As an observation, the gospel is simple.
Sinners need to repent of sin and walk in love and righteousness.
They get convicted, repent, confess and have faith in the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
They then grow in fellowship and communion with Christ and His body the church.
There main focus is on good works and preaching the word, walking in love and faith.
Sanctification and transformation, dealing with sin, is being open and honest and letting
Gods word and the Holy Spirit convict, cleanse and take us through His ways.
What is amazing to me is a group who seemingly have good theology and faith, yet would
condemn and fight other believers as if they are unbelievers and dispute emphasis and details
which become very unclear. Worst still they accuse people of being evil, hypocrites, pharisees,
and the worst projections they can invent, and then say, they are innocent.
Now I neither understand this or can relate to.
It is like saying I am living in my carnal mind as in reality I walk in the Spirit.
To these believers I am a lost self justifying hypocrite trying to show God how
good I am. It does not matter what I share or my love of Christ or my conviction
and knowledge of the word.
But it is no surprise because all they guys are dyed in the wool evangelicals who
have converted into their new outlook.
And they are here to make new converts and put the legalists in their place.
So welcome to the age of the anti-legalist, anti-law, anti-religion.
It is so anti, add a few more words and you know where it will end up.
Sinners need to repent of sin and walk in love and righteousness.
They get convicted, repent, confess and have faith in the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
They then grow in fellowship and communion with Christ and His body the church.
There main focus is on good works and preaching the word, walking in love and faith.
Sanctification and transformation, dealing with sin, is being open and honest and letting
Gods word and the Holy Spirit convict, cleanse and take us through His ways.
What is amazing to me is a group who seemingly have good theology and faith, yet would
condemn and fight other believers as if they are unbelievers and dispute emphasis and details
which become very unclear. Worst still they accuse people of being evil, hypocrites, pharisees,
and the worst projections they can invent, and then say, they are innocent.
Now I neither understand this or can relate to.
It is like saying I am living in my carnal mind as in reality I walk in the Spirit.
To these believers I am a lost self justifying hypocrite trying to show God how
good I am. It does not matter what I share or my love of Christ or my conviction
and knowledge of the word.
But it is no surprise because all they guys are dyed in the wool evangelicals who
have converted into their new outlook.
And they are here to make new converts and put the legalists in their place.
So welcome to the age of the anti-legalist, anti-law, anti-religion.
It is so anti, add a few more words and you know where it will end up.
To me your first two paragraphs are excellent and I agree.
I am assuming as a result of conviction you mean to repent is to realise we got it wrong, confess and agree with God we got it wrong. For me when I do this I thank God that I am forgiven. I don't make excuses for my sin, I hold my hands up and fess it up.
I am guilty as charged but I thank God that my guilt and sin has been taken care of by Jesus.
Just so everyone knows I am not a greasy grace. Just a greasy who needs Gods grace.
I think for me the biggest problem has always been, if I have to come back to God and do the same thing at some point God will say "Sorry mate 3 strikes now you are out"
That has been a real burden for me and still is to a certain extent.
A total lack of understanding of God and his amazing love for us. He knows we are weak and made from dust and he remembers this and does not deal with as we deserve.
I would say that most of us on this thread want to be conformed to the image of Jesus and want others to be as well.
We all express how we think it works for us and what doesn't work.
In a sense that's what this thread is about "Not by works"
We all want to do good works, because Jesus has asked us to. That's why we have the Holy Spirit in us.
I know that one of your issues is concerning future are forgiven but I think they are (correct me if I am wrong)
To me and I hope for all others on here that it doesn't give an excuse to sin.
But I do have to say that my sins are forgiven even before I commit them. When the Holy Spirit tells me I got it wrong and lets be honest unless the Holy Spirit reveals to us that we got it wrong we will not know we got it wrong.
So when I get it wrong and I know I have I come before God, confess (agree I got it wrong) thank him I am forgiven and ask for help.
