Self Examination: Do you understand the Gospel?
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The problem is this simple reality. All these free ex-legalists still feel condemned every day by their behaviour.
If you say you can walk in righteousness, suddenly it is you are a hypocrite and do not know how to walk properly because you have lowered the bar so it is easy. Now if these ex-legalists were really walking in freedom and liberty and real righteousness, they would agree with me and rejoice.
But in reality they still feel sinners condemned, just it does not matter now. So it is a resigned prisoner still locked in the cage, which again testifies they still go not know the liberty of walking in the Spirit and not the flesh. Strangely I do know these things, so maybe nothing has changed, one sort of lostness has been exchanged for another.
If you say you can walk in righteousness, suddenly it is you are a hypocrite and do not know how to walk properly because you have lowered the bar so it is easy. Now if these ex-legalists were really walking in freedom and liberty and real righteousness, they would agree with me and rejoice.
But in reality they still feel sinners condemned, just it does not matter now. So it is a resigned prisoner still locked in the cage, which again testifies they still go not know the liberty of walking in the Spirit and not the flesh. Strangely I do know these things, so maybe nothing has changed, one sort of lostness has been exchanged for another.
There's no spin - the verses you quoted were before the Work of Christ had been done. Jesus was simply stating the rules as they existed before the Cross.
The Ephesians and Colossians passages above are clear: AFTER the Cross, forgive as you have been forgiven.
Yet you go back to that which was instructed BEFORE the Cross and try to teach forgiveness as conditional on whether or not you forgive others, not on the Work of Christ. That's not what those passages written after the Cross are telling us. Where do you live on the timeline? Before or after the Cross?
Christ magnified the Law before the Cross - He made it even harder to keep, taking the intentions of the heart into account, not just outward compliance. The forgiveness issue was one of those things in which He was raising the bar - and outside of Christ and knowing His complete forgiveness for us, it is impossible to extend the same to those who have sinned against us.
We (Gospel of Grace folk) certainly are looking through a lens as we read Scriptures - it's the lens of the Finished Work of Christ. When one reads the Gospels that give account of events and teachings before the Cross, one needs to understand that those accounts need to be read in the context of Old Covenant Law and practice. The Old Covenant was still very much in place before Christ spilt His Blood at the Cross.
-JGIG
The Ephesians and Colossians passages above are clear: AFTER the Cross, forgive as you have been forgiven.
Yet you go back to that which was instructed BEFORE the Cross and try to teach forgiveness as conditional on whether or not you forgive others, not on the Work of Christ. That's not what those passages written after the Cross are telling us. Where do you live on the timeline? Before or after the Cross?
Christ magnified the Law before the Cross - He made it even harder to keep, taking the intentions of the heart into account, not just outward compliance. The forgiveness issue was one of those things in which He was raising the bar - and outside of Christ and knowing His complete forgiveness for us, it is impossible to extend the same to those who have sinned against us.
We (Gospel of Grace folk) certainly are looking through a lens as we read Scriptures - it's the lens of the Finished Work of Christ. When one reads the Gospels that give account of events and teachings before the Cross, one needs to understand that those accounts need to be read in the context of Old Covenant Law and practice. The Old Covenant was still very much in place before Christ spilt His Blood at the Cross.
-JGIG
There's no decoder ring required - the Gospel is simple, the 'almost-too-good-to-be-true' news!
Do we live before or after the Cross? That's the primary 'decoding' information you need to have
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-JGIG
Do we live before or after the Cross? That's the primary 'decoding' information you need to have
.-JGIG
This reminds me of the HR and law folks who insist that we are under the law, and then pick and choose which parts of the law they want to (pretend to) obey.
When I was a man in my 20's I realised as far as "righteousness" was concerned I had it. But was that all there was to walking with Jesus. Being a good "person". The little I did know then was I could not get through the others, it was like a wall between us.
My son asked me a question, "I get what believing in God is, but why does he not speak to me, and tell me things?"
Now the bible is there, loving parents are their, work, support, church, food. What more direction do you need?
"My yoke is easy and my burden is light"
Many are ambitious, want to be "great" in this world, have business success and not failure. And this weak, simple walk is just too dull and empty to be God the creators walk. It must be this fireworks and lights show, with music, money, flash cars and rolling in wealth. I mean if you are a child of God you deserve all this?
No. You need to learn how to love from the heart.
How is it, the hardest message of life is ignored for the easy road, even when the label on the box says, here is a christian.
My son asked me a question, "I get what believing in God is, but why does he not speak to me, and tell me things?"
Now the bible is there, loving parents are their, work, support, church, food. What more direction do you need?
"My yoke is easy and my burden is light"
Many are ambitious, want to be "great" in this world, have business success and not failure. And this weak, simple walk is just too dull and empty to be God the creators walk. It must be this fireworks and lights show, with music, money, flash cars and rolling in wealth. I mean if you are a child of God you deserve all this?
No. You need to learn how to love from the heart.
How is it, the hardest message of life is ignored for the easy road, even when the label on the box says, here is a christian.
A
It seems that the hypergrace adherents accept repentance as valid concerning the sinner, but once saved they consider themselves to be exempt from any further repentance as children of God who certainly do sin in yielding to the flesh in some way or other.
For such occaisions, it was the apostle John who wrote in 1 Jn.2:1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
The two verses, as well as the last portion of the verse shows that repentance is not just for sinners to be saved, but for Christians as well to be cleansed of sins as they commit them.
So the verses 1 Jn.1:8-10 apply to Christians, we know that it does because of the words "we", and "us", and "our". If John was addressing only the gnostics, then he'd use the words "you" or such and certainly not include himself and all Christians as gnostics and therefore subject to the verse. However, it's not addressed to the gnostics only, it is addressed to Christians, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
How would a Christian say that they have not sinned? Perhaps by saying that they aren't required to repent because all their sins, including future as yet not committed sins, were forgiven at the cross of Christ.
There is no scripture in which future sins are forgiven before a person could commit them.
The hyper grace adherents give their response by claiming that Jesus forgave all on the cross, including those not born yet. Therefore, to them that would include their future sins. However, if that's true, then all of the sinners not born yet at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, would never have to repent in order to be saved.. because all their future sins were forgiven too.
Perhaps that is why the Holy Spirit through John wrote the verses I've posted above, to show that repentence is necessary for salvation, as well as for any sins committed by a Christian at any present time.
Sin certainly has not been abolished, so no matter who we are, repentance still applies.
I'm not speaking of legalism. I am speaking about a child of God responding to our Father's love, in His and our desire to be in the closest and most blessed relationship that He has provided.
God forgives because He so loves us. We repent because we so love Him.
P
Christ magnified the Law before the Cross - He made it even harder to keep, taking the intentions of the heart into account, not just outward compliance. The forgiveness issue was one of those things in which He was raising the bar - and outside of Christ and knowing His complete forgiveness for us, it is impossible to extend the same to those who have sinned against us
Jesus did not change or magnify the law he corrected the intent of it, it was made for the issues of the heart but the Jews of old gave it only a carnal meaning. Notice he said in Matt 5 "you have heard it said but I say unto you" God is never changing so Jesus here is correcting the intent.
How is it, the hardest message of life is ignored for the easy road, even when the label on the box says, here is a christian.
This world has us all programmed from the womb that success comes from hard work , money and power are the rewards of success. God says all of that will someday burn. In fact in a split moment all the wealthy will go broke, then what?
The world's wisdom is contrary to God's wisdom but in the end God's word will prevail.
That is where our faith matures, faith is the belief of things not yet seen, so the influence of the world and it's wisdom is strong in the carnal minds and hearts. Our struggle also begins in this false wisdom of the world. We need to die to self and be others oriented, having trust in the Lord in all things. Fulfilling our commission and continuing the ministry of the gospel.
Jesus did not change or magnify the law he corrected the intent of it, it was made for the issues of the heart but the Jews of old gave it only a carnal meaning. Notice he said in Matt 5 "you have heard it said but I say unto you" God is never changing so Jesus here is correcting the intent.
How is it, the hardest message of life is ignored for the easy road, even when the label on the box says, here is a christian.
This world has us all programmed from the womb that success comes from hard work , money and power are the rewards of success. God says all of that will someday burn. In fact in a split moment all the wealthy will go broke, then what?
The world's wisdom is contrary to God's wisdom but in the end God's word will prevail.
That is where our faith matures, faith is the belief of things not yet seen, so the influence of the world and it's wisdom is strong in the carnal minds and hearts. Our struggle also begins in this false wisdom of the world. We need to die to self and be others oriented, having trust in the Lord in all things. Fulfilling our commission and continuing the ministry of the gospel.
What are you repenting of? What constant sins are you commiting and being convicted by satan over?
I did not know satan has such a condemning attitude towards you and you listen so closely to the enemy?
I would suggest you are actually in the wrong kingdom altogether?
Or is it the Holy Spirit convicting you or your conscience? Maybe you need to confess this daily habitual sin you appear to be a slave to before it destroys your soul.
I am sorry if this sounds hard, but I think you are literally mocking the word of God and His definition of sin in your life and what conviction and repentance actually is. Beware for mocking the Lord is a serious offence while claiming to walk in the Spirit.
I did not know satan has such a condemning attitude towards you and you listen so closely to the enemy?
I would suggest you are actually in the wrong kingdom altogether?
Or is it the Holy Spirit convicting you or your conscience? Maybe you need to confess this daily habitual sin you appear to be a slave to before it destroys your soul.
I am sorry if this sounds hard, but I think you are literally mocking the word of God and His definition of sin in your life and what conviction and repentance actually is. Beware for mocking the Lord is a serious offence while claiming to walk in the Spirit.
"Your heart won't stop coming after me"
There is a lie buried here as clear as day. The cross and that love claims my soul and makes me break my rebellion and teaches me to love. To love God, to love Jesus, to love others, because I know sin and his refreshing rain that washed me clean and that makes life as bright as day, in purity and life.
But His love is conditional on my response. If I continue as a sinner in rebellion I have thrown over the gospel and trampled on the cross. If I see the cross I see my obligation and response.
Christian songs are about how broken and humbled we are, how His love heals us and brings us to victory.
Not this crowd, it is just acceptance as you are, and no solution. It is saying the Kingdom is this world with everything as is with nothing changed. It is a gospel from the pit.
There is a lie buried here as clear as day. The cross and that love claims my soul and makes me break my rebellion and teaches me to love. To love God, to love Jesus, to love others, because I know sin and his refreshing rain that washed me clean and that makes life as bright as day, in purity and life.
But His love is conditional on my response. If I continue as a sinner in rebellion I have thrown over the gospel and trampled on the cross. If I see the cross I see my obligation and response.
Christian songs are about how broken and humbled we are, how His love heals us and brings us to victory.
Not this crowd, it is just acceptance as you are, and no solution. It is saying the Kingdom is this world with everything as is with nothing changed. It is a gospel from the pit.