Hi CL,
We've been round and round this. That's not the question. The real question is about justification, what it is, how it's accomplished, and Who accomplishes this. We are justified by faith alone in Christ alone, and that being so, our justification is forever, because Jesus Christ Never Changes.
The next question is regarding nature. Are we a spirit child of God living in a contrary flesh that wars with us at all times? Or something other than that? Who sins?
We are a spirit child of God, who lives and moves and has our being in Jesus Christ Himself. We live in our corrupted bodies of flesh, in a manner which increases all our lives in growth and maturity and sanctification. That process never stops. He who began a good work in you will complete it Until the day of Christ Jesus. When we see Him we will be like Him. And the Apostle didn't mean in a personal spiritual way.
I don't question whether God gives the gift of faith to live without consciousness of sin. Not for a moment!! I know the reality myself, but I don't believe that this is the teaching of Scripture, as if everyone had that gift, and that without it we are not saved. Again, not for a moment.
Scripture clearly teaches a growth towards maturity. What do we grow in other than in faith and understanding? We come to know more what He says, and who He is, and we trust Him more. Since that trust is what opens the door to our receiving His grace, this is what brings that grace that overcomes all sin.
What is that good work? Is it to bring the Christian to where they can be "partakers of God's nature"? All who are born from above partake His nature. That is our new birth, what and who we are, God's children, the mystery. Entirely by His promise, and not by our effort.
In His grace we stand, and standing, we walk, and walking in grace is walking in the works He ordained, not our own, and in Him is no sin whatsoever. Not of any kind at all. Sins unto death, sins not unto death, in Him is no sin. None. Do we by His grace sin? No. As He is, so are we in this world.
We enter into His grace by faith, and I believe that is the good work Christ is doing in us, building our faith, and building our understanding, to bring us into unity with each other, as we walk in Him.
And again, that this is a process in those who are reborn. It is by faith, and I know God can and does gift that faith. And anything in between, the faith to overcome the flesh in this way, but not that way.
Why did Paul pray?
Why did Paul ask 3 times for the thorn to be removed? He didn't understand, and not understanding, he also didn't trust. The Apostle Paul! Far be it from me to speak against the man! But in this, he didn't understand, and he didn't trust. Jesus gave him understanding, and his faith was built.
I believe this is how it is with all of us. God gives us faith to a certain level, He gives us what we need. For this person it may be this, and for that person it may be that. Why? I wonder. Because it's good. Must be. What does it do? Makes us safe, but leaves us in need. Where is the benefit? He supplies our needs directly, and through each other, and in so doing builds our relationships. Getting to know you . . .
Because He wants us to have a true unity built upon true love, love that we desire to both receive and share, real love. But we have no idea how to do it, because we've been dead. We from a race of dead people who know absulutely nothing about love and life and God. In this way we grow into it through our own choices, as we learn ever more about God.
Much love!
@Taken
