Is God's Grace Sufficient to Keep Us from Sinning?

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Sep 28, 2023
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Yes, but we must not give a false picture of how God feels about us or how He deals with us. He is a loving and patient parent who ask no more than that we do our best. He understands that we will all have growing room till the day we die. His chastises out of a heart of love, not frustration. I agree that apostacy is possible, but I draw a thick dark line between daily slip-ups and willfully walking away from the faith. One is followed by immediate repentance and the other is followed by a usually permanent hardening of the heart.
Romans 11:22
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.


Both the goodness of God... and the severity of God are of equal importance and both should be taught.

The vast majority of the church world thinks God just winks at sin and it's all good and all future sins are already forgiven and some teach God cannot even see their sin.

This should be countered and those that don't want to hear the countering will simply ignore my posts and move on.

And the Lord has numerous warnings in His Word about false teachers teasingly falsely drawing people away from the Lord... Here's a few for review:

1 Timothy 4:1,2
Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron
("depart from the faith" is not referring to sinners in the world who never came to faith in the first place)

1 Timothy 6:3-5 (see Luke 11:23 and 2 Peter 3:2)
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness (holiness); (Doctrine of Christ, aka Doctrine of the Apostles)
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil thoughts… Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

2 Timothy 4:3,4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (teaching); but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying (contradicting, Not agreeing with) the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness (idolatry) shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.

Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (no self control, living after the flesh), and denying (contradicting, opposing Jesus’ teachings) the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (referring to false teachers and false brethren - see Matthew 13:24-30)
(Deny = Strong's G0720… to contradict, disavow, reject, deny, refuse - and Strong's G4483… the idea of pouring forth, to utter, speak of or say, command)

Jude 1:17-21
Remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These are those who
separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
("those who separate themselves" is not referring to sinners in the world who were never joined unto the Lord in the first place)

Acts 20:27-30
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
 

timemeddler

Active member
Jul 13, 2023
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No. God's grace provides for salvation, not sinless perfection. God's grace also provides the opportunity for repentance, which we should practice daily.

Ephesians 4:26
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

We should not allow even righteous anger to result in wrath, but if it does, we can and should immediately repent.

Someday we shall live in a sinless state, but that is yet to come. Plead the blood of Jesus.
my thoughts exactly
 
Sep 28, 2023
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Well, don't tell that to the Apostle Paul...

2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
 

timemeddler

Active member
Jul 13, 2023
449
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More specifically:

1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.


The key words are "cannot go on" meaning they can't continue living in sin. It implies that one sins less and less as they continue in Christ. Not that they just stop sinning cold turkey the moment they're saved.


🍉
yeah, it would also redundant to bother writing "if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us" if we literally never sin.