So its a sham and we must rely on our own works?
if it is by our works then how are we different than Buddhism?
if it is by our works then how are we different than Buddhism?
No. Paul says in present tense.
"that I want to do (present tense) I do not do. That I do not want to do, (present tense), that I do
He said I am currently a wretched man. Not that he was a wretched man.
I pray God removes this body of sin every day. But I am not foolish to think it will happen today. If I did, I would be in trouble because I no longer need God.
Romans 8 is hope for those of us who realise, according to the law. we are rightly condemned.
I know it is hard for you to understand, because you think you fulfill the law. Thats why you can not comprehend what paul meant
Romans 7 is true of every child of God. As they grow in christ, it is less true, but still true. if not for romans 8, we would have no hope.
Your hope is in your good deeds, and maintaining those works, and not falling away (self) My hope is in God
You are completely correct. For those not familiar with Greek tenses: In Greek the present tense has no necessary connection with present time. The Present tense signals durative action in progress within the time frame of the context.
For example: a present tense statement within the context of a future event signals durative or habitual action in future time.
i.e. When paper money stops being used you use another form of payment.
It is indeed present tense but what about this:
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Paul in Romans 7 is captive to the law of sin, Yet in Romans 8 he is free in Christ form the law of sin. It would seem that there has been a change from the 7 description to the one in 8.
You are correct. I never intended to say that the present tense NEVER refers to present time only that connection with present time is NOT NECESSARILY implied.
In ALL CASES the present tense is used to signify action in progress or habitual action within the time frame of the context (whether present, past, or future).
Amen! By faith Abel offered a sacrifice. Abel's faith was evidenced in obedience to God's requirement for sacrifice by which he obtained witness that he was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). His sacrifice did not make his righteous, but through it he showed his faith (James 2:18). Cain, who was of the evil one, demonstrated an evil heart by evil deeds, while Abel demonstrated a righteous heart by his righteous deeds (1 John 3:12); and that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and Cain did not. Cain's sacrifice was evidence of his lack of faith. Abel's offering proved something about his faith (it was genuine) that was not demonstrated by Cain's offering.Amen and Cain makes it first on the list of the false teachers that Jude preaches about....He compares them to Cain, Korah and Balaam....of course Cain put forth his own works and expected God to receive it...much like those who will come before Christ expecting to enter the Kingdom based upon the many wonderful works they have done in the name of Christ....faith saves eternally......not works....!
I once had a conversation with a man on a different Christian forum who claims that for the last 3 YEARS IN A ROW he was living a sinless, without fault or defect, flawless perfect life and expected to receive eternal life based on continuing to do so. He claimed that we obtain salvation through sinless perfect obedience and he said, "if we still sin at all then we don't yet know the Lord." This man was obviously deceived. He was ALL about works righteousness.I must say, I have never come across any Christian who obeys all of Christ's commands in the Gospels, nor can I recall anyone on the internet either professing to do so, apart from you Kenneth.
Some people really do believe they are living sinless or almost sinless lives (like the man that I mentioned above) and in his case, I don't believe that he was deliberately fibbing, but was simply self deceived.So either you live a holier life than anyone I have met in 35 years of going to church, or anyone I have come into contact with on the internet, or you are fibbing a wee bit. That is down to you and your conscience
I would like to seek clarification on something.
You seem to be saying that it is the born again person who is convicted of sin. not sure if I am reading you right. While I agree the born again person is convicted of sin.
I would suggest that conviction of sin comes before being born again.
Take Paul in Romans 7, this is before the born again experience and yet he is most obviously convicted of sin.
For me it very much started this way, I was first convicted of sin yet I was trapped in that sin so I sought out a solution and I found it in Christ.
The point I am making is one can and should be convicted of sin in their heart before they are born again.
I have noticed that there is a basic premise that both sides seem to agree on.
Both seem to agree that salvation is by Grace through Faith in Jesus. And most seem to agree that that faith produces good works/fruit though the Spirit.
The issue seems to be that if one person thinks there is a particular fruit and another person disagrees then they accuse of works based salvation. That really is not fair or logical.
As both believe that faith produces some kind of Fruit it is pointless and fruitless to keep accusing people of works based salvation. and then not listen when they say you have misunderstood them.
being that all seem to agree that we are saved by faith lets actually examine the fruit what is the fruit according to the bible.
Amen! By faith Abel offered a sacrifice. Abel's faith was evidenced in obedience to God's requirement for sacrifice by which he obtained witness that he was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). His sacrifice did not make his righteous, but through it he showed his faith (James 2:18). Cain, who was of the evil one, demonstrated an evil heart by evil deeds, while Abel demonstrated a righteous heart by his righteous deeds (1 John 3:12); and that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and Cain did not. Cain's sacrifice was evidence of his lack of faith. Abel's offering proved something about his faith (it was genuine) that was not demonstrated by Cain's offering.
As for these many people in Matthew 7:22 who were expecting to enter the Kingdom based upon their so called many wonderful works, they had the wrong foundation. They were trusting in THEIR works to save them and not in CHRIST ALONE. Jesus NEVER knew them. Their hearts were not right with God, so their attempted external obedience was really disobedience. This is why Jesus referred to them as WORKERS OF INIQUITY/LAWLESSNESS! They were self righteous! They said, "Lord, Lord," but did not do His will (vs. 21) "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40) Lord, Lord, didn't WE is the wrong answer. The correct answer would have been Lord, Lord, didn't YOU live a sinless perfect life, die for my sins, were buried and rose again from the dead on the third day. I trust exclusively in YOU for salvation and NOT in my works.
Did you keep reading though where he then said in Romans 8 he could not continue to be carnally mined, or did you miss that part. Romans 7 says he is walking carnally minded (flesh), and Romans 8 he says he is not carnally minded because he walks in the Spirit. He is showing we can not continue to walk carnally minded in the two chapters as that leads to death and not eternal life.
Keep trying to make it not say that when it does;
Verse 7:14 Paul is carnally minded..................................
Verse 8:6 Paul is not carnally minded..............................
Sorry but all I did was post scriptures that you gave this reply to, so if you don't like what they say that is on you and go ahead and keep throwing out what scriptures you don't like and then persecuting others in your replies when they use them.
if it is by our works then how are we different than Buddhism?
Amen! By faith Abel offered a sacrifice. Abel's faith was evidenced in obedience to God's requirement for sacrifice by which he obtained witness that he was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). His sacrifice did not make his righteous, but through it he showed his faith (James 2:18). Cain, who was of the evil one, demonstrated an evil heart by evil deeds, while Abel demonstrated a righteous heart by his righteous deeds (1 John 3:12); and that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and Cain did not. Cain's sacrifice was evidence of his lack of faith. Abel's offering proved something about his faith (it was genuine) that was not demonstrated by Cain's offering.
As for these many people in Matthew 7:22 who were expecting to enter the Kingdom based upon their so called many wonderful works, they had the wrong foundation. They were trusting in THEIR works to save them and not in CHRIST ALONE. Jesus NEVER knew them. Their hearts were not right with God, so their attempted external obedience was really disobedience. This is why Jesus referred to them as WORKERS OF INIQUITY/LAWLESSNESS! They were self righteous! They said, "Lord, Lord," but did not do His will (vs. 21) "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40) Lord, Lord, didn't WE is the wrong answer. The correct answer would have been Lord, Lord, didn't YOU live a sinless perfect life, die for my sins, were buried and rose again from the dead on the third day. I trust exclusively in YOU for salvation and NOT in my works.