and the carnal and the "body of death".
So, when we want to stop living and failing in that battle, (sinning and confessing and repenting) = we find victory over it through the Power of Christ, and not by trying to stop sinning by will power.
Or as Jesus told you....>"apart from ME, you can do NOTHING">.
In other words, you can't live the holy life by trying to live it.....You can only live it by the Power of Christ, empowering you to live it.
Its like this......to fight the good fight and win, is to REST in the Grace of God.
"its not by might".....that is your self effort......"it's by GOD's Spirit".. and that is found when you REST in God's Grace.