Self Examination: Do you understand the Gospel?

  • 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.
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
I'm not saying a person will never sin again after being born again, but sins should be very few and far between if one is truly born again. And if they sin, they will be grieved in their heart and repent of that sin asking the Lords forgiveness, and He is also willing to forgive.

And yes, this cleansing of the insides takes some time, but by resisting temptation this struggle will become less and less as you die to self and to sin, and put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And I can say with all confidence that since I have been given a new garment I have kept it unspotted by the ways of the world, as I also plan to walk with the Lord in white.
If you had left off that last statement, I would agree with your post.
I am grieved when I sin and I do repent and receive forgiveness.
But I have not reached sinless perfect and never will in this body of flesh and neither have you.
You are deceived by Satan if you believe you are.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,085
3,677
113
I don't think those that lean towards Peter as being the head of the church as I have seen some talk about around here would like you talking about Paul being the chosen apostle to us ...

..myself when Jesus said to Peter about the keys of the kingdom.. , He was NOT saying for Peter to have a "special place "...that is just the natural mind making up something...I don't believe for one second that Peter was at any time the head of any church..catholic or other wise....
The Lord used Peter to open the door of understanding of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, and then Paul went through the door and taught it fully. What salvation is and what believers are to do with their salvation, Church doctrine.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,431
0
so Peter was not the head of the church as religion teaches...I knew that...:)

The Lord used Peter to open the door of understanding of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, and then Paul went through the door and taught it fully. What salvation is and what believers are to do with their salvation, Church doctrine.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
If you had left off that last statement, I would agree with your post.
I am grieved when I sin and I do repent and receive forgiveness.
But I have not reached sinless perfect and never will in this body of flesh and neither have you.
You are deceived by Satan if you believe you are.
I wonder at this last point. My position has become to be aware of walking in righteousness is actually wrong, because it puts the emphasis on the achieving something rather than walking in it.

How God deems sin other than the obvious is more subtle, and at a close relationship state, it is the relationship and conscience that beats to the relationship. I was struck by Moses spoke face to face with the Father.
Jesus died so we can walk, and I am happy to walk. How far I can go I do not know but I put my trust in Him.

And I now think that is where the limit of our understanding lies. I cannot judge myself or someone else, except over the obvious, so why does these nuance matter when the goal is agreed.
 
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
692
113
Are you looking for the difference in dispensations? Who is the audience to whom Jesus is speaking?
Jesus teaching to the nation of Israel, duh:) This is not Church Age doctrine. Man, so many of these conflicts in the different threads could be easily solved if people would just rightly divide the word of truth and understand Church Age doctrine. Who is our spokesman people? Who is our chosen vessel...Apostle Paul!
Sounds like maybe you believe that there are 2 gospels? One for Israel, and one for the gentiles?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
Self examination is good.

1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

The gospel is received with faith like a little child.

Mt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

I knew nothing of doctrinal things before I was saved. I knew only that I was a sinner and that sinners die and are condemned. I knew that I deserved to be condemned because I was not good enough to satisfy God. I was good enough to satisfy me but not God. I was not concerned about the denomination of the person witnessing to me. I did not know that Jack Chick was to be despised and reviled. I only knew that God was confronting me with my sin and Jesus Christ's righteousness. I was able to perceive the differences between the religious phonies and what God was showing me from His word.

I was not encumbered with doctrinal things like baptism or communion or what was to be expected of me except that if I trusted Christ as my Savior my life would be changed. My life has changed since I received Christ as my Savior. It needed to change because sin was not promoting joy in my life nor the lives of those around me.

My initial doubts about Jesus really saving me have long since melted away and I have no interest in ever returning to the old life. Trial and struggles are present every day but with Jesus as my Savior they are not the problem they would have been had I to face them alone.

My God has protected me and taken care that I should be taught sound doctrine in word of God. Don't expect new converts to be theologians but care for them as new born babes in the Lord.

Oh look what Jesus said of the religious leaders of His time.

Mt 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Thank you! Post 26, but you're the first one talking about yourself instead of the famous "they."
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
By the way grace7x77 you are not on my ignore list because I always want to walk in the light and see what people are saying.

I expect nothing from those who call me an enemy, who condemn my whole christian life to the dustbin, who slander any contribution and call me legalist. As I love my enemy I feel and pray for them that they might see their sin and repent of it and walk in righteousness. But those here appear to want to deny sin has a mark on their lives and is relevent.

I have discovered some do lie and claim this is not what they believe. As truth and lies mean nothing to them, all I can say is by their fruit you know them. What I believe is exactly what I say I believe, my yes is yes and my no is my no.

It appears these hyper-grace people know sin and changing their words has no effect on their integrity. Again this fruit speaks of their lack of spiritual understanding. Maybe they will repent, and come back to real faith, I just want to discover what they actually are, because then we can have a real conversation.

This thread is an example of this confusion and Ben is not prepared to properly engage. He starts so confidently without seeing the flaw in his position. I wonder if truth will dawn in the end. The Lord knows.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
I am witnessing people make arguments for doctrines that are completely contrary to Jesus' finished work at the cross of Calvary. Some facts about His sacrifice is that through Him we have been reconciled to God and have forgiveness of sins. Right? The veil has been broken, that which separated man from God (I.e, sin) has been dealt with so that man would be reconciled to God. That is the plan of reconciliation.

How do you go from faith in that truth, Christ crucified and resurrected for the purpose of reconciling sinful man to God, and then go to a doctrine that alienates man from God due to sin? Did I just miss something? Did Christ not just go to the cross 2000 years ago to deal with sin so that we would no longer be alienated from God? I am perplexed at how these doctrines of sin confession and repentance are being used to distance God, our heavenly Father, from His children when He made sure nothing could separate them from His love by Christ's sacrifice.

Do people understand the Gospel? These are simple, foundational, truths about the Gospel and yet, some how, something has gone amiss that people are trying to obtain something Jesus already paid for with His blood (I.e, forgiveness of sin and reconciliation/communion with God). I am genuinely perplexed and annoyed even, that people are espousing doctrines contrary to the basic tenets of the faith.

You ARE reconciled to God, you HAVE forgiveness of sins and you ARE in the light for you are in Jesus Christ. Don't listen to people's religious ideas that replace faith in Christ for some practice. People, please, grasp the very basic tenets of the faith and understand what Jesus accomplished for you. Please. It is frustrating to witness people trying to obtain something that Jesus paid for with His sacrifice only to have it ignored and sought after through some other means. Give the glory to God and commune with God. Have fellowship, you are reconciled! :)
I have to say this post was an epic failure! It wasn't about "self" examination. It was about examining others, and most posts after continued the trend.

What do we have now? Oh boy! Yet another hyper thread. 20 or more wasn't enough yet?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,085
3,677
113
Sounds like maybe you believe that there are 2 gospels? One for Israel, and one for the gentiles?
In the current Dispensation after the death, burial and resurrection, there is only one gospel for Jew and Gentile that saves the soul from sin and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of grace, 1 Cor. 15:3-4.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
I have to say this post was an epic failure! It wasn't about "self" examination. It was about examining others, and most posts after continued the trend.

What do we have now? Oh boy! Yet another hyper thread. 20 or more wasn't enough yet?
So, do you understand the Gospel? lol
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
Call me old fashioned but when I offend someone and become aware of it I apologise or at least try to. When it comes to the Lord I double down on that. And as for not forgiving others if they apologize and I don't except it or even if they don't and I hold it against them, then who am I ? Am I better than God and deserve more of a atonement.
Self examination is what we all need to do. The grace of God is far greater than one could ever explain. To say we could be reckless in our faith and not worry is a lie. The beautiful perfect master plan of salvation was drawn up and approved before the foundations were set into place. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth knowing the end from the beginning is testimony to that.
Let us not try to reinvent the word of God but let us establish its truth in our hearts and to the world.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
So, do you understand the Gospel? lol
Probably, but what I understand has changed over the years. Despite that, I've still been saved for going on 44 years now. Understanding the proper way of interpreting the gospel also doesn't save. Jesus saves.
 
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
What we seem to have here is a group of people with too much liberty, acting like they own the place.....

Remember, dear reader, the majority wins in the eyes of the people, but God will judge them in the end. Only the "few that be that find it" will actually be with the Lord.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
What we seem to have here is a group of people with too much liberty, acting like they own the place.....

Remember, dear reader, the majority wins in the eyes of the people, but God will judge them in the end. Only the "few that be that find it" will actually be with the Lord.
Aren't you glad that you are justified before God on the merits of Jesus? :) God's grace is so good, to think such judgement is based upon my faith in Christ, the peace I have. To think that I am dependent on Jesus Christ, and not my own righteousness. Such good news.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
I guess some people have their pigeon hole specialties and can see no further.
Sad, because a truth overly emphasized becomes an untruth.
 

Nautilus

Senior Member
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
53
48
This whole argument between the two camps of y'all has done nothing much make the bible discussion forum completely undesirable and all of you look like fools. Like you disagree great, shut up and go your own way. The rest of us are tired of you guys taking the whole forum with your petty semantics and nitpicking
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
This whole argument between the two camps of y'all has done nothing much make the bible discussion forum completely undesirable and all of you look like fools. Like you disagree great, shut up and go your own way. The rest of us are tired of you guys taking the whole forum with your petty semantics and nitpicking
Yayy, let's hear it from the third camp :rolleyes:
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
I guess some people have their pigeon hole specialties and can see no further.
Sad, because a truth overly emphasized becomes an untruth.
I don't see how God's grace is a pigeon holed specialty, when it is the basis of your entire walk with God and victory over sin.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
I don't see how God's grace is a pigeon holed specialty, when it is the basis of your entire walk with God and victory over sin.
Out of 66 books of Scripture, if all we talk about is the benefits of the finished work of Christ...as importnt as it is... It strikes me as being unbalanced.
 
Last edited: