Goodness in ourselves

[PeterJens]

An interesting perspective which might explain things more clearly.

If I do everything well but one thing badly, the goal can fail. Why is it the one issue destroys the rest when we talk about sin? Because sin describes the ultimate attitude of the heart of the person, which is in rebellion against God.

And that rebellion once present becomes complete over time.

But change things again and look at the everything done well without sin. It is now good. The very thing God created has now become good, pure, holy, because of His cleansing and His communion.

Now those who want so badly to decry everything is evil and failed, cannot now looked at Gods redeemed people and call them good, because that would be calling fallen man ok.

So redeemed mankind cannot do good works, or anything unless God does it through them. But God is doing it through them because of the very work of redemption itself.

Now people can realise what the Lord has done in their lives, how things have changed for them, and mistake it as their own efforts rather than the Lord and walk away. Jesus warns people about doing this, with the parable of the vine.
By abiding you fulfill the very thing that made you whole, communion with the Lord, but it is easy to get confused.

This is why so many "mature" christians start to stray, and miss-appropriate blessing to themselves and no longer honour the boundaries they should do, because they feel so ok and blessed, there are no rules anymore, however they lead is the right way, even though Gods very word says this is sin.

Pride and self importance are powerful things, and easily take away the very gains people get when the struggle seems to have gone. Sometimes wealth can be a bigger curse than hard times.

 

[psychomom]

And that rebellion once present becomes complete over time.

Peter, i'm right there with you on the obedience issue, though perhaps for different reasons.

may i ask if that statement you made is directed at those in Christ?

 

[PeterJens]

Peter, i'm right there with you on the obedience issue, though perhaps for different reasons.

may i ask if that statement you made is directed at those in Christ?

I think it is true for all of us, saved and unsaved.

What I have noticed is in relationships actions cause a strain, upsetness. If that gets continued for too long, the good interactions get replaced with something else, and the old relationship dies. At any point things can be taken up again, but the more damage done the less likely this is to take place.

In conceptual terms a sinner who is saved but still wrapped up in behaviour of the past creates a dilemma. How do we walk through these struggles but still maintain we are walking as we should.

One solution is the gnostic solution, a perfect spirit but a sinful flesh dwelling in the same person. Sin is the fleshes fault while we are the perfect spirit living in purity and righteousness. I personally do not like this concept, because it is not taking responsibility for ones actions.