Thanks for responding again.
Doctrinally, there is much you have written that I would actually agree with(but certainly not all) .
Where your problem is arising, is that you read literally what is written, and do not allow for the practical working out of Grace in the Christians life. It seems to me that you see it is a rigid formula where the Christuian almost robotically follows and without deviation. It doesn't work like that Skinski.
Now you have stated time and time again, that upon conversion the convert MUST put their flesh to death/die to their flesh and they cannot sin.
There is here the issue of wilful, deliberate sin, and sin that needs to be dealt with that has deeply ingrained itself into a persons life. You don't accept that, but I draw the distinction. But as to the main point, we do of course have biblical references we can turn to as to what happens when real people receive the Gospel and are saved by it(become Christians)
So now we are not expounding scripture and giving our theological interpretations to it, but speaking of real people who Paul accepted as Christians, big difference, for this is the living reality.
Paul in his letters to the Corinthian church states the following:
They have divisions/quarrels, some follow one person and some another(1Cor1:10-12)
They act as worldly/carnal people(1Cor3:3)
They allow someone to be a member of their church who commits sexual immorality the like of which Paul says is not practised among the heathen(1Cor5:1)
People get drunk during the communion service, eat all the food so others must go hungry(1Cor 11:20&21)
According to your so often stated criteria for Christianity, once a person is saved, these people, could not be considered Christians. Yet who does Paul address the letter to?
'
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be Holy'
Now before you accuse me(again) of excusing sin. That is the plain reality
Paul admonishes/rebukes the church for erring/their wrong ways and actions, but does not say they are not Christians
That Skinski is the reality of a church founded by the Apostle Paul. The people HAD NOT put their flesh to death obviously. They had many problems, they erred and they sinned, but Paul did bot say they were not Christians. So there is a difference between your rigid demands according to the literal word, and the practical outworking of Christianity in the Corinthian church.
Please note, I have just given you facts.
Let's go on to the Galatian church:
Well people had led them astray. They had left their pure and simple devotion and life of faith in Christ, and now they relied on self effort(Gal3:3) They thought once they accepted Christ they had to be good enough for God according to law keeping to remain saved. Paul was exasperrated. Did he tell these people who were erring doctrinally the were no longer saved?
No he did not.
Paul's letter to the Thesolonian church:
Finally brothers we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.
Now we ask and urge you to do this more and more
It is God's will that you should be sanctified, 1Thes 4:1-2
So obnviously the thesolonian church had not crucified their flesh fully either, or Paul would not be writing to them and telling them to live more and more a Holy life
You see Skinski, your rigid doctrinal formula based on the literal letter, does not in real life work out as you demand.
The early churches proved that
Again, I have given you fact, if you wish to cast aspersions now on me for doing so, so beit.
