"Their foot shall slide in due time."
- Thread starter TDRI24
- Start date
-
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.
It seems to be the case, even on this website, that the 1 thing few ever mention is 'sin': neither the condition we are born into, not the sins we commit because of it. Few seem to understand that the HOLY SPIRIT can help one to overcone their sin nature throught the renewing of our minds and the in indweling of HIM (H.S.) in their hearts.
The Serpent's lie to Eve, that she could sin and yet still live, although true in the natural (bodily) sense, is false in the Spiritual sense. If one must be Holy to see the LORD (), then, since sin has not part in holiness, one cannot have sin on their soul at their death. But, GLory to GOD and the Lamb, who has set us free from the bondage of sin (nature), first, by justifiying us of our sins by our faith in HIM; Second, by the renewing of our minds through the written WORD which teaches us the TRUTHS of GOD; third, by our sanctification, which is the seal of a perfect man; and finally, by the Baptist of the HOLY SPIRIT, which enables us to 'operate' the Gifts of the Spirit at GOD's bidding.
Those that have an ear, check the scriptures and see that these are the Gifts the JESUS left us by HIS Perfect Atoneing Death, which gifts we are to be in possession of.
Ephesians 4
1. I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20. But ye have not so learned Christ;
21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27. Neither give place to the devil.
28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
GOD BLESS THE GODLY, and SAVE the Sinner.
The Serpent's lie to Eve, that she could sin and yet still live, although true in the natural (bodily) sense, is false in the Spiritual sense. If one must be Holy to see the LORD (), then, since sin has not part in holiness, one cannot have sin on their soul at their death. But, GLory to GOD and the Lamb, who has set us free from the bondage of sin (nature), first, by justifiying us of our sins by our faith in HIM; Second, by the renewing of our minds through the written WORD which teaches us the TRUTHS of GOD; third, by our sanctification, which is the seal of a perfect man; and finally, by the Baptist of the HOLY SPIRIT, which enables us to 'operate' the Gifts of the Spirit at GOD's bidding.
Those that have an ear, check the scriptures and see that these are the Gifts the JESUS left us by HIS Perfect Atoneing Death, which gifts we are to be in possession of.
Ephesians 4
1. I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20. But ye have not so learned Christ;
21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27. Neither give place to the devil.
28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
GOD BLESS THE GODLY, and SAVE the Sinner.
C
It is interesting how the enemy works--he uses both extremes. To some he uses condemnation, always making them feel as if they cannot ask for grace from God. To others he uses the illusion of freedom from judgement, always making them feel that they do not need grace from God. The results in our culture is that it is not considered polite to speak of sin.
And the only One who knows which is right for which hearer is the Spirit, who opens the ears of the hearers, and puts the words in the mouth of the speaker, and even makes the words to have life in them, just as Jesus' words have life in them. In truth, they are His words. What astounds me is that He chooses to us such as me to speak His words.
For it is obvious that we do not even know our own hearts, much less anyone else. But God knows our hearts, what is in them, and what is needed in drawing near to us to awaken us to His love in Jesus Christ.
Paul had a problem in his travels. He kept coming to places where Jesus had been preached, but by those who were not preaching the freedom of God in Jesus, the reconciliation with God that is by faith and not by any works or the Law or any other thing. He preferred to preach Jesus where He had never been heard of. Much of what is preached, of what has been preached, has been in the wisdom of men, in the power of the soul and with beautiful words. And it has not done any good, because the hearer was not opened to hear and the speaker was not speaking in the power of the Spirit. And unfortunately, if there was any faith gained, it rested on the wisdom of men, and not on the power of God. This is the gospel I heard when I first believed. And though the Spirit drew me to acknowledge Him, it was not because of the words, but because He compelled me with His power, with His love.
Many years were to pass before I came to rest my life in His hands. I won't say that they were lost years, but they were difficult years, in which I did much that was against the cross of Jesus, much that was against Him, and much that detracted from His witness.
God intervened and I saw judgment, His judgment. This vision is why I no longer open my mouth about Jesus and His salvation without the leading of the Holy Spirit. I understand that with my wisdom and my words, all that I can do is persuade a little, and put off the conviction of death due to sin which brings repentance. There is no Godly repentance without the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
For it is obvious that we do not even know our own hearts, much less anyone else. But God knows our hearts, what is in them, and what is needed in drawing near to us to awaken us to His love in Jesus Christ.
Paul had a problem in his travels. He kept coming to places where Jesus had been preached, but by those who were not preaching the freedom of God in Jesus, the reconciliation with God that is by faith and not by any works or the Law or any other thing. He preferred to preach Jesus where He had never been heard of. Much of what is preached, of what has been preached, has been in the wisdom of men, in the power of the soul and with beautiful words. And it has not done any good, because the hearer was not opened to hear and the speaker was not speaking in the power of the Spirit. And unfortunately, if there was any faith gained, it rested on the wisdom of men, and not on the power of God. This is the gospel I heard when I first believed. And though the Spirit drew me to acknowledge Him, it was not because of the words, but because He compelled me with His power, with His love.
Many years were to pass before I came to rest my life in His hands. I won't say that they were lost years, but they were difficult years, in which I did much that was against the cross of Jesus, much that was against Him, and much that detracted from His witness.
God intervened and I saw judgment, His judgment. This vision is why I no longer open my mouth about Jesus and His salvation without the leading of the Holy Spirit. I understand that with my wisdom and my words, all that I can do is persuade a little, and put off the conviction of death due to sin which brings repentance. There is no Godly repentance without the conviction of the Holy Spirit.