If you knew you had one week to live, what would be different in your life with God?

[slave]

You assume, as I read from this, that every Christian holds to a "favorite sin" he/she refuses to give up on, and never outgrows that sin. That's pure hogwash! If that is the case of someone who claims to follow Christ, then his/her salvation is actually in question, not because of the sin but because of the attitude.

What you fail to understand about 2 Corinthians 5:17 is that, if there is a "new creature" within us, there is also an "old creature," or "old self." Where did he go? Did Christ slay him? Is he bound in death and unable to function? You can't find anything in the Bible that teaches that, "dead to sin" notwithstanding.

When Paul uses that phrase in Romans 6:11, he says "Even so, consider yourselves dead to sin ... " The word highlighted there is the Greek logizomai (logizomai) and means "to reckon, count, calculate" and actually means "impute" in its most literal sense. We give consideration to each and every circumstance we face. If we do this in the Spirit, then we will never sin. That is our new creature at work.

But we have a problem: The old man is dead, but that doesn't mean he's inactive. Death is just another state of being. There are active, moving dead people all around us, the unbelievers in this world, and that nature is still within us, too.

In Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9, Paul admonishes us to "lay aside the old self." apotiqemi (apotithemi) is an active verb meaning to physically lay aside, put off to the side, that "old self." We have the choice to do that. We don't always make that choice, but as we are sanctified throughout our lives, we gradually learn to hate all our sin, we gradually learn to apotiqemi our old self in favor of our "new creature."

The Bible doesn't support any need for man to "do" in order to be saved. Instead, it requires only "obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5; 16:26). Paul is simply speaking of the obedience which is faith. Acts 16:31 commands belief for salvation. The lost souls in Israel are said, in Romans 10:16, to be lost because "they did not all head the good news" -- the euaggelion (euaggelion), the Gospel -- which is the proclamation of God's grace as manifest in the gift of Christ.

God made it simple. He commands us to "obey" through belief in Christ. As we are sanctified in Him, we grow more Christlike and less Adam-like. You make it hard by thinking you have to "do" when the reality is the only "have-to" with Christ is to "be" in Him.

This is not at all what I was saying. Not even close. But to paint any misrepresented fact, works for Satan, doesn't it?. All he needs is the idea of doubting Scripture, regardless of the facts. I am sorry you do not see Scriptures line of thinking, I have placed here. Why would I even consider a favorite sin? Prejudices, are the way we take Scripture and place them acceptable to us in our thinking. I consider only one thing. Whether or not you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and live by receiving that relationship thru an immediate obedience response thru a completely, now, dead past, toward the old man, and a all-in life-style with the new man, we have now become THRU Christ Jesus. who you are immersed with.

Belief is only the starting point..{and receive}. God's purpose for us in this relationship is to honor His glorious power of love. Jesus Christ is the complete package of victory in us. Which is the Historical: "It is Finished." Sin is powerless in our lives now if we, but, stay in that setting, He is the robe of our lives always... there's the biblical simple part. But it is also a cost to us.Which God will honor, and bless. .. "Pick-up your cross daily and follow Me.", not based on our works to gain it, but our effort in responding to it.

Where did the old man go? Is he inoperable? He is still here on this planet until we reach the kingdom of heaven, but it is only Satan that is working that option, now. Jesus, nor we are subject to it in any way, it is an empty shell floating in about us. For we live not for small measures or seasons of truths along the way, we live from more than conquering victory toward Satan's temptations, as we see God be faithful to us to be able to stand up under it. There is indeed a warfare, not again to gain anything but to simply stand firm in our place of rightful ownership, based on the authority of God thru His Son. God and we are coworkers for His purposes, via the cross of Jesus Christ and our submission to Him. Unless we die to ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him we cannot be used of God for His work.

People are put in a torrent grind when an upright person in faithful service to God thru the Word says to them, because the narrow purity God has called us to is just too high a standard,"God, I will serve you here,I will serve you there, But I cannot serve you there." becomes our personal battle of omission of self and inclusion of God's power found in Christ in us. and they become exposed of their weakness. Their lack of faith, their embarrassment in front of man, overshadows Gods ordinations, and desires. It becomes a crossroads to the very relationship in earnest, so they try to patchwork it up with a creed of righteousness that will allow the pressure of God to be let out a bit, instead of allowing God thru His Son to acquire it.. Well, Faith in Jesus to acquire it is the only way to the Father. The only way! Anyone arguing any other plan must talk to God and He will explain Himself, but an open heart one must have as well. For He lays a criteria to it, seek ye first the kingdom of God and then.....He will show you.

It's time some of us learn how much the completed power that lives in us, that is calling us to His standards, can do in US! For He is the way, the Truth and the Life, the river of life and Joy, and peace. God knows what complete package He has in this Jesus Christ. Do we? He knows of His own plan to emerge the two together. The new creation in us to His Son.. And He has no problems knowing of the operating power of the Holy Spirit to become Jesus Incarnate in us to enable us, this weakened vessel, to be capable to live a life worthy of pleasing God.His good, and acceptable, and pleasing will.

You are right It is simple, but not for the reasons you have put in your creed. If we, but, stay seated with Christ and obey Him immediately,with anything He wants to do with us, This is a flexible relationship, we are saved by grace thru faith.

But I ask you: is the policy you serve strong enough to bear fruit of the measure of narrow purity God has called us all to live thru our Precious Lord Jesus Christ? Do we dare suggest He is not capable of procuring His own will in us? How is the obedience record working for you in the obeying thru simple belief only? God forgives, as we try and fail, yes, thru our confession and recommitment .. but only to start over the "doing " once again, thru the victor. As He teaches how to be what He is, and hence finishes His work in each of us.

Being in Him is not effortless, for love requires a response that you will freely give. If it's hard to respond ask Him to tell you why it's hard. He will give you an answer. You have His Word on it. The question becomes are you willing to obey immediately in response to Him telling you? The earning issue is over, Jesus has earned it, but the obedience issue is not in our lives. He has given all we need to succeed. For each and every one of us. No exceptions. But will we all receive it? My God is not at all impersonal. He is God yes, and I am not, but His Character has proved itself to me to be a jealous God that loves me with all of His resources. Regardless of whether I see it or not in my understanding yet.

 

[slave]

You assume, as I read from this, that every Christian holds to a "favorite sin" he/she refuses to give up on, and never outgrows that sin. That's pure hogwash! If that is the case of someone who claims to follow Christ, then his/her salvation is actually in question, not because of the sin but because of the attitude.

What you fail to understand about 2 Corinthians 5:17 is that, if there is a "new creature" within us, there is also an "old creature," or "old self." Where did he go? Did Christ slay him? Is he bound in death and unable to function? You can't find anything in the Bible that teaches that, "dead to sin" notwithstanding.

When Paul uses that phrase in Romans 6:11, he says "Even so, consider yourselves dead to sin ... " The word highlighted there is the Greek logizomai (logizomai) and means "to reckon, count, calculate" and actually means "impute" in its most literal sense. We give consideration to each and every circumstance we face. If we do this in the Spirit, then we will never sin. That is our new creature at work.

But we have a problem: The old man is dead, but that doesn't mean he's inactive. Death is just another state of being. There are active, moving dead people all around us, the unbelievers in this world, and that nature is still within us, too.

In Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9, Paul admonishes us to "lay aside the old self." apotiqemi (apotithemi) is an active verb meaning to physically lay aside, put off to the side, that "old self." We have the choice to do that. We don't always make that choice, but as we are sanctified throughout our lives, we gradually learn to hate all our sin, we gradually learn to apotiqemi our old self in favor of our "new creature."

The Bible doesn't support any need for man to "do" in order to be saved. Instead, it requires only "obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5; 16:26). Paul is simply speaking of the obedience which is faith. Acts 16:31 commands belief for salvation. The lost souls in Israel are said, in Romans 10:16, to be lost because "they did not all head the good news" -- the euaggelion (euaggelion), the Gospel -- which is the proclamation of God's grace as manifest in the gift of Christ.

God made it simple. He commands us to "obey" through belief in Christ. As we are sanctified in Him, we grow more Christlike and less Adam-like. You make it hard by thinking you have to "do" when the reality is the only "have-to" with Christ is to "be" in Him.

Romans 1:5: does not say, "Obedience of faith." which signifies a need to think not do, allowing the foothold of allowable failure to remain purely His work still in us thru creed and not biblical wisdom . Scripture however says, "the obedience that comes from faith." which signifies our place of power in accomplishing our doing, and allowing nothing but Jesus to be tested and spot- lighted in the ability to accomplish such a task of purity in us.We live not of faith, we live by faith. The trenches will require it to succeed God's glory in us thru life's ups and downs. But it is indeed there to be accomplished thru Christ, not an option, a must if we seek the kingdom of God.