Just a simple question? Why are the sins of lust always seen as the big sins, when God condemns pride so many times?
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18
"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”" Obadiah 1:3
"This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts." Zephaniah 2:10
"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [SUP]22 [/SUP]coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [SUP]23 [/SUP]All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23 (Big sin list - pride is in there, along with a few other things we like to minimize like foolishness!)
"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." 1 John 2:16
It seems to me like someone is very full of themselves here. They are full of pride that they have uncovered the fatal flaws of Christianity. But if they are right, then how to they get away from the incredible pride - a terrible sin they seem to have been committing for pages and pages on this thread alone?
We won't even get into anger - ok, I will!!
"[SUP]19 [/SUP]Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,[SUP]20 [/SUP]idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of ANGER, rivalries, dissensions,divisions, [SUP]21 [/SUP]envy,drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [SUP]22 [/SUP]But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [SUP]23 [/SUP]gentleness,self-control; against such things there is no law." Gal. 5:19-23.
Just not seeing the fruits of the Spirit. I would think that would be the best sign of whether a person was really saved. By preaching we are only saved of the sins before salvation, you are causing many to stumble. I asked that question as a newbie Christian. I searched the Scriptures. I had repented of many sins. It took years to bring some sins (like pride and anger under control). But in the end, I worked more on the fruits, because by having them in my life, the sins seemed to fall away. I guess that is because it was the Holy Spirit leading me and doing the incredible work of transformation that I so desperately needed.
I agree repentance is not preached enough. But without understanding that we can come before God and repent daily, 1 John 1:9 (so nicely copied by many) you are leading people to turn away from a God that cannot be pleased.
So please repent of your pride and anger, and listen to the verses hear and do not deceive and try and discourage people who are in the flesh, but God has saved and is transforming. That word in the Greek in Romans 12:2 - metaporphouthe (μεταμορφούσθε) is in the Present Imperative Passive in Greek. That means it is a command, but it is something God does to us. A better way to say it might be ""let yourselves be transformed by God." God does the work!! If we let him of course!
As someone said, I think some people need to study Greek and Hebrew to really understand what the Bible is really saying, before making up doctrines in which WE have to do the saving, once we are saved. At least, that is what I thought rose to the top of the pile from all the pages of quotes, and authors and scriptures verses I read by one poster.