What Does Christian Maturity Look Like? - "... solid food is for the mature..." - Heb. 5:14

[URwrongAgain]

There are some things God cannot do. The context you are referring to in Matthew is about how can a rich man get saved and God could figure out a way to accomplish that. But there are some things He simply cannot do.

My faith in God to believe He can do anything, is greater than your faith
in God, to believe He can't do it.

 

[St. SteVen]

Why would you want God to soften my heart towards His enemies?

Good question, I'm glad you asked. Thanks.

1) God loves his "enemies". He doesn't need you to hate them.
2) Other believers are certainly not the enemies of God.
3) Jesus taught us that it is godly behavior to love our enemies.
4) This is required of the children of our Father in heaven. And...
5) to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. (vs 48 below)

Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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[O'Darby]

Then where did this idea come from that we are still sinners by nature, and that the spirit of Christ makes our flesh spiritual, but still alive to sin whereby we must with much effort, frustration, and failure be in a battle with our sin nature the rest of our lives?

Possibly 2,000 years of actual Christian experience?

 

[URwrongAgain]

1) God loves his "enemies". He doesn't need you to hate them.

This is just speculation on your part.

 

[URwrongAgain]

2) Other believers are certainly not the enemies of God.

This is just speculation on your part.

 

[URwrongAgain]

3) Jesus taught us that it is godly behavior to love our enemies.

That is not what He taught me.

 

[URwrongAgain]

4) This is required of the children of our Father in heaven. And...
5) to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. (vs 48 below)

That is how I can tell if God is the Father of you or anyone else.
By this I am never deceived by an imposter.

 

[O'Darby]

I am no longer a babe in Christ. I graduated and now walk in the spirit of Christ.

It appears you are insisting you no longer sin. You walk continuously in the Spirit. Your sin nature is dead, gone. Indeed, it would seem you are now incapable of sinning. You float above all carnal thoughts and desires.

REALLY?

It would be interesting to know how many of those who know you best would agree with this self-assessment.

You do provide an interesting example of Christian maturity.

 

[St. SteVen]

St. SteVen said:
1) God loves his "enemies". He doesn't need you to hate them.

This is just speculation on your part.

1 John 2:2 NIV
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

St. SteVen said:
2) Other believers are certainly not the enemies of God.

This is just speculation on your part.

John 13:34-35 NIV
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

St. SteVen said:
3) Jesus taught us that it is godly behavior to love our enemies.

That is not what He taught me.

1 John 4:8 NIV
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

St. SteVen said:
4) This is required of the children of our Father in heaven. And...
5) to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. (vs 48 below)

That is how I can tell if God is the Father of you or anyone else.
By this I am never deceived by an imposter.

I did what I could to help you. Goodbye.
My prayer for you stands. And soon you will as well.
I'll check on progress later.

/

 

[Peterlag]

It appears you are insisting you no longer sin. You walk continuously in the Spirit. Your sin nature is dead, gone. Indeed, it would seem you are now incapable of sinning. You float above all carnal thoughts and desires.

REALLY?

It would be interesting to know how many of those who know you best would agree with this self-assessment.

You do provide an interesting example of Christian maturity.

Romans 6
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

being made free from sin, and become servants to God,

1 John 3 & 5
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.

 

[Peterlag]

Possibly 2,000 years of actual Christian experience?

My first red flag that started me looking into how to do this was when I realized it's the Catholics that teach we are sinners. They teach us to look at ourselves and our sin. I teach that we should look at Christ and to walk in his spirit.

 

[Gottservant]

A mature Christian, makes work a priority (selah)

 

[St. SteVen]

What do you say? (forum topic link below)

Does questioning Christianity lead to Atheism? (depends)

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