"Sorry, JB, I'm looking through my comments, and never felt I mocked you. I'm merely asking you questions, and challenging our claims. I think we can challenge one another without being accused of mocking. "
Well sorry but I did.
"those with His Spirit inside will understand what I'm talking about here.Well, I'm not agreeing with what you're saying. I guess this means in your view i don't have the Spirit. That's quite a rigid stance to take. "
That could be, I can't tell you.
"With what teaching do you abhor? Paul's teaching in Romans 7?? Sounds to me brother, you've gotten involved in some extreme legalism. I too believe faith without works is dead. I too believe that God changes believers and they cannot return to what they were.
I just won't go so far as to say that true believers never sin or never sin the same sin twice. Paul didn't believe this, nor did John or any other biblical writer. I don't believe it either. Sorry if that condemns me in your eyes.
also it appears you're embracing
the sin of pacifism, which I see as extremely problematic. I don't doubt your salvation, but you're definitely confused in that area."
Nope I don't disagree with a word Paul wrote, I just don't see it to mean what you do obviously. Also saying twice was way too extreme, but in the case of killing I think it could stand, but point taken there.
Paul tells me, and I also believe when he writes this
2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
And,
Galatians 5:16-18
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
And,
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
And this is John not Paul, but still what I’m talking about,
1 John 3:4-9
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Look man I think this is the part were I can not see this conversation going anywhere as we are not talking about the same God, so I will dust off my shoes and won't be responding to your next defense of Christians sinning after salvation excuses. If that's how you really feel I pray you are assured by the same God that's changed my whole attitude towards sin, all glory to Him, because I loved it until He changed me. I still find sin in almost everything I do, I am not claiming any kind of perfection, but through His Spirit once He's pointed it out to me, in pure gratitude for the whole eternal life thing, I don't continue to do it over and over, and if it takes a long time to beat that particular sin, I can never commit it without knowing I am and felling guilt for it. See what I'm saying? I'm not saying that the Holy Spirit keeps you from sinning, I'm only saying that it lets you know each time you commit that particular sin that it's a slap to Jesus face. How many times can a Christian slap Jesus in the face knowingly, becomes the real question? Care to answer that? If that's not the whole Spirit you know brother you very well might want to think on this more "Well, I'm not agreeing with what you're saying. I guess this means in your view i don't have the Spirit. That's quite a rigid stance to take. " That's the stand He called us to make my brother.