@Wynona ~
Preachers and Teachers, Preach and Teach to a Broad range of Listeners.
Different ages, genders, depths of basic knowledge, from “minimal to steeped”.
By default, the Listeners, individually have to decided (what applies to them), same as it is when an individual reads Scripture.
“If” Scripture is speaking to “unbelievers”, and that does not “apply” to you, the “IF”, “THEN”, what applies to the “unbeliever”, IS NOT applicable “personally to you”....MOOT.
Full well known:
Some believe IN God, IN Gods Word, but not that Jesus IS the Christ.
Some believe IN God, IN Gods Word, and that Jesus IS the Word of God, and Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God.
Some believe IN “other gods”...moon, sun, statues, imaginations, men, money, status, etc.
Some believe IN God, IN Jesus, but, but, but...MAKE no commitment.
They can Believe, (hopefully not be influenced to reject), yet still MAKE no commitment.
They can Believe, (be sorry FOR dumb decisions, wicked thoughts, underhanded acts)....which MEN are QUICK to point out ARE SINS....and MEN teach, they MUST repeatedly ASK “God” for Forgiveness.
The there is the man WHO...believes IN God, IN Jesus the True Word and Christ Messiah Power and Wisdom of God....and FULLY (according to the Lord Gods WAY)....MAKE a FREEWILL decision to Wholly and Freely COMMIT their, WHOLE being, body, soul, spirit TO the WILL of God, and His Works to MAKE them WHOLE, and KEPT Whole and WITH the Lord God Almighty ... FOREVER.
ONCE THAT ^ occurs for any “individual”....A GREAT part of Scriptures, that APPLY to men “who have NOT freely chosen to surrender their WHOLE life to the Lord God”.....NO LONGER APPLIES.
SIN is NO LONGER, applicable.
REPEATEDLY asking God for Forgiveness, No Longer, applicable.
Taught, “PRECEPTS” of behavior Between and Among men...STILL applicable.
Men “forgiving” men of TRESPASSES (not sins)...but TRESPASSES...
Still applicable.
Prayers TO the Lord God....OF a “committed Converted man”...NO longer Applicable to continually ASK God for “forgiveness” of that which God ALREADY gave that man.
As far as Converted men, ASKING other men for Forgiveness of Trespasses...
God doesn’t require “Hearing” men ASK GOD for forgiveness of their Trespasses against men.
God via Scriptures has already notified men, IF they forgive men of a mans trespass against them......So also will God “forgive” a mans “trespasses” who himself has “trespassed” against other men.
So WHAT, should a Converted man BE PRAYING TO GOD FOR?
For Healing of living men, Poor in spirit. (Family, friends, enemies)
For Healing of Nations, Families, communities, corrupted by men.
For Gods own Spiritual Understanding of Gods own Word.
For Blessing of God Himself, being Upheld in Glory and Wonderment of men.
For Thankfulness of Gods Grace, Forgiveness, Restoration, Gifts, Blessings.
NOT....”oh, oh, God, your Forgiveness FAILED, your Salvation FAILED, your Works FAILED, forgive me, again and again!”
* Remember...many believe, but do NOT commit. They are subject to their own power and stamina and outside influence and can teeter, waver, from day to day....AND IF on the day of their “bodily” death ARE “in belief”...they shall BE saved.....so in one respect...A Preacher, Teacher IS preaching and teaching TO....”BELIEVERS”...that “do” repeatedly sin...can be forgiven “repeatedly”.
* A Committed, Converted Believer, is in a totally Different “status”...
The ARE NOT, subject to their own POWER....but have IN FACT freely and willingly subjected themselves WHOLLY, body, soul, spirit:
TO Gods POWER CHRIST, who KEEPS them Forever Freed FROM SIN, Freed from the Consequences of SIN, and FOREVER “WITH” the Lord God Almighty.
* Scripture reveals, those IN Christ, SHALL experience occupation IN Christs Earthly Kingdom, for 1,000 years. After the 1,000 years have expired...
God Raises UP in Glory, “body’s” of men, WHO “believed” in God, in Jesus...
(To the day of their bodily death), but who did NOT make a decision to CONVERT, “IN” Christ, while alive in their body.)
1 Thes 4:
[
14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him.
[
15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[
16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first:
[
17] Then we which are
alive (in Christ) and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Alive IN Christ, reign WITH Christ.
Dead IN Christ, reign WITH Christ.
After the 1,000 year reign OF and WITH Christ...
THE rest of the DEAD, IN God, IN Jesus, who believed to the end of their bodily life...
ARE RAISED UP in glory.
Rev 20:5
Just saying...Preachers and Teachers and Men in general, speak Broadly...
It is the “individual” (and God) who knows their Own Heart, knows their Own Willful commitments, knows WHAT Does and Does NOT apply to them and WHY.
YOU, as well as Others on this forum Have EXPRESSLY revealed your own FREEWILL decisions and commitment...No broad speaking Preacher, teacher or other man...can change, alter, supersede, dictate, undo a Permanent Relationship you were offered via the Lord and accepted according to the Lords Way.
Glory to God,
Taken