Okay so here's how I see it...
If people are going to sin, they don't need permission.
They actually need permission and empowerment to be righteous. Before Christ we were super good at sinning. We didn't help or permission.
After Christ, we need to agree that we are super good at loving people and following the Spirit.
The idea is that if you say Holy Spirit doesn't convict you of sin, that you will sin, is wrong. Lots of people have been saying this, but is the Church not sinning? Can't find a sinner can you. A simple look at these forums see people attacking each other, calling each other names, and causing problems. So maybe there's something missing in this equation. Because let's try to move forward as ambassadors of God to the world. Let's move into focusing on Christ.
When Holy Spirit convicts you of righteousness, you no longer desire sin.
Now,
If you do sin, you have an Advocate with Christ, but if you only see your sins and not your righteousness, you will continually sin by faith. Why? Because of the idea that you are still a sinner. And will always be a sinner.
When Scripture calls you a saint. If you're not agreeing Scripture and the Spirit
are you being lead by Him?
People are falling into ditches on both sides here with this idea:
1. You will always sin, "I suck as a person."
2. You always need to repent from sin, "I can't stop sucking as a person."
God does use this for good, because step 3 can lead us into thank you God for loving me even though I can't stop sucking as a human. Lol.
But - Both of these ditches can also lead us to a continual
self-focus.
And ultimately into putting on fig leaves of trying to fix a problem, that He already fixed.
Scripture says:
1. You are no longer a sinner
2. If you do sin, repent to God, and agree with who He says you are.
3. You're His kid!
1 Co 6:
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[SUP]
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10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11And such
were some of you.
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Example:
1. Someone sins by attacking their brothers, calling them names, etc.
2. Holy Spirit says don't do that! Conviction of sin. This is good, but only half of the reality.
3. So they say, oh my bad, I'm just a sinner, sad face. I'll try to be better.
Other example:
1. Someone sins by attacking their brothers, calling them names, etc.
2. Holy Spirit says, don't do that, that's not who you are in Christ, you were created to reveal My love for the world just as I love you. You were washed, cleansed, and justified in Christ! Conviction of righteousness, complete reality.
3. They say, oh you're right, this isn't who I am in You, that old man is dead, I turn toward what you say about me Lord. I agree with what you say. Renewed mind. Now you're following the Spirit.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
One example, keeps us trapped, the other example frees us with agreeing with truth. The Spirit brings freedom.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
First, He tells us to love one another, as He has loved us.
This is the COMMAND. This should put us in a place of saying, how do I do THIS GOD? Well we know there is a huge connection between our forgiveness and our love, and also between His love for us and our love for Him and others.
We also know by agreeing and being lead by Holy Spirit, FRUIT is produced which one of them is love:
Gal 5:22 But the
Holy Spirit produces this kind of
fruit in our lives:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
How does Holy Spirit produce this fruit? One way is He tells us things we have been freely given by God.
1 Co 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
One definition of righteousness is right-standing. And as we believe we are in right-standing with God the sin stuff gets taken care of, but probably more importantly the love stuff is produced as well. It's not just taking care of sin, but actually learning how to have love. This truly sets us free.
Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
