Followers of Jesus are expected to walk just as he walked.

[Skinski7]

Those who claim to follow Jesus are expected to obey His teachings.

Those who claim to follow Jesus are expected to walk just as he walked.

Those who claim to follow Jesus are expected to depart from iniquity/cease from sin (cease from all known wrong doing).


The only sin permissible for a true Christian is a sin of ignorance. That means we may do something wrong without understanding that it is in fact wrong. Such a sin is not unto death (ie. it does not kill spiritually) because it is not rooted in rebellion to God or a rebellion to righteousness. We are reproved for sins of ignorance through which we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ as we become more and more conformed to His image.



This world and all that is in it is temporary. It is going to be burned up. In light of this world being burned up, what manner of lives ought we to live? What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conduct and godliness?

Let us be diligent for our walk in the Spirit and thus diligent for righteousness, that we may be found in Jesus Christ, in peace, blameless and without spot.


2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

 

[Skinski7]

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jn 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Let none of us be deceived into thinking that he who does evil is a child of God. He that DOES righteousness is righteous.

Deeds do matter. Deeds are a reflection of our inward state. Deeds reflect whom we serve, whether it be God (righteousness) or Satan (unrighteousness). The children of God are manifest to the world in that they DO righteousness because they are born of the Spirit through which the righteousness of God is fulfilled in us and is thus manifested through us to the world at large. It is in this way that we are lights to an evil sin serving world.

All this bears a glorious opportunity to every single one of us, an opportunity reaped in fulfillment the moment we yield ourselves wholeheartedly to God, having forsaken the vanities and wickedness of this world.

 

[Blain]

Ya were it not for one scripture that says-if any man claims to be without sin the truth is not in him.

Good luck finding a person who is actually without sin other than in their minds

 

[psychomom]

Ya were it not for one scripture that says-if any man claims to be without sin the truth is not in him.

Good luck finding a person who is actually without sin other than in their minds

which, the important thing is, still counts as sin!

 

[Skinski7]

Ya were it not for one scripture that says-if any man claims to be without sin the truth is not in him.

Good luck finding a person who is actually without sin other than in their minds

1Joh 1:8 is presented within the context of one having a criminal record before God, not in the context of ongoing criminal activity against God.

John is writing to people that they may be cleansed of all sin and unrighteousness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In order to be cleansed one has to come clean before God. We see this evidenced in passages like this...

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

In passages like this...

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

As well as in verses like this...

Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Even Isaiah wrote...

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Yet despite the clarity of these Scriptures, if one is to contend that one actually has to forsake all known unrighteousness and be a doer of righteousness, then many religious folk who proclaim to believe in Jesus will oppose such one who contends such a thing.



Why are you in opposition to a ceasing from all known evil and a wholehearted yielding to God Blain?

The Bible clearly teaches that mercy is granted AFTER a repentance which is inclusive of the forsaking of evil. In other words if one refuses to forsake all known evil then that one has not yet found mercy/forgiveness.

 

[Joidevivre]

I try - I try - I try. And every step that I take as He took is only His Spirit working in and through me.

 

[Skinski7]

How purposefully ignorant can an individual be to claim that John is asserting in 1Joh 1:8 that an individual will always be engaged in evil activity when John writes in the very same letter that the children of God are manifest in that they do righteousness as opposed to being engaged in evil activity?

Such purposeful ignorance is to literally spit in the face of God for one has to deny plain and obvious truth.

 

[Willie-T]

I try - I try - I try. And every step that I take as He took is only His Spirit working in and through me.

Spoken in truth and loving desire.

 

[Skinski7]

Ya were it not for one scripture that says-if any man claims to be without sin the truth is not in him.

Good luck finding a person who is actually without sin other than in their minds

People like Blain use one single verse which they misapply to cancel out (ie. "ya, were it not") everything I wrote in my first post.

Are people like these really that hardened?

John wrote...

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Yet they respond to that with, "ya, were it not." In other words they disbelieve 1Jn 2:3-6 simply because they think 1Joh 1:8 is teaching that every human being is engaged in evil conduct and thus not a single individual could possibly be WALKING as Jesus walked.

I really fail to grasp how an intelligent mind can stubbornly oppose the plain and obvious.

Jesus said, "go and sin no more" to the woman caught in adultery. Obviously that woman was being commanded to no longer commit adultery and any other known evils. Likewise with the former blind man who was made to see, "go and sin no more." Jesus commanded that man to stop sinning and obviously the context was known wrong doing, not missing the mark in ignorance.

Why is the forsaking of evil such a bone of contention with people? I understand the theological root behind such resistance (ie. Original Sin doctrine etc.) yet despite that the commandment to depart from all iniquity is so obvious and plain.

Jesus walked this planet as a preacher of righteousness. Jesus exposed the religious clerics of his day as only having an outward form of righteousness with all their law keeping, pomp, and ceremony. Jesus plainly told them to cleanse first that which was within that the outside be clean. Jesus never contended to anyone that they would always remain filthy and that by somehow trusting in Him that He would serve as a cloak.

The Sermon on the Mount is so clear in teaching that it is INWARD righteousness that counters, not a mere outward appearance. Jesus contended for purity of heart in people and even stated that it is the pure in heart who will see God.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed ARE the pure in heart. It is those who ARE pure in heart who will see God. That was Jesus that said that and the context of that statement was in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was exposing the vanity of mere outward form of righteousness (ie. not committing physical adultery or murder). Jesus taught that adultery and murder in the heart is the root of the problem for it is what proceeds out of a man that defiles him.

Be ye perfect Jesus commanded. Not perfect in knowledge or perfect in wisdom. Not perfect in never making a misjudgement or a mistake. Not perfect in never doing wrong in ignorance. Rather,

PERFECT IN HEART.

PURE.

God has given us teachers, prophets, evangelists etc for the purpose of...

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 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:
Eph 4:14 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;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 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.

Perfecting of the saints.

We are to come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son, unto a perfect man. Why? Why are we to come into the unity of the faith, the knowledge of the Son, unto a perfect man? Why?

Paul tells us...

Eph 4:14 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;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 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.

Those words of Paul match the words of Peter...

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

We are to love one another with a pure heart fervently.

HEART PURITY

A pure heart from which the love of God flows does not work ill. Love works no ill.

Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

It is impossible for a child of God, the one whom born of the Spirit, the one whom the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, the one who loves God and their neighbour with a pure heart, to be engaged in the working of iniquity.

Is it therefore any wonder that Jesus warned...

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.


The MANY people who will be rejected at the judgment are WORKERS OF INIQUITY.

The MANY people who will be rejected at the judgement who call Jesus "Lord, Lord" and who claim to do all manner of wonderful works, who claim to prophecy, who even claim to cast out demons, these MANY religious people are WORKERS OF INIQUITY whom Jesus never knew.

Do we know Him? Does He know us?

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

It is the DOERS of the commandments of Jesus who will enter the kingdom. Those whom HEAR and DO.

HEAR AND DO.

It is so simple.

HEAR AND DO.

Jesus says of those whom HEAR AND DON'T that they are fools.

Jesus says of those whom HEAR AND DO that they are wise.


We ought to all ask ourselves are we of those whom HEAR AND DO or are we of those who HEAR AND DON'T?

It is a question with serious consequences.

 

[Gr8grace]

purposeful ignorance

??????????

 

[Gr8grace]

Those who claim to follow Jesus are expected to walk just as he walked.

Who are your 12 disciples?

Who have you appointed as Apostles?

You have no home?

Your single and have never lusted?

How is your Judas treating you?

What does it feel like to walk on water?

How did you make your whip for the money changers?

How many demons have you cast into swine?

How many doves have landed on your shoulder?

whats it feel like to sweat blood?

What does it feel like to have the sins of the world laid upon you?

What does it feel like to be separated from the Father?

Whats it feel like to be nailed to the Cross?

Whats it feel like to have your beard plucked out? You do have a beard right?

How do people recognize you since you were beaten beyond recognition?

What does it feel like to be sinless and perfect and touch sin?



You know there is one thing Jesus couldn't show us that Paul can. Do you know what that thing is?

 

[jaybird88]

one thingf i never got, if Jesus is the Almighty and we are to walk like him does that mean we are striving to be gods our self? im pretty sure i am falling far short of that.

 

[JGIG]

The thing that distinguishes these types of threads is how much focus is on us and what they say WE must do, be, perform.

The focus is on US, not on CHRIST.

The focus is also on sin - sinning, not sinning, avoiding sinning, thinking about not sinning, identifying sin, categorizing sin, rating sin, sin, sinning, sinfulness . . .

Then an accusatory "question" like the following:

"Why are you in opposition to a ceasing from all known evil and a wholehearted yielding to God?" ​

Why do you assume that those who are led by the Spirit are in opposition to ceasing form all known evil?

You demand perfection, yet ignore Who makes us perfect in favor of self-perfection based on human effort rather than the Work of Christ in us.

You take

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. ​

. . . and passages in Eph. 4 and 1 John and read it as it is US who must 'purify' our souls through obedience to commandments, not through obedience of the Truth - the Gospel - the commandments defined in 1 John 3 simply as this:

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
​

Reread those passages in the context of their whole letters and the Work of Christ and we see that the Gospel and the maturity of the believer is not ME-focused, but Christ-focused.


Subtle but important distinctions.

The difference?

Life.

Rest.

True holiness.

Fruit of the Spirit vs. fruit of the flesh.

Fruit of the Spirit will always point to Christ, glorify Him and build up the believer in who they are in Christ.

Fruit of the flesh will always point to self and magnify sin.

No life.

No rest.

Just the perpetual washing of the outside of the cup, for that is the only thing the flesh can do.





-JGIG

 

[GregoryC]

Truth must be tempered with love friend.

 

[GregoryC]

We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Its all on Jesus friend He has done it all for us.

 

[Gr8grace]

The thing that distinguishes these types of threads is how much focus is on us and what they say WE must do, be, perform.

The focus is on US, not on CHRIST.

The focus is also on sin - sinning, not sinning, avoiding sinning, thinking about not sinning, identifying sin, categorizing sin, rating sin, sin, sinning, sinfulness . . .

Then an accusatory "question" like the following:

"Why are you in opposition to a ceasing from all known evil and a wholehearted yielding to God?" ​

Why do you assume that those who are led by the Spirit are in opposition to ceasing form all known evil?

You demand perfection, yet ignore Who makes us perfect in favor of self-perfection based on human effort rather than the Work of Christ in us.

You take

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. ​

. . . and passages in Eph. 4 and 1 John and read it as it is US who must 'purify' our souls through obedience to commandments, not through obedience of the Truth - the Gospel - the commandments defined in 1 John 3 simply as this:

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
​

Reread those passages in the context of their whole letters and the Work of Christ and we see that the Gospel and the maturity of the believer is not ME-focused, but Christ-focused.


Subtle but important distinctions.

The difference?

Life.

Rest.

True holiness.

Fruit of the Spirit vs. fruit of the flesh.

Fruit of the Spirit will always point to Christ, glorify Him and build up the believer in who they are in Christ.

Fruit of the flesh will always point to self and magnify sin.

No life.

No rest.

Just the perpetual washing of the outside of the cup, for that is the only thing the flesh can do.


View attachment 124066


-JGIG

Your right. most of the time you can read a few words and know.

Is it about what the creature is doing?

Or is about what the Creator has DONE?

Sin or the Son?

 

[MikkoAinasoja]

Ya were it not for one scripture that says-if any man claims to be without sin the truth is not in him.

Good luck finding a person who is actually without sin other than in their minds

And the Scripture go on, that if we confess our sins he is righteous and will purify us all wrongness.

 

[Karraster]

[h=1]Matthew 7:21-23King James Version (KJV)[/h]21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These verses get my attention..Is it me? Or does this sound like Christians He is talking to? who else does these things in his name while at the same time neglecting the commandments for thinking they are obsolete? That's what iniquity is, breaking the Almighty's commandments.

 

[Jason0047]

View attachment 124066

The Scriptures say the Law is a schoolmaster that brings us unto Christ. Sin is transgression of the Law. You would not have a reason to accept Christ if you did not desire to have your sins forgiven.

 

[GregoryC]

Mat. 7 :23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:

These people were deluded false professors were never born again otherwise Jesus would have known them.

Those who are born again are kept by the power of God, taught of God and filled with the Spirit of God.
Any child born of God is miserable when walking in disobedience towards their heavenly Father, will confess their sin turn from it and be restored to close fellowship.
1Peter 1:5, 1John 2:27, Heb. 12:6, 1John 1:9