Don't Fear Sin / God Has Put Away ALL Sin Forever

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Status
Not open for further replies.

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#1
God Has Put Away ALL Sin Forever


The past, present and future sin of every believer and non-believer has been put away forever by the sacrifice of Christ. There will never be a single person that will enter into eternal condemnation because of sin. If anyone is sentenced to hell because of sin, then God is not just and the love of God is a bunch of bologna. Either the sacrifice of Christ dealt with all sin or none of it. Either the blood of Christ paid for all sin or none of it. Why will there be people that spend eternity separated from God where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not? God the Father can not judged a single person for any sin nor condemn them to hell because of any sin. The reason is this. All sin was judged by God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Christ's death satisfied the justice of God that had to judge all sin through death. The sacrifice of Christ, as the lamb of God, was once and for all, past, present and future.

In the eyes of God, in terms of sin being dealt with, there is no difference between the believer and non-believer. God does not see the sin in either one. What is God looking for? He is looking for His own righteousness that He imputes (without works / Rom 4:6) to every one that believes upon Christ, who was sent to be the propitiation of our sins and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2). No one is in hell today or will be condemned to the lake of fire because of sin of any kind. And they will not be condemned because of their unbelief about God or a lack of repentance toward God. Demons believe there is one God but that never changed their eternal destiny (James 2:19) and they know all about the trinity, because they were there when God laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4-7).

People are eternally condemned because they refuse to accept the plan of God that sent His Son to exchange God's righteousness for their sin. They remain in their own righteousness and refuse to submit to the righteousness of God (Rom 10:3). How you understand the following passage will reveal what you know and understand about the sacrifice of Christ, who was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2Cor 5:21).

1John 3:4-10 'Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 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. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother'.

After reading this passage of scripture, it would be very easy to condemn ourself, because we have all sinned since we received the righteousness of God as a gift (Rom 5:17,18). This passage is not given to condemn us but to reveal the righteousness of God in us. Is this talking about all sin being taken away? Yes! Is it talking about the righteousness of God? Yes! What is all this sinning referred to in this passage? Is it personal sin? Or is it referring to the sin of the devil? If we can't determine what this passage is revealing about in your relationship to a Holy God, then we will never understand the work that Christ accomplished on the cross (John 19:30). Does it seem a little abstract? It shouldn't! What do you have to say?
 
C

christiancanadian

Guest
#2
Ahh....the concept of Universal Salvation.

Universalism is the belief that everyone will be saved. There are many people today who hold to the viewpoint of “Universal Salvation,” the idea that all men eventually end up in heaven with the Lord. Perhaps it is the thought of men and women living a life of eternal torment in hell that causes some to reject the teaching of Scripture on this issue. For some it is their over-emphasis on the love and compassion of Christ that lead them to believe that God will have mercy on every living soul. But the Scriptures do teach that some men will spend an eternity in hell, while others an eternity in paradise with the Lord.

First of all, the Bible is clear that unredeemed men will dwell forever in hell. Jesus’ own words confirm that the time spent in heaven for the redeemed will last as long as that of the unredeemed in hell. Matthew 25:46 says, “Then they [the unredeemed] will go away to ETERNAL punishment, but the righteous to ETERNAL life” (emphasis mine). Some believe that those in hell will eventually cease to exist, but the Lord Himself confirms that it will last forever. This "eternal fire" is mentioned previously in Matthew 25:41 as well. In Mark 9:44 Jesus speaks about hell as the "unquenchable fire." It will never go out because it will burn forever.

How does one avoid this unquenchable fire? Many people believe that all roads—all religions and beliefs—lead to heaven, or they consider that God is so full of love and mercy that He will allow all people into heaven. While God is certainly full of love and mercy, it was these qualities that led Him to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die on the cross for us. Jesus Christ is the exclusive door that leads to an eternity in heaven. Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” First Timothy 2:5 proclaims that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” If man chooses to reject God’s Son, he does not meet the requirements for salvation (John 3:16,36).

With verses such as these, it becomes clear that universalism and universal salvation is an anti-Biblical belief. Universalism does not line up with what Scripture teaches. While many people accuse Christians of being intolerant and “exclusive,” it is important to remember that these are the words of Christ Himself. Christianity did not develop these ideas on its own; Christians are simply stating what the Lord has already said. People choose to reject the message because they do not want to face up to their sin and admit that they need the Lord to save them. To say that those who reject God’s provision of salvation through His Son will be saved is to belittle the holiness and justice of God and negate the need of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.

In Christ,
glenn
 

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#3
christiancanadian,

The only thing that is universal about God's plan of salvation is that Christ died once and for ALL. To as many as recieve Him (Christ), to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (John 1:12). Obviously, those that do not recieve Him are lost and have never been translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:13,14). God is not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance (2Pt 3:9). It is the will of God that ALL men call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and that is why we are to preach the gospel to every creature (Mk 16:15).

Read the post again, you misunderstood. There are things in your faith and in the eye of your understanding that does not comprehend the sacrifice of Christ. Have you read the parable in Matt 21:28-32?

'But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him'.

Is this your concept of universal salvation or is this parable illustrating doing the will of the father? Those that were considered wicked sinners (publican and harlots) were the ones that believed the way of righteousness and entered into the kingdom of heaven before those that lived in their own righteousness. The son that said, 'yes, I will go' but never went, never entered the kingdom of God.

Matt 18:9-11 'And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost'.

There are scores of people that have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but will not do the will of the Father. No matter how good and sincere they may be, they will not enter into the kingdom of God. I won't be judging who that may be, but I am going to make my calling and election sure by keeping my lamp full. Remember in (Matt 25) the kingdom of heaven likened unto ten virgins, five did not have oil for their lamp and in verse 12 the bridegroom said 'I know you not'. They were all virgins but five of them did not have the oil of Holy Spirit, and were not allowed in. I don't call that universal salvation, do you?
 
B

Baptistrw

Guest
#4
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is sufficient for all mankind, but only efficient for those who believe.
 

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#5
Baptistrw,

Did Jesus Christ put away ALL sin, even the sin of those who believe not? Your neighbor, who does not believe, have you told them that Christ paid for ALL their sin? Isn't that the good news? Isn't that what you want them to believe? Isn't that the salvation of God? There are no conditons to that. Jesus Christ not only died for them, but as them. That is what they need to hear and how will they hear unless you tell them? It is not, Christ died for you but you need to believe to be saved, but rather Christ took your sin upon His body and paid the wages of your sin through death, so that you could believe. Believe only (Mk 5:36, Lk 8:50, Acts 16:31). Salvation is of God not of believing.

The thief on the cross who asked Christ to remember him, was never asked by the Lord if he believed (Lk 23:42,43). The rich man who asked the Lord what he would have to do to inherit eternal life in (Mk 10:17-21) was never asked if he believed, but was told something altogether different. God was dealing with the rich man's heart. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (Rom 10:10). The women taken in adultery in (John 8:3-11) was never condemned and never asked by the Lord if she believed because he was after her heart. In (Acts 8:27-39) the Ethiopian eunuch, with great authority, came to Jerusalem to worship, but Philip opened to him the scriptures about Jesus and there was no invitation for salvation nor any record that the eunuch made a profession of faith. He believed in his heart, was baptised and went away rejoicing. Think about how many times Jesus just healed people and never asked them if they believed who he was. Sinners need to be drawn in their heart to Christ to believe. Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (of the heart - Luke 5:32).
 
B

Baptistrw

Guest
#6
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9 (KJV)


But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:31 (KJV)


11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 15:11 (KJV)


And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:31 (KJV)


It is implied that the guy believed Christ was the Son of God on the cross... As for the rich young ruler, the things Christ asked were to show ther guys sinful self righteousness... I'm not seeing where you're going with this and this post seems to be completely pointless.
 
A

Ashkuhn

Guest
#7
I often wonder about what if you sin right before you die and don't have time to repent.. You have been a faithful Christian and had the Holy Spirit in you, but it just panned out that way.. Would you burn in eternal hell or would God have mercy on your soul over that one sin?

I don't think we should just go around sinning, but I do think that God will have mercy on those who believe in Him. We are all sinners.. I don't care how righteous some of us may try to be.. EVERYONE sins.. We can't help ourselves. It's just the way that humans are. We all have evil hearts, whether we want to or not.

But.. At the same time we are supposed to keep a watchful eye for Jesus coming.. We need to live to our best following what is right in Gods eyes (not our own).. We need to follow the ten commandments to the best of our ability. And it IS important to repent our sins so that God knows we are sorry for doing wrong to him (and truly be sorry). Reading our Bibles is a good way to keep ourselves on track.

That's just my theory. I know people who go to church every Sunday and preach to others and purposely go out and hurt others and scheme to make an extra buck. They say that they are Christians and that they have God in there life and that God even BLESSES them with the money that they are basically stealing.. I don't know? I don't think this is of God.

Honestly, when it all comes down to it I think God will look at everything. He knows your heart and your relationship with Him. That is the most important thing. Works are important (we have to set a good example to call ourselves people of the Lord) but when it all boils down to it, it's the relationship with the Father that counts! And if you aren't living God's word, then that is probably a reflection of your relationship (or lack of) with Him.
 
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#8
God Has Put Away ALL Sin Forever


The past, present and future sin of every believer and non-believer has been put away forever by the sacrifice of Christ.
Yes I agree with this bit , Christ's sacrifice was once for all.



There will never be a single person that will enter into eternal condemnation because of sin. If anyone is sentenced to hell because of sin, then God is not just and the love of God is a bunch of bologna. Either the sacrifice of Christ dealt with all sin or none of it. Either the blood of Christ paid for all sin or none of it. Why will there be people that spend eternity separated from God where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not? God the Father can not judged a single person for any sin nor condemn them to hell because of any sin. The reason is this. All sin was judged by God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Christ's death satisfied the justice of God that had to judge all sin through death. The sacrifice of Christ, as the lamb of God, was once and for all, past, present and future.

I don't think that's quite right. The bible says God will review people's lives, and judge them according to their works:
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

It's more like this: people are going to hell for their sin if they don't accept the free gift of salvation in Christ which will wash away their sins by the blood of Christ. Their sins are not washed away unless they believed in Christ. This view has biblical support: Jesus said people would die in their sins if they didn't believe in him:

Joh 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you shall die in your sins, for if you do not believe that I AM, you shall die in your sins.

Therefore your idea that sin is no longer an issue is not correct. The fact is the reason people go to hell is because of sin. If there was no sin there would be nothing to go to hell for. Supposing there was a perfect person who never sinned, yet did not believe in Christ (we know it's impossible but just for arguments sake), would God send that person to hell? I doubt it. But hey, even the rejection of Christ is a sin, so I'm wondering where that leaves your idea that "no one will be in hell for sin". Plenty of people will be in hell for rejection of Christ, which is the biggest sin.



In the eyes of God, in terms of sin being dealt with, there is no difference between the believer and non-believer. God does not see the sin in either one. What is God looking for? He is looking for His own righteousness that He imputes (without works / Rom 4:6) to every one that believes upon Christ, who was sent to be the propitiation of our sins and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2).
That's not right, God does see the sin. Read Revelation, it's obvious that Christ was aware of the church's sexual immorality and idolatary:

Rev 2:20 But I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel to teach, she saying herself to be a prophetess, and to cause My servants to go astray, and to commit fornication, and to eat idol-sacrifices.



No one is in hell today or will be condemned to the lake of fire because of sin of any kind.
What about the sin of rejecting Jesus?

Heb 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?


And they will not be condemned because of their unbelief about God or a lack of repentance toward God. Demons believe there is one God but that never changed their eternal destiny (James 2:19) and they know all about the trinity, because they were there when God laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4-7).
These verses show God wanting people to repent, penalties for not repenting, and "I will give to every one of you according to your works", certainly implies condemnation for the bad, and praise for the good.So I don't think your statement about not being condemned are correct. I hope you take some time to consider the whole of scripture, and not just a select few passages in order to support a particular view.
Rev 2:21 And I gave her time that she might repent of her fornication, and she did not repent.
Rev 2:22 Behold, I am throwing her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their deeds.
Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches the reins and hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your works.
 
Mar 11, 2009
463
2
0
#9
isiah 55,
9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12: For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13: Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
 

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#10
Ashkuhn asked this question. 'I often wonder about what if you sin right before you die and don't have time to repent.. You have been a faithful Christian and had the Holy Spirit in you, but it just panned out that way.. Would you burn in eternal hell or would God have mercy on your soul over that one sin?'

Baptistrw or MahoganySnail can you answer her questions?
 
S

Slepsog4

Guest
#11
BLC,

The parable you mention from Matthew 21 has the very seeds of your undoing. You missed two things.... belief and repentance.

God owes no one salvation. He made it possible to all, but he calls people to faith, repentance, and obedience.
 
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#12
ok BLC i'll give my opinion...

I often wonder about what if you sin right before you die and don't have time to repent.. You have been a faithful Christian and had the Holy Spirit in you, but it just panned out that way.. Would you burn in eternal hell or would God have mercy on your soul over that one sin?

People seem to think salvation is a "yes or no" decision by God based solely upon one point in their life, e.g. the moment of their conversion some time in the past, or the state which they are in when they die. Some people believe God is going to ask one question "why should I let you into heaven?" and God will or won't let you in based on that one response. I don't think any of these are a realistic scenario. Neither of these views are well-supported by scripture. What we can't forget is that our whole lives are reviewed by God as well, not just a "yes/no", "did you accept Christ?". The reviewing of our lives is to test or see if we did truly accept Christ, does our life show it?
And that is based upon your whole life, not just what you did before you die. Faith is shown by actions. But if you did sin before you die, God knows exactly why you did it, and I think He will take that into account.

I think it depends what that sin is, there's different degrees of sin, deserving different punishments. Did you murder 50 people, or steal money from the church offering plate? They would be severe sins, possibly punishable in hell. God will consider the heart-motive. Did you accidentally murder 50 people but didn't really mean to? I don't mean to be funny, but perhaps you had a mental illness. Or did your heart turn cold at the last moment and you really wanted to do that willinglly and purposefully. God's grace means just that, grace.


I don't think we should just go around sinning, but I do think that God will have mercy on those who believe in Him. We are all sinners.. I don't care how righteous some of us may try to be.. EVERYONE sins.. We can't help ourselves. It's just the way that humans are. We all have evil hearts, whether we want to or not.
re: "we can't help oureslves, we all have evil hearts".


For the christian, they can help themselves, and they don't have evil hearts. Only in their old nature if it is not crucified. The death , burial of our sin-nature, and resurrection of Christ is symbolic for us..this is what baptism signifies.The word for salvation literally means to be made whole. Unfortunately the real meaning has been lost because it is often only used in associating with salvation from the consequences i.e. hell. But it also means to be delivered, healed, restored, kept safe, made whole. So to be saved means God also takes away the ability or desire to sin.
 
R

roaringkitten

Guest
#13
I often wonder about what if you sin right before you die and don't have time to repent.. You have been a faithful Christian and had the Holy Spirit in you, but it just panned out that way.. Would you burn in eternal hell or would God have mercy on your soul over that one sin?'

Jesus says UNBELIEF is what condemns man to the lake of fire. I wrote a thread discussing "Biblical Repentance" you may want to take a look........Genuine repentance leads one to hate sin, live Godly lives(fruits of salvation).....In other words, genuine repentance will be EVIDENCED by good works. Man can fool man but not God!
 
R

roaringkitten

Guest
#14
Repentance(Greek translation "a change of mind") is turning from unbelief to belief in the Jesus as the Savior because one realizes his shortcomings of God, deserving of hellfire. When one comes to Christ because they are a guilty sinner(Galatians 3:24) their life before men will show the fruits of genuine faith.
 
K

KingdomGeneration

Guest
#15
Honestly, when it all comes down to it I think God will look at everything. He knows your heart and your relationship with Him. That is the most important thing. Works are important (we have to set a good example to call ourselves people of the Lord) but when it all boils down to it, it's the relationship with the Father that counts! And if you aren't living God's word, then that is probably a reflection of your relationship (or lack of) with Him.
Exactly Ashkuhn. Repentance is more than just a prayer. It's a condition of the heart. We all stumble from time to time however, God knows we are not perfect. Our Father knows who truly loves Him and they are "given grace through faith". He also knows who iis going through the motions just to escape judgment. This why scripture is so critical of works. It's not so much about what we do but rather, how much we love. Both the Father and our fellow man.
 

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#16
How does a person who is totally depraved with a wicked heart of unbelief, come to a place where they can believe? Do we believe with a depraved heart exercised toward God? Do we exercise repentance with that same heart and turn from our depravity to God? How can a person who has no light and is living in the pit of sin escape corruption? Does he do it by his own might or power or through the will of his flesh? Do you find humility in a depraved heart of unbelief? If we are as sheep that have gone astray, does the stray sheep find his way back to the fold? Esau found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Why was that? Every person has a veil over their heart, how does it get taken away?


Ephraim was under chastisement because of rebellion and cried out to the LORD, 'turn me and I shall be turned, for thou art the LORD my God'. The story is in (Jer 31). In (v/18,19) there is a specific order mentioned. Notice this. Ephraim rebelled and God brought chastisement, then God turned Ephraim, Ephraim then repented and that was followed by instruction. Application; We sin or rebel against God in our heart, if we do not confess that sin in (1John 1:9), God has to discipline us as sons with chastisement, because we are not open to His instructions. The chastening is often grievous and we ask God to turn us. Now we are in a place to repent because we have true repentance established by God in our hearts through discipline. This discipline worked in a godly sorrow that lead to repentance and salvation (deliverance – 2Cor 7:9,10). God grants us and His goodness leads us to repentance (Acts 11:18, Rom 2:4) Now we are turned to the LORD and can receive instruction once again.


We have 'Turn us' in (Psalm 80:3,7,19; 85:4). In (Jer 31:3) the LORD says, 'Ye, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness I will draw thee'. God has to draw us to repentance, to turn from ourselves to God and to turn from sin to Christ. If we try to seek out repentance we will not find it. God has to turn us before we even have a capacity to repent. This process is all about the mercy and grace of God, because of His great love toward us. God has to meet us and turn us before we can believe. It takes God's mercy and grace to even believe. We are so depraved in our heart, that God has to turn us, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, from ourself to the living God.


God has to draw the unbeliever through the mercy of God's goodness and lovingkindness. God does the same with the backslidden Christian in the form of chastisement that ends up with a peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb 12:11). David realized this in his own life and came to the conclusion in (Psalm 23:6), 'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life'...


If as a believer, I am backslidden and living in sin and continue to rebel, then God has the option to scourge me. If I still rebel, then my sin can lead unto physical death. God taking the believer home ahead of time. In Ashkuhn's question, if we sin the Holy Spirit would instantly convict us so that we could confess it to God and be restore instantly by faith, with no need of repentance or any cycle of chastisement involved. If it is a besetting sin then we simply lay it aside (Heb 12:1). The verb, to lay aside, means to put off as one would put off their coat. We don't have to make such a big deal about sin all the time, just put it off. Do you think that God is horrified by sin? If you do then you need to read (Psalm 103). If you thought of your besetting sin as a rattle snake, would you want to fool around with it or flee it? Just do the right thing!
 

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#17
Every believer does not want sin to reign in their mortal bodies. Every believer wants to hate sin and love righteousness. Every believer wants to glorify God with every decision they make. Every believer wants to obey and do the will of God. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mt 26:41). We read that the steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD (Ps 37:23) but how often our feet go in another direction and we begin think that God is not in it because our joy is gone. How does the believer keep himself in the will of God, the way of God and in the word of God? If his spirit is willing and his flesh is weak, how is this possible? With God all things are possible (Mt 19:26). This a promise from God and all the promises of God in Him are yea and amen, are they not (2Cor 1:20)? We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within and the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead can quicken our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11). The only way for a believer to not fulfil the desires and lusts of the flesh is to walk and be filled with the Spirit (Gal 5:16). And the only way that happens is by walking in the light that God has given you through the word of God (Ps 119:130, 1 John 1:7). By walking in the light we have fellowship and the blood of Christ continues to cleanse us from all sin. If we sin, we have an advocate (1John 2:1), and if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin (1John 1:9). Therefore, we do not have to continue in sin, but we do not confess sin where God has brought no conviction.


David and his men were hungry and went into the temple and ate the shewbread, which was unlawful. Only the priest was to eat of the shewbread and David knew it (Mt 12:4). There is no record that David or any of his men had sinned by doing this. There was no conviction of sin like there was when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah, her husband, killed by the sword (2Sam 12). There is so much condemnation in a believer's life sometimes, because of legalism, that they are in bondage to things that God does not even consider to be sinful. That is why legalism is so destructive and is responsible for shutting up the kingdom of heaven against men (Mt 23:13). There are denominations, even to this day, that legislate to their people, that it would sin to watch TV on Sunday and there are many more things just like that in other groups of professing Christianity. Legalism is wicked and alive today in different forms. I'll give you one more example. When a pastor or elder sins, the elders remove that man from the pulpit, put him on probation never to preach again. There is no restoration in dealing with a failing pastor or elderthat way. That is legalism and they certainly would not want to be treated that way if they had sinned, I guarantee you that.
 

BLC

Banned
Feb 28, 2009
711
4
0
#18
BLC,

The parable you mention from Matthew 21 has the very seeds of your undoing. You missed two things.... belief and repentance.

God owes no one salvation. He made it possible to all, but he calls people to faith, repentance, and obedience.
God calls us to himself (Mt 11:28, 1Cor 1:26-31) by His grace (Gal 1:15). Faith is a gift given as a measure (Rom 12:3) and it comes by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17), so we can grow in grace and knowledge of a person (Jesus Christ - 2Pt 3:18). We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit unto obedience of faith (2Pt 1:2, Rom 16:26). Faith will always reveal the person of Christ (Gal 2:20). The believer's testimony is, 'For me to live is Christ and to die is gain' (Phil 1:21). God's plan of redemption is to form Christ in us (Gal 4:19) until Christ, who is the head of His body (Col 1:18, 1Cor 11:3) and head of all things, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all (Eph 1:23). God has little interest in independant Christians who think they can make it without the body of Christ. If Christ thought that way, He would not have a body to be head of. Can you imagine what it would be like if Christ, as the head, detached Himself from the body of Christ. Where would the fulness be? Think about it Slepsog4.
 
S

Slepsog4

Guest
#19
BLC,

I never said anything about individuals living their Christian solo. The subject of the church never entered the discussion.

So what are you trying to get at in light of your original post.
 
S

Slepsog4

Guest
#20
BLC,

Of course the thief on the cross and the rich man were not asked about faith. Their very inquiry was evidence of their faith.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.