Christians are going to have quite a time with having fruits with absolutely no works or action!! Shall we know you by the fruits you show? Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. You are going to have to start with that chainsaw so you cut only wood, your words haven't shown any of the fruits so far. And I agree before you start with your condemnation of me as needing to put more perfection in my life!! I keep this list on my frig door and work at it daily with prayer asking for help. Without Christ, I would be lost for sure, but I still try. But you are so far from even trying that your judgments and condemnations have even gone so far as condemning me for trying. I might be a black kettle, but the black you show to everyone, the bullying, makes your trying to make me out as only black a laugh.
Amen, and bless your heart! I have no idea how, in terms of a mature Christian, they can act like an atheist. The Holy Spirit is supposed to be leading us into righteousness, and He does so lead the born again Christian. The old man is supposed to be dead, and we born again a repentant, new man of the Spirit. We are supposed to attain to being in the image of Jesus Christ! This is all Theology 101. I'm tired and don't feel like whipping out a whole string of basic scriptures involving the old man and new man, faith without works being dead, that those in Christ don't practice sin, again, tired, but offer these verses,
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
Have you noticed that most such critics are still striving, bickering, over basic doctrine? Hmm... I strive to be more obedient and attentive to the Lord every day, succeed some days better than others, and attaining to perfection is commanded, to grow, in other words. I just say bless your heart again, RedTent, and don't let anybody ever tell you striving to be more like Christ is something to be condemned. That claim is plain disgusting and a lie. My attitude to such "Job's friends" people as that is you-know-what, if they can't take a joke, have a nice day, have a nice life.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.