Do You Have To Be Sinless?

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aspen

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Even when people bend His word to their will, it does not return to Him void, it accomplishes what He wanted. Just like light hitting water - it refracts and is spread out and sometimes some people might see the green wavelengths and other people might see the blue wavelengths --- but that beam of light still carries the full energy behind it, no matter how many times it was re-directed to shine to more people.

Do you think anyone's private interpretation goes forth into the earth, as Yah sent His word into all the earth at creation ?

No, those private interpretations require that people succumb to the FORCE OF WILL behind whichever person is twisting Yah's word to his own effect.

Say, someone was given power to do this - is He going to let them go into the world and do it for 5 years, 10 ?

That's up to Him, and we are not to know but I guarantee you this - that person will die some day and that private interpretation will die right along with him.

Noone's force of will can withstand the grave - and those seeking to exercise their own will are not going to be resurrected.

Nice thought but what about Joseph Smith, Jim Jones, Mary Baker Eddy, David Koresh, Ellen White, Mother Ann Lee, the list goes on and on - look at the lives they destroyed and the souls they sent astray with their private interpretation of scripture....
 

Thankful 1

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Nice thought but what about Joseph Smith, Jim Jones, Mary Baker Eddy, David Koresh, Ellen White, [font="arial][size="2"]Mother Ann Lee, the list goes on and on - look at the lives they destroyed and the souls they sent astray with their private interpretation of scripture....[/size][/font]


Those people with their so called private interpretation of scripture, would never had any one to follow them if people would only have let the Holy Spirit/God teach and guide him or her.



The Christians that followed Constantine the Great did the same thing as those you named did. They followed a man’s private interpretation. That caused a great down fall in the Church.



No matter who tells one anything about God we are told to ask Jesus if it is right or wrong.



I will witness that Jesus personally will tell one if some is right or wrong.
 

aspen

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Those people with their so called private interpretation of scripture, would never had any one to follow them if people would only have let the Holy Spirit/God teach and guide him or her.



The Christians that followed Constantine the Great did the same thing as those you named did. They followed a man’s private interpretation. That caused a great down fall in the Church.



No matter who tells one anything about God we are told to ask Jesus if it is right or wrong.



I will witness that Jesus personally will tell one if some is right or wrong.

You are reducing Jesus to a magic 8 ball - Christ is interested in justifying and sanctifying you - in order to redeem you and prepare you to be a citizen of Heaven - that is a lot more than just telling you right from wrong.


Look, the fact is, if you rely solely on the HS for direction, I guarantee you private interpretation would slip into the mix - it always does, we are a fallen people. I know it would happen because if you put everyone in the same room and presented an open ended problem for people to pray about everyone would come up with different answers and most would claim it came from the HS.
 

Thankful 1

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You are reducing Jesus to a magic 8 ball - Christ is interested in justifying and sanctifying you - in order to redeem you and prepare you to be a citizen of Heaven - that is a lot more than just telling you right from wrong.

Look, the fact is, if you rely solely on the HS for direction, I guarantee you private interpretation would slip into the mix - it always does, we are a fallen people. I know it would happen because if you put everyone in the same room and presented an open ended problem for people to pray about everyone would come up with different answers and most would claim it came from the HS.

I believe the sad fact is, that very few people trulyhave the Spirituality to where he or she is truly hearing from God.



Why don’t you do a survey asking people if they havetruly ever heard Jesus call him or her by name?



Also, scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit will teachus everything we need to know about God. Ask people if he or she has every had the Holy Spirit personally communicatewith them. It will be interesting tosee people’s different idea of how the Holy Spirit communicates with us.



When I talk about spirituality I am sharing that Jesusdoes talk to us. I have had Jesus talkto me audibly, and through the gift of tongues, gift of knowledge, prophesy,visions, touch, and just speaking to my mind. Jesus once told me to give him the first few moments of every situation. I ask Jesus’ permission to do almost everything I do, if there is any question of what he would want me to do I ask.



What I am sharing is a truly spiritual walk with Jesus, Awalk that scripture describes, but very few expierance. Because of that when I share people believeme delusional and make fun of me.



The first step to a spiritual walk is to give one’s lifeto Jesus. Then stop listening to manteachings about God. Expect to haveJesus/Holy Spirit teach you. As long aspeople say God does not come to teach one personally, they can be sure God willnot come.

 

amadeus

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Wrong!

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The verse you cited doesn't tell how to obtain the Truth. It only requires that we study. If study were alone were the way to find the God's Truth then the smartest, best students would be closest to God. There truly are atheists who are smarter and study the Bible more than some Christians. What reading and studying the Bible does is feed us the raw flesh of Jesus. Then it must be quickened [brought to Life] by the Holy Ghost.
Try this verse instead:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

See also these verses:

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." II Cor 3:5-6
 

shineyourlight_x

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God knows we won't be perfect. Jesus did command us to go and sin no more. John 8:11. But even though it's impossible to become sinless, and because we all sin and fall short from the glory of God (Romans 3:23), God offers down His grace. Meaning, He gives us plenty of chances to get up and try again.

God knows we aren't perfect and He knows we will sin. But all he wants for us is to TRY.
 

Nomad

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The verse you cited doesn't tell how to obtain the Truth. It only requires that we study. If study were alone were the way to find the God's Truth then the smartest, best students would be closest to God. There truly are atheists who are smarter and study the Bible more than some Christians. What reading and studying the Bible does is feed us the raw flesh of Jesus. Then it must be quickened [brought to Life] by the Holy Ghost.
Try this verse instead:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

See also these verses:

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." II Cor 3:5-6

You seem to have missed the point I was making and to what I was responding. 'Thankful' said, "If one needs to know what a verse in the written Word of God means, just ask Jesus. " Where in Scripture does Jesus ever promise to give personal commentary on a verse of Scripture? He doesn't.

Also, your John 14:26 quote does not say that the Holy Spirit gives private personal Biblical commentary either. Jesus spoke those words to the Apostles as they were about to become the inspired foundation of the Church. Adam Clarke captures the meaning succinctly.

Here Christ promises them that inspiration of the Holy Spirit which enabled them not only to give a true history of his life and death, but also gave them the most perfect recollection of all the words which he had spoken to them, so that they have been able to transmit to posterity the identical words which Jesus uttered in his sermons, and in his different discourses with them, the Jews, and others. Adam Clarke

Jesus did not address his comments to the average believer as the context will bear witness. We have been given the Scriptures and the gift of preachers and teachers. Notice the highlighted portions. They demonstrate to whom Jesus spoke and why.

Joh 14:25 "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Joh 14:28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
Joh 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you
, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
Joh 14:31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
 

Thankful 1

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You seem to have missed the point I was making and to what I was responding. 'Thankful' said, "If one needs to know what a verse in the written Word of God means, just ask Jesus. " Where in Scripture does Jesus ever promise to give personal commentary on a verse of Scripture? He doesn't.

Also, your John 14:26 quote does not say that the Holy Spirit gives private personal Biblical commentary either. Jesus spoke those words to the Apostles as they were about to become the inspired foundation of the Church. Adam Clarke captures the meaning succinctly.

Here Christ promises them that inspiration of the Holy Spirit which enabled them not only to give a true history of his life and death, but also gave them the most perfect recollection of all the words which he had spoken to them, so that they have been able to transmit to posterity the identical words which Jesus uttered in his sermons, and in his different discourses with them, the Jews, and others. Adam Clarke

Jesus did not address his comments to the average believer as the context will bear witness. We have been given the Scriptures and the gift of preachers and teachers. Notice the highlighted portions. They demonstrate to whom Jesus spoke and why.

Joh 14:25 "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Joh 14:28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
Joh 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you
, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
Joh 14:31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

(1 John 2:27) “But you have not lost theanointing that he gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you, the anointing he gave teaches you everything; you are anointed with truth, not a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him.”
 

Nomad

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(1 John 2:27) “But you have not lost theanointing that he gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you, the anointing he gave teaches you everything; you are anointed with truth, not a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him.”

It's sad that one who claims to be one of the only people who can interpret Scripture does such a poor job of it. Cherry picking what seems to support your strange ideas while ignoring context is not serving you well. The every fact that your out-of-context 'interpretation' of 1 John 2:27 comes into conflict when multiple passages of Scripture is very revealing. The following should suffice as a demonstration.

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. . .

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
Heb 5:13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

1 John 2:27 addresses the problem of gnostic teachers who had infiltrated the Church. The sense is that these gnostic teachers who John refers to as liars and Antichrists could not teach them anything that they didn't already know. They did not need the so-called 'knowledge' that the false teachers were pushing. John was telling his readers that they had the anointing that would help them recognize the truth against false teachers. Once again, your verse says nothing about the Holy Spirit giving private Bible commentary. The recognition of the truth through the anointing of the Holy Spirit is the point. You would do well in the future to pay close attention to context before using a cherry picked verse as a proof-text.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
1Jn 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
1Jn 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life.
1Jn 2:26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him.





 

Thankful 1

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It's sad that one who claims to be one of the only people who can interpret Scripture does such a poor job of it. Cherry picking what seems to support your strange ideas while ignoring context is not serving you well. The every fact that your out-of-context 'interpretation' of 1 John 2:27 comes into conflict when multiple passages of Scripture is very revealing. The following should suffice as a demonstration.

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. . .

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
Heb 5:13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

1 John 2:27 addresses the problem of gnostic teachers who had infiltrated the Church. The sense is that these gnostic teachers who John refers to as liars and Antichrists could not teach them anything that they didn't already know. They did not need the so-called 'knowledge' that the false teachers were pushing. John was telling his readers that they had the anointing that would help them recognize the truth against false teachers. Once again, your verse says nothing about the Holy Spirit giving private Bible commentary. The recognition of the truth through the anointing of the Holy Spirit is the point. You would do well in the future to pay close attention to context before using a cherry picked verse as a proof-text.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
1Jn 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
1Jn 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life.
1Jn 2:26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him.






(1 John 2:27) “But you have not lost the anointing that he gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you, the anointing he gave teaches you everything; you are anointed with truth, not a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him.”



I feel sorry for some people, scripture tells us that the anointing one receives will teach us everything, and they can’t understand what that means.



Now please what is a Christian anointed with? Of course a Christian is anointed with the Holy Spirit. Now if the Holy Spirit teaches us everything, it does seem that the written Word of God would be included.
 

HammerStone

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Just a friendly reminder, but please consider how comments might come out when you make them. This is not targeted at any one person, but there are ways to debate and make points without insulting the person, no matter how wrong you think they are.

Thanks.
 

Nomad

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(1 John 2:27) “But you have not lost the anointing that he gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you, the anointing he gave teaches you everything; you are anointed with truth, not a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him.”



I feel sorry for some people, scripture tells us that the anointing one receives will teach us everything, and they can’t understand what that means.



Now please what is a Christian anointed with? Of course a Christian is anointed with the Holy Spirit. Now if the Holy Spirit teaches us everything, it does seem that the written Word of God would be included.

Once again, your erroneous take on 1 John 2:27 contradicts those passages that say teachers were given to the Church. If your interpretation was correct there would be no need for teachers. That should be your first clue. Paul telling Timothy to study to show himself 'approved' should be your second. Again, if your interpretation were true there would be no need to study at all. The fact that John had to write his first epistle to warn his readers not to fall prey to the 'knowledge' of false teachers should be you final clue. Again, there would be no need for this epistle if your mistaken interpretation were correct. Context is everything. You would do well to learn that lesson.
 

Thankful 1

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Yes God did give us teachers. People who need teachers are those who have yet to become possessed by the Holy Spirit. After one has the Holy Spirit he or she does not need man to teach him or her.



(1 John 2:27) “But you have not lost the anointing that he gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you, the anointing he gave teaches you everything; you are anointed with truth, not a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him.”



(John 10:1-5)"I tell you thetruth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in bysome other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is theshepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheeplisten to his voice. He calls his own sheep by nameand leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them,and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will neverfollow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because theydo not recognize a stranger's voice."



A person who is possessed by God is led by Jesus/Holy Spirit, and no longer needs man to teach him or her.
 

deprofundis

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I like the points you brought up about personal interpretations of the Bible, Aspen. I've always felt that a "personal interpretation" was important, and not understood why it was discouraged, but I took for granted that one's interpretation would be grounded in the study and understanding you mentioned. I see now that the phrase "personal interpretation" is often meant differently than I used it, and I agree that there is a danger in one bending the meaning of the Word to one's own will, instead of His will, if one is not careful in one's analysis and interpretation. Thanks for clearing up an issue that's often troubled me. It's funny how often disagreements simply come down to misunderstanding what others mean with the words they use.
 

aspen

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. It's funny how often disagreements simply come down to misunderstanding what others mean with the words they use.

You are so right about this point. I've been confused over the term justification before - so many groups have their own definition of the word and many of the people in those groups cannot articulate the meaning they have been taught to believe. I think expressing religious belief is one of the hardest concept to articulate.

Hey, I am glad I could help out - I am really glad somebody enjoys reading my posts!

Peace


 

deprofundis

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Religious belief is particularly hard, I agree. God is probably the hardest thing to put into words, because He's almost impossible to even fathom to us mortals, let alone explain in just a few words. Even His concepts, like Love, are nearly impossible to explain. I remember my hardest assignment in my high school creative writing class, and one of the hardest I've ever had, was simply to "explain love."

God Bless.
 

amadeus

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You seem to have missed the point I was making and to what I was responding. 'Thankful' said, "If one needs to know what a verse in the written Word of God means, just ask Jesus. " Where in Scripture does Jesus ever promise to give personal commentary on a verse of Scripture? He doesn't.

And what then does Jesus mean here? Mt7:7

Are only the apostles able to "ask and receive"? Was James in his letter to the 12 scattered tribes also then speaking only to the apostles when he said:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James 1:5-6

And then he also said:

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" James 4:2-3

If we ask properly for understanding of the Word of God to be written in our hearts, will He refuse us? Remember again the words of Jesus?

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Mt 7:11

If our Father is the Lord and we ask of Him for wisdom and understanding of His Word, will He then refuse us?


Also, your John 14:26 quote does not say that the Holy Spirit gives private personal Biblical commentary either. Jesus spoke those words to the Apostles as they were about to become the inspired foundation of the Church. Adam Clarke captures the meaning succinctly.

Here Christ promises them that inspiration of the Holy Spirit which enabled them not only to give a true history of his life and death, but also gave them the most perfect recollection of all the words which he had spoken to them, so that they have been able to transmit to posterity the identical words which Jesus uttered in his sermons, and in his different discourses with them, the Jews, and others. Adam Clarke

Jesus did not address his comments to the average believer as the context will bear witness. We have been given the Scriptures and the gift of preachers and teachers. Notice the highlighted portions. They demonstrate to whom Jesus spoke and why.

Joh 14:25 "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Joh 14:28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Joh 14:29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
Joh 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you
, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
Joh 14:31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Without addressing directly your problem with John 14:26 consider then also what is the purpose of the gift of the Holy Ghost. "

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

What is this power? Is this power to be confined to a pre-selected few? Can no one but those pre-selected few ever become one of the overcomers mentioned in the book of Revelation? Is there no free-will? Did the words of Jesus in Mt 7:7 apply only to the apostles?

Also upon whose hearts is the law of God to be written? is not to written upon the hearts of Israel [Jerem 31:33]? Have we not been adopted as Jews, as part of Israel? When a portion of scripture is eaten and then brought to Life by the Spirit withint a person, why does that person have further need of a minister to explain the meaning to him? Aren't ministers meant to be temporary, men who should be working to work themselves out of a job?

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: " Eph 4:11-13
 

amadeus

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God knows we won't be perfect. Jesus did command us to go and sin no more. John 8:11. But even though it's impossible to become sinless, and because we all sin and fall short from the glory of God (Romans 3:23), God offers down His grace. Meaning, He gives us plenty of chances to get up and try again.

God knows we aren't perfect and He knows we will sin. But all he wants for us is to TRY.

Look at the wording of the verse you mentioned!

'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Rom 3:23

Yes, all of us have sinned, but this does not mean that we must continue sinning for the rest of our natural lives! If that were the case, then Jesus was lying to us!

"When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matt 19:25-26

"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom 8:8-9

It is God in us that makes it possible for us to move on to the point where we will no longer sin. To deny this possiblity is to deny the words of Jesus!

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

Does not "all of these things" include everything that God knows that we need to accomplish His will as expressed by Jesus?

"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." I John 3:6

So if any of us still sinning, is not the scripture saying that we have not seen Him and we have not known Him?

Not to worry, those who are striving to surrender themselves completely to His will. No, we have not seen Him clearly. Our vision of Him is still through a glass darkly [I Cor 13:12], but the face to face should be before us. Every day that we are eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood our vision should be improving.

Remember also the words of John the Baptist!

"He must increase, but I must decrease" John 3:30

it is Jesus in us that must be increasing [the new inner man] as the old man of sin is decreasing. Again to say that seeing Him face to face cannot happen in this natural life is to deny the words and promise of Jesus! He really is not a liar! We should know who the liar is!
 

shineyourlight_x

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Yes, all of us have sinned, but this does not mean that we must continue sinning for the rest of our natural lives! If that were the case, then Jesus was lying to us!
When did I say that we should continue sinning? Quote me, please.
Matter of fact, I didn't say that :) Didn't I say that Jesus once said "Go and sin no more."

Thank you.
 

Nomad

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And what then does Jesus mean here? Mt7:7


Mat 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!


Right from the start, the best advice I can give anyone regarding Bible interpretation is to never ever read a single Bible verse and decide that you know what it means. Context, context, context! This is the first rule of hermeneutics. Examine your proof-texts in light of its immediate context.

Now for your verse. While we may ask of God what we will, Jesus assures us that the Father will only give us what is good and advantageous for us. These are the 'good things' of which Christ speaks in verse 11. You must read verses 9,10 & 11 as well as verses 7 & 8 for they qualify and place in proper perspective what Jesus means to communicate.

Where does this passage say that Jesus or the Holy Spirit will give private personal Bible interpretation directly to individual believers
without the aid of study and/or the teaching office He has ordained?
Was James in his letter to the 12 scattered tribes also then speaking only to the apostles when he said:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James 1:5-6


'Wisdom' is basically knowledge acquired by experience with the ability to apply it in any situation. Keeping that in mind we turn to your proof-text in its context.

Jas 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Jas 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

The kind of 'wisdom' we are to request here is that which will help us to submit ourselves to, and react properly toward, those trials that are meant to test faith and produce steadfastness. It's only through wisdom that we can 'count it all joy' when we meet with trials as verse 2 instructs.

Where does this passage say that Jesus or the Holy Spirit will give private personal Bible interpretation directly to individual believers
without the aid of study and/or the teaching office He has ordained?


And then he also said:

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" James 4:2-3


James here explains that we are to use the means of prayer to obtain our desires. He then explains that selfish prayers that are intended to satisfy lust will not be answered.

Where does this passage say that Jesus or the Holy Spirit will give private personal Bible interpretation directly to individual believers without the aid of study and/or the teaching office He has ordained?



Without addressing directly your problem with John 14:26 consider then also what is the purpose of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

What is this power? Is this power to be confined to a pre-selected few? Can no one but those pre-selected few ever become one of the overcomers mentioned in the book of Revelation? Is there no free-will? Did the words of Jesus in Mt 7:7 apply only to the apostles?


This passage pertains to the power given through the indwelling Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ around the world and is entirely irrelevant to the topic at hand.

Where does this passage say that Jesus or the Holy Spirit will give private personal Bible interpretation directly to individual believers without the aid of study and/or the teaching office He has ordained?
Also upon whose hearts is the law of God to be written? is not to written upon the hearts of Israel [Jerem 31:33]?


Jeremiah's prophesy pertains to the regeneration of individual believers and the innate knowledge of God each will possess. It has nothing to do with Bible interpretation.

Where does this passage say that Jesus or the Holy Spirit will give private personal Bible interpretation directly to individual believers without the aid of study and/or the teaching office He has ordained?
When a portion of scripture is eaten and then brought to Life by the Spirit withint a person, why does that person have further need of a minister to explain the meaning to him?


Where does Scripture teach this concept?

The idea that all believers around the world can come to the text of Scripture and understand absolutely everything contained therein perfectly without being taught anything is absurd on its face. Experience should make this plain enough. If that weren't enough, the very fact that God has appointed preachers and teachers in His Church should dissuade you from such a notion.