GOD'S ULTIMATE PURPOSE FOR BELIEVERS

And what he wrote in Romans is like a huge exclamation point if you read all that together.

I have no idea what it is that you are saying. I am a forgiven sinner. Apparently, that does not meet your own spiritual standards. That's OK with me because I am not trying to meet your standard of perfection. I have faith, maybe God will impute a measure of righteousness to me. Or maybe not. Up to God. He knows best.

Could very well be.

Paul certainly was not perfect, but He knew that He was an overcomer through the blood of Jesus.

Romans 8:37
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

You all can identify as a sinner if you like, but Paul and @MISSION-IMPOSSIBLE and Oyster are conquerors through and in Jesus.

I'm thinking that if there is anything in the Bible to tell us about Paul's thorn in the flesh, it would be God's warning to Israel to not allow any of the nations to continue to survive in the promised land, lest they "become thorns in your sides".

I think that this thorn, this "messenger sent from Satan to beat him", may have been the Jews who followed him from town to town to harrass him.

Much love!

Amen he’s brought us into a family we aren’t Jesus we are gods children because of Jesus his brethren and children

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

….For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:14-17, 29, 34‬ ‭KJV‬‬


Jesusnis the firstborn son of God and by faith we are adopted into Gods family receiving the spirit of his son to counsel and lead our spirit and teach us that we who believe in the one and only begotten son , are the children adopted by faith through the operation of the gospel and us hearing and believing

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The gospel declares this many times to disciples the children of God by hearing this faith

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭

faith comes from hearing the gospel the things Jesus taught disciples is the doctrine of Gods children who follow the son

that’s why we believe we are his children we heard and believe the gospel of his only begotten our lord and savior Jesus who did what he did for this purpose

He became like we are , so we could become like he is the sons and daughters of God in whom the father dwells by his spirit

He suffered to this end

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:10-12, 14-18‬ ‭

He became a man to show mankind what it is to be the sons of God we learn tbis by focusing on the son of God and putting our faith in him and also the things he taught Gods children to hear namely the gospel he preached to man when he came teaching us things like we are the chosen children who accept and believe in and upon the son

Could very well be.

Yes. This not wanting to sin is the mark of a saint. This is one of the differences between sinner and saint.

Yes, he was.

Paul was a murderer.

Perhaps, but ultimately Paul knew he was forgiven.

We have been made clean. It is Satan who accuses and implies that the blood is not sufficient.

You’re opening post saying that to be a forgiven sinner is an insult to God’s grace.
That means your point is that to not insult God’s grace we must claim to be sinless. Unless you’re walking that back now, if so then that’s good to see.

You are reading too much into what I wrote. My point is based on the claim that "we are forgiven sinners", not on the fact that sin occasionally.

Christians can sin all day and all night, too.

Yes, they can, but by doing so, they haven't grasped the essence of what it means to be saved.

As far as I am aware, this is mostly unbiblical. Read what Paul said about being a saint living in sin in Romans 7.l and let’s be clear about something: it isn’t our natural bodies that are born again, it’s our spirit. You must exercise your self-control to bring your body into submission.

It has nothing to do with our natural bodies but with the way, we think (Rom. 12:1-2). We need to learn how to renew our minds, not our bodies. See. Col. 3:1-3.

A babe in Christ is someone that’s worldly and acting like a mere human. Perhaps most of the church are still babes.

A babe in Christ can also be someone who was born again this morning. From what I see, you are still a babe in Christ (no pun intended).

I think markss is right. I’d be curious to know what you think Paul’s thorn was.

Paul identified as a saved sinner who was more than a conqueror through Christ.

I struggled as a believer for a long time to do His will. It wasn't until I fully accepted the fact I'm a forgiven sinner, saved by His grace, that I started to overcome. So if anyone wants to know, yes, I'm a forgiven sinner and very thankful for it.

How do you answer? What was Paul's thorn, in a Biblically based answer?

Much love!

Amen! That's how God frees us from sin! The same faith in Jesus Christ which saves us, forgiven through the cross, is what allows us to stand.

Romans 5:1-2 KJV
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Much love!

I'm curious, did you actually read my answer?

Just wondering, it doesn't seem like it.

Much love!

Me [Every time Paul preached and built a church, the Jews came behind him and tried to destroy his work. They slandered him, persecuted him, beat him without number, and tried to kill him (Acts 23:21). These pests were truly a thorn in his flesh, but the Lord didn't take it away because He used it as a testimony against the Jews who hated him, hated the gospel, and most importantly, hated the Lord.]

I'm curious, did you actually read my answer?

I only read your question. Is there something I missed in another post?

Agape.