Hi haz,
I hope you won't mind my beginning with a personal question. You write English like a native, but you don't seem to understand the grammatical details. Is this because English is not your first language? (Please PM me if you don't want to answer in open forum.)
Hi dragonfly,
Epi stated that we are not immune to any laws. I recall you also made a similar claim.
That is correct. You yourself have quoted 1 Tim 1:9, explaining that Christians are not lawless because they have the righteousness of Christ, and therefore, this reproof can never apply to them. However, by quoting Rom 4:15, you have shown you don't really understand the claim you're making, especially in view of Matthew 7:21. I have challenged you about Rom 4:15 at least twice, and given you hints, and you have not responded. I have also pointed out there are several laws mentioned in the NT, and you have not responded.
Now I ask again:
what makes you 'know' or 'think' Episkopos was referring to the Mosaic law? - - Please reply.
I have previously posted quotes from both you and Epi supporting this.
Acknowledged.
Epi also has been claiming that most here are following fables in believing on Jesus.
haz, it really depends what you mean by 'believing on Jesus', whether you need be concerned that this refers to you. (And you don't need to be concerned if it doesn't.) And that reasonable concern you may have depends what kind of gospel was preached to you - whether it is the one in the Bible beginning with Abraham Gal 3:8 - or, it is
another gospel.... 2 Cor 11:4, Gal 1:6, which
is as good as 'fables'. I have used what you posted in reply to Kidron in
http://www.christian...are-born-again/ in more than one post, and you have not addressed any of the loopholes in the logic you used. This gives me the impression that you have no idea of the full gospel. But
if you have heard the whole truth and believed into Jesus Christ according to the gospel to Abraham, which Jesus Christ came to fulfil, then, you should have a testimony like Episkopos', and I would expect you to recognise him as a brother.
Another way to understand the full gospel is to read the Bible for yourself, until you 'get' it. Don't read thinking you know what it all means, read as if you've never read it before. Ask God to open your eyes to new truths, and to convict you of any areas of unbelief. That's what a Christian should be doing anyway, to keep growing and believing.
Essential reading would be the first five books, Joshua, Psalms, and, the New Testament until Ephesians at least. Don't read a modern translation except possibly the New King James. Young's (or Green's) Literal translations which will help you see more differences in what you've been taught, and what you should have been taught. Brother, it's your soul.
'Make your calling and election sure'. 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling'. Any time I quote, I use the King James Version (unless otherwise stated. A link to the search engine I use is last in my CyB signature), and you can look up the context of my quotes, there. By all means ask questions and debate what you're learning until you have made sure that you understand what it means to 'lay hold on life'.
He also says his doctrine makes Christ harder to attain
It's 'harder to attain' if no-one told you about being grafted into the death of Christ Rom 6:5
in reality. And if you think (as others seem to think) that you don't need to worry about sins
any more because Christ died for them, that is
only true
if you're planning to acknowledge every single one of them to Him, and be washed again in His blood in reality. A
better plan is, to walk in the
power of the
Holy Spirit,
and do not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Gal 5:16.
and that unless one is in perfect obedience just as Christ was, then we are not abiding in Christ, being in sin and deserving of death.
Is this really news to you? You've never heard of it before? (Serious questions. Please answer.)
Epi even said that he is not abiding in Christ, a few weeks ago.
I think that
may be the construction you put upon what he said, rather than 'what he said'. You could always find and bring
that conversation, including your part in it, here as a quote, as you've mentioned it often. That would help readers understand what this discussion is about. (Many thanks if you do.)
Can you list out briefly (in bullet form) what laws your doctrine says Christians are under.
Heb 8:10, - Rom 3:27, - Rom 6:22, - Rom 8:2 - - - - Rom 8:4,
James 2:8, - John 14:15, 16, 17, 18, - John 15:12, - 1 John 5:3.
Now, two questions for you.
Does 'keeping' these 'laws', strike you as 'works'? Please answer.
Or, is 'keeping' them the natural outworking of Rom 12:1 - 3? Please answer.
Also can you briefly explain a person's position, under your doctrine, should they not be in perfect obedience like Christ was. What would be the outcome should they die whilst in this state?
The first thing to say is that Christians don't (or shouldn't) fear death itself, because it should have no power over us any more
if we have been walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Heb 2:15 Christians tend to shy away from your question, though, because who can know what has gone on between a man and God by the Spirit, in his dying moments? God knows with perfect precision what attitude a person's heart is holding, and whether there is anything He can hold against them. Not that He is trying to, but His justice is perfect too, and He has appropriate 'rewards' lined up for both good, and evil.
However, Ezekiel 18:24 comes to mind, as does the first part of Ezekiel 9, Romans 2, and
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment. While you're reading the Bible, you can gather how seriously God takes
unrepented sin and, and that's why a
Christian is held to a
much higher standard - because spiritually he normally dwells in that other realm, with God, knowing Him, communicating by the Holy Spirit. John 17:3.
What do
you think is the answer to your last question? Please answer.
