Dualism, the doctrine of a disassociated identity

[FlSnookman7]

It is sad indeed that there are those who will simply not accept that they are who God says they are. God says we are the righteousness of God in Christ, God says we are as Jesus is HERE IN THIS WORLD, God says we are in Christ and seated with Him in Heaven. The flesh does not want us to believe our true identity. If we can accept that we are who God says we are then and only then can we follow the commandments Jesus left for us.

To say we are something other than who God says we are is false humility and self righteousness. It is ego and pride that says "I know better than God". Doubtless it is a very difficult thing indeed to have faith in our true identities even though we "think" or "feel" something else. That is why the gate is narrow, not because God wants less people saved but because so, so many can not set aside their pride and have faith.

 

[Grace777x70]

Precisely, you've proved my point, we are waiting for the redemption of our body. Did you read that verse.

Here is another one showing the sin in the body as compared to the spirit of the Christian that is righteousness.

Romans 8:10 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Precisely, you've proved my point, we are waiting for the redemption of our body. Did you read that verse.

Yeah, it's contrary to what you said here--->>>>

body being saved - it's not saved nor redeemed.

Compare--->>>Romans 8:23

[SUP]23 [/SUP]And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 

[Skinski7]

What part of you is in Christ? The inner man? Is your body in Christ? Old things about your inner man have passed away, and all things about your inner man are become new. Sadly, the inner man still dwells within a sinful body of flesh. Our flesh will be changed one day, but until then, it becomes a daily battle.

The "flesh" isn't sinful.

The word for "flesh" in the Greek is Sarx and all it means is the "meat on the bones." It is a reference to our natural physical body and thus also includes the natural passions and desires, neither of which are sinful.

The flesh is only sinful in the sense that human beings sin in the flesh. Thus when Paul used the term "likeness of sinful flesh" he was speaking in that sense.

The Gnostics opposed the idea that Jesus came in the flesh because such would put sin in Jesus. This is what John is correcting in writing...

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The Gnostics would teach that the "manifest conduct" did not have to match the "confession of the mouth" because they viewed the flesh as sinful, hence their doctrine was a duel nature doctrine (two natures existing in one being).

John very clearly explained that...

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
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.

Light and darkness do not mix. The cleansing available via the blood is wrought through WALKING in the light, hence one must be yielded to God and WALKING according to the Spirit.

When one approaches God in "repentance and faith" (ie. honest,obedience and trusting heart) then a cleansing occurs (Heb 10:22). John writes...

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.

John is speaking of the INITIAL CLEANSING al...

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.

Not some ongoing cleansing repeated over and over again.

Those who are genuinely in the faith WALK THE WALK as well as TALK THE TALK which is why 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.

The love of God is perfect in those whom WALK in the light as He is in the light, which is why the Saints are implored to "keep themselves in the love of God" (Jud 1:21) and that the "love of God" is "keeping His commandments" (1Jn 5:3).

The deception of false Christianity is like a whore whom leads one into a deep ditch and is able to catch the simple and thus increase their rebellion (Pro 23:27-28). In other words it presents a line of thinking in which one can "sin and not surely die" which is Satan's very first lie.

There are two kinds of people in the world. Two kinds!

The Wicked.

The Righteous.


The Wicked DO evil.

The Righteous DO righteousness.

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.

There is no such thing as "abiding in Jesus" and "sinning not" because of some duel nature where one is "pure in spirit" but "wicked in the flesh." That is nonsense which is why John used the term MANIFEST in 1Jn 3:10.

The children of God are MANIFEST to the world in that they DO righteousness.

The children of the devil are MANIFEST to the world in that they DO NOT righteousness.


As for a history of Dual Nature doctrine, I made a documentary about 5 years ago on the subject which is thoroughly researched and annotated. It is well worth examining...


Augustine and Original Sin
[video=youtube;KVQ1t5i058Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVQ1t5i058Q[/video]

 

[John146]

Precisely, you've proved my point, we are waiting for the redemption of our body. Did you read that verse.

1 Corinthian 15
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy (present), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (That's future.)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (our bodies cannot inherit eternal life without a change)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (Future, but when? keep reading)
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible (because in this life we have corruption on, our bodies), and we shall be changed. (To the image of Christ)
53 For this corruptible (our bodies) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (our bodies) must put on immortality. (our future bodies)
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

When can we finally say that sin has no more victory over us? At the last trumpet, when our bodies will be changed and we will finally bear the image of the heavenly, Jesus Christ.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

To say we are something other than who God says we are is false humility and self righteousness.

To think you are something you really are not is self delusional. Evil is as evil does, righteous is as righteous does. Search yourself and see if Christ is really in you.

 

[John146]

To think you are something you really are not is self delusional. Evil is as evil does, righteous is as righteous does. Search yourself and see if Christ is really in you.

Ok, where is righteousness found? In yourself? My righteousness is found in Jesus Christ.

 

[passing_through]

Yeah, it's contrary to what you said here--->>>>
Compare--->>>Romans 8:23

[SUP]23 [/SUP]And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Percisely what I said, or the gist of it was that the body is not saved, yet, and I have not deviated from that.

 

[Skinski7]

As for the lie of "if we say we have no sin" presented as a defence for perpetual ongoing sinning in the flesh body, I unpack that lie also in this video...

[video=youtube;XQJtXnuHV1o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQJtXnuHV1o[/video]


The real key to making this all very clear is the Sermon on the Mount.

The standard that God requires is "heart purity."

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

This is why Jesus when speaking to the religious people told them that is was not enough to not sin outwardly (ie. adultery and murder) but that one must not sin inwardly (ie. lust and hate).

It is through abiding in the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ (through repentance and faith) that true righteousness is wrought within our hearts and it is through this abiding state that we WALK in all holiness and purity before God, not of our own power but rather of the power of God working in us.

So Peter would write...

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.

The New Birth produces soul purity whereby we love one another with a pure heart. A pure heart does not produce the fruit of unrighteousness.

Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

A single eye focused upon God (no compromise) ensures that our whole being is full of light. This is why FAITH is inclusive of faithfulness and fidelity to Jesus Christ (ie. a WALK as well as a TALK).

Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

 

[Magenta]

To think you are something you really are not is self delusional. Evil is as evil does, righteous is as righteous does. Search yourself and see if Christ is really in you.

Christ is in me but I shall not put on the incorruptible until I am also clothed in His immortality. My understanding is that happens following the resurrection and judgement of all. Until then, I am in the flesh, walking after the Spirit. Like you and everyone else, that means I will stumble and fall at times. It does not mean I live in constant willful sin. That is the sin of the unbeliever. Faith purifies our hearts. Scripture attests to this. I will die the first death like everyone else, but not the second.

 

[Grace777x70]

Here is what I have found that scripture has said about "the flesh".

The term "flesh" is used 3 different ways in the NT.

1) the carnal ways of thinking and actions left over from the prior manner of living from the old man which has been crucified with Christ on the cross ( Gal. 2:20; Romans 6:6 ) - this is where renewing our minds to the new creation in Christ in our inner man comes in ( Eph. 4:24 and many others like Galatians 5:19 )

2) it is used when talking about self-effort ( Romans 4:1-6 ; Phil. 3:3-9 )

3) and sometimes it just means the "fleshly-meat - the body" itself ( many places in scripture it is used in this manner)

( Context will determine which "flesh" is being spoken of in the scripture. )

The body itself is not evil - just what is in it - namely the flesh and the law of sin which functions like a parasite in the flesh ( Romans 7: 17-22 ). Jesus had a natural body too and it was not evil.

Here is a scripture that talks about the "lusts of the flesh" and wanting to do "it's" desires.

Romans 13:14 (NASB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Galatians 5:24 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Anyway there are lot's of scriptures that talk about the flesh being not that good. The body itself is ok thought and not evil - just what is in it.

 

[Skinski7]

Ok, where is righteousness found? In yourself? My righteousness is found in Jesus Christ.

Righteousness is found in the Spirit of life IN Jesus Christ.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

When we abide in the Spirit of life IN Jesus Christ then true righteousness is fulfilled in for we have allowed the literal working power of God to flow through us. This is what "saved by grace through faith" means. We are literally quickened unto newness of life via the power of God when we submit wholeheartedly to God. We abide in Him and He abides in us just as Jesus taught.

What dual nature teaching tries to do is negate that understanding by making the "righteousness" POSITIONAL as opposed to MANIFEST.

Salvation is a MANIFEST STATE not an ABSTRACT POSITION.

Every false teacher will contend for a salvation which is POSITIONAL which is how they include "sin you will and sin you must" or a "sin/repent" cycle. It varies depending on which "ism" is in question. The commonality though is that the sin NEVER stops because at the root is a denial of true heart purity.

A pure heart will NEVER produce lust or hatred and thus will NEVER commit adultery or murder. The root of sin has been thoroughly purged and destroyed in a genuine Christian and what remains has been QUICKENED unto life, the life of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

[video=youtube;4EZp0tvX1tQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EZp0tvX1tQ[/video]

 

[Desertsrose]

Do you sin? Yes or No......simple answer!

You're totally missing his point. Take the time and slowing read and think about what he's saying.

And if you have, okay, but I still think you're missing his point. It's not whether we sin or don't sin. The question should be what path are you on. Are you walking the straight and narrow path, the path that leads you to righteous living and eternal life. Or are you still walking the wide path that leads to living a carnal life and eventually leads to the eternal lake of fire.

If we're on the narrow path, we'll find ourselves being transformed day by day into the image of God and we'll find ourselves growing more and more into holy living sinning less and less all the time because we're putting off the old man.

We're Romans 10:1,2 - the living sacrifice.

Sure we still sin because we have an old carnal man that's desire isn't the same desire as the new man who's desire is to love God with all its heart, soul, mind and strength. It wants to obey God and serve Him and please Him with all their heart. That's why we're told to continually put off the old man and to put on the new man because if we live by the one (old), it won't allow the other (new) to do what it wants and vice versa. So throw off the old man and put on Christ.

So when we do sin, we must confess and repent of it. If we struggle with stopping the sin, we pray and ask for God to help us and He will. Some could care less about their sin. I've heard friends say, "well this is just the way I am." Well if it's sin, God says to stop it. And He helps us in our weakness to overcome. It may take some time as we learn and grow in Him, but we can have victory over living a life of sin.

What does that look like? We aren't practicing sin. We're practicing holiness and righteousness. That's our new nature. We're convicted when we do sin and we don't make a habit of it anymore. Sin no longer is master.

Maybe I'm not understanding Him correctly, but that's kind of what I got from listening to him.

May we all grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our precious Savior and Lord, Jesus the begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

 

[John146]

Righteousness is found in the Spirit of life IN Jesus Christ.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Right there, righteousness is found "in Christ". One has to be in Christ to have the law of the Spirit of life, setting us free from the law of sin and death.

 

[Persuaded]

The words of Jesus....

The SPIRIT is indeed willing, but the FLESH IS WEAK.......

This one statement proves the following

A) The originator of this post is lacking in a biblical understanding
B) This originator of this thread teaches things that are false
C) The originator of this thread rejects truth so as to push a heretical doctrine

The bible speaks volumes concerning the CONFLICT BETWEEN OUR FALLEN NATURE AND OUR BORN AGAIN SPIRIT....the BATTLE IN THE MIND FOR CONTROL and the fact that EVEN PAUL HAD DIFFICULTY overcoming the FLESH that his BORN AGAIN SPIRIT RESIDED IN.........

Do not believe the lies that come from the OP ABOVE nor the false doctrine that oozes from it!

I will add that he is a liar, a false teacher, an agent of Satan, has the spirit of anti-christ, and shows no sign of salvation.
Now if you want to ban me for speaking the truth, do so.

 

[Skinski7]

Christ is in me but I shall not put on the incorruptible until I am also clothed in His immortality. My understanding is that happens following the resurrection and judgement of all. Until then, I am in the flesh, walking after the Spirit. Like you and everyone else, that means I will stumble and fall at times. It does not mean I live in constant willful sin. That is the sin of the unbeliever. Faith purifies our hearts. Scripture attests to this. I will die the first death like everyone else, but not the second.

Can you how you make an allowance for "willful sin" in the life of a Christian?

That statement is nothing more than...

Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Willful sin produces DEATH, no exceptions.

The willful sin MUST STOP in repentance. If it didn't then you NEVER truly repented.

Repentance is where the Old Man dies once and for all. Godly sorrow produces such a brokenness whereby we lay aside ALL wickedness, ALL rebellion, and we thus submit ourselves completely to the leading of God (we submit to His grace).

The very fact that you think you can "willfully sin" sometimes and therefore do "willfully sin" sometimes means that your Old Man is not dead. You NEVER truly died to sin in repentance.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

If you still serve sin then sin is still your master, you have not been set free from sin.

Paul wrote...

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Your passions and desires (lusts) ought to have been crucified with Jesus Christ...

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If your passions and desires have been crucified then this no longer occurs...

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

You'll still be tempted but you won't be drawn away by that temptation and thus you won't sin. You will take the way of escape...

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

This is why it is the Spirit of life IN Jesus Christ which sets us free from the law of sin and death. We no longer "sin unto death" so long as we WALK in the Spirit, ie. abide in the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has become the be all and end all of our lives.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Those whom refuse to do that will perish...

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

To claim that you "willfully sin" on occasion proves that you are not a Son of God for you "do unrighteousness."

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.

I know it is not a popular message and only a very FEW believe it but I urge you to consider such things with an honest heart and simply believe what is true.

Test my words against the Scripture for God is true and every man a liar.

 

[Magenta]

Can you how you make an allowance for "willful sin" in the life of a Christian?

That statement is nothing more than...

I said constant willful sin, and I defined it as non-believer, but you seem to have missed that completely.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Christ is in me but I shall not put on the incorruptible until I am also clothed in His immortality. My understanding is that happens following the resurrection and judgement of all. Until then, I am in the flesh, walking after the Spirit. Like you and everyone else, that means I will stumble and fall at times. It does not mean I live in constant willful sin. That is the sin of the unbeliever. Faith purifies our hearts. Scripture attests to this. I will die the first death like everyone else, but not the second.

When you are born again of the Holy Spirit you are born again of the Spirit of Christ =incorruptable seed at that time.

1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The above is not speaking of the physical body, but the spiritual seed in Christ.

In order to be set free from sin and have Chris's righteousness imputed you must be born again and given a new heart and new spirit now, then you have passed from death to life by spiritual rebirth. In order to be part of the first resurrection you must have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you in this life.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Revelation 20:4-6

[SUP]4 [/SUP]And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

[SUP]6 [/SUP]Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

[Skinski7]

So when we do sin, we must confess and repent of it. If we struggle with stopping the sin, we pray and ask for God to help us and He will. Some could care less about their sin. I've heard friends say, "well this is just the way I am." Well if it's sin, God says to stop it. And He helps us in our weakness to overcome. It may take some time as we learn and grow in Him, but we can have victory over living a life of sin.

What does that look like? We aren't practicing sin. We're practicing holiness and righteousness. That's our new nature. We're convicted when we do sin and we don't make a habit of it anymore. Sin no longer is master.

You are still arguing in favour of ongoing sin in the salvation experience.

If you are sinning then you are still obeying sin unto death, or in other words...

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.



Sin is a CHOICE, it is not something which "just happens."

It is in true repentance that one makes the choice to STOP SINNING. Hence it is through "obeying from the heart" that...

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

One cannot be "free from sin" if one is still "choosing to sin." The sin has to stop and it ceases through "obeying from the heart."

Repentance is a change in the inclinations and desires whereby one, in their heart, chooses no longer to walk their own way in opposition to God. Hence...

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Carefully study what "godly sorrow" produces...

Carefulness, a clearing, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, revenge, and then in ALL THINGS one approves themselves CLEAR (Hagnos - Pure) in the matter of sin.

In other words the rebellion to God ceases, here is a picture...

Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Notice the Prodigal Son "came to himself" and "made a decision" and then he "FORSOOK HIS REBELLION" and sought out the Father.

That didn't save him but it did put him in a position to be saved.

God will not save anyone whom is in rebellion. The rebellion has to stop permanently. Not gradually. Light and darkness does not mix. We either obey God or we don't, it is not partial. We don't serve two masters. Our eye is either single or it isn't.

James put it like this...

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

The implanted Word can only take root in a heart which has forsaken ALL rebellion against the Word. One cannot receive and at the same time reject. It is one or the other, hence we must lay apart ALL filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness in order to receive with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save our souls.

The notion of a "gradual" forsaking of rebellion is simply "ye can sin and not surely die" in another dress.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Ok, where is righteousness found? In yourself? My righteousness is found in Jesus Christ.

It should be the other way around, Christ's righteousness should be found in you.

Philippians 3:9

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: