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He is not speaking to believers here in 1John:8 he is speaking to unbelievers! He is hoping to gain new converts to fellowship with as you will see if you read the proceeding verses like 1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Read on my friend. As believers we should be already be walking in truth 1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
1 John 2:6
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
1 John 3:6
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."
As Christians we should stop telling ourselves and others that we can never stop sinning. This is a defeatist attitude and comes not from Jesus or God. In many places Jesus tells us nothing is impossible if we have Faith!
Read and Believe
Part 2.
Continuing my response to part 1.
Again, we have Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
(No believer has an evil heart of unbelief). The writer is saying examine yourself. Verse 10 he says, "They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
You emphasized 1 John 1;7.
I say: IF we are saved, we ARE walking in the light! if we are not in the light we ARE in darkness!
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7. (This is confirmation of salvation, not earning it or trying not to lose it.)
I believe we will have to agree to disagree on the verses you addressed in part 4 being that I have already gave my interpretation on these verses.
However, I would like to address 1 Timothy 4:1. In Part 3.
See Part 3.
There was a question posted few weeks, regarding The Gift of The Holy Spirit.
Part 1
-I believe Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God and He died on the Cross for my sins, and He was buried and rose on the third Day and He is sited at the right hand of the father, and He is our high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
-Brethren bear this in mind that God is the same and He does not change.
As it is written Malachi 3:6, kjv
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
-As God spoke by the prophets in time past in these days, these last hours ( John 1:18) He speaks to us by His beloved son in whom we have been qualified to be saints in the inheritance in the light by His blood at the cross By repentance. ( Colossians 1:12-14,KJV)
-And if you have repented at the cross and received salvation which is by grace and faith alone none of any of our works then we receive gifts according to His will which He gives for the edifying of the ministry (body of Christ For He is the Head of the Church Colossians 1:18, KJV.)
As it written in Ephesians 4:7-8, KJV
7.But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
-And in time past ( Hebrews 1:1, KJV) They the prophets healed the sick, raised the dead and provided provisions and all according to the will of God and not mans will.
-Therefore, we serve the same Living God who has been in the beginning and Does not Change and Was manifest unto us as a child, but He was there from the begging as a Son given unto us as a Son Mighty God, everlasting Father. (Isiah 6:9 KJV)
As it is written in 1 timothy 3:16, KJV.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Part 2 next.
Part two
What does it mean to believe? What is the evidence that we believe? As Paul said, it is like running a race, when we start this race, we believe we are going to finish, and with God's Spirit we have all the determination and motivation we are not only going to finish this race we are going to win this race.
We are saved! We are being saved! We shall be saved! When we start, are all our sins forgiven, our past, present, and our future sins the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and are baptized? Is our salvation guaranteed and we cannot lose it or fall out of grace regardless?
We are saved. Eph. 2:5 When we accept the gospel and are baptized our sins are blotted out, Isaiah 44:22 Acts 3:19 and we become a child/son/daughter of God, John 1:12 we are justified, made righteous by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and now we begin a relationship through God's Spirit, and God and Jesus abide in us, 2 John 1:9. This is the start of the race, the beginning of our salvation.
We are being saved. Philippians 1:6 Hearing the Word one believes and is baptized into Christ they are made clean (justification) the work of grace, and the Lord will continue working in us until He returns if we abide in Him John 15:3-5. How does God complete his good work in us? Testing James 1:2-4, chastising Heb. 12:6-7 Our relationship. If we abide in Him, Jesus, and God abides in us. The branches bear the fruit of the vine, the vine produces the fruit not us/branch, sanctification. We are running the race Philippians 2:12
We shall be saved. Redemption and glorification. Our full salvation comes at the end, when Jesus returns. Luke 21:28 "being now justified" We started the race. We are being saved, "being reconciled" we are running the race, 2 Cor. 5:18. We shall be saved at the end of the race. Romans 13:11.
See part three.
Part three,
Each believer is personally responsible for living in obedience to Christ's commands. 1 Timothy 4:16. Can we come up short, Hebrews 4:1. Some of the natural branches of the house of Israel were broken off for unbelief so the people of the nations who believe and are justified are grafted in. Believers/saved can be cut off if they do not continue in his goodness/grace. Romans 11:15-24.
Much of your post I agree, it is about becoming saved and our relationship with Jesus, and if we continue to abide in Him those scriptures apply. Concerning Pentecost, Peter was pleading that they accept Jesus as their Messiah that was promised, and they killed Him, not to repent from Judaism. Peter and the disciples at this time were still observing the old law. We see years later they were still debating it in Acts 15.
1 Cor. 9:27 If we look at the wording "But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection" it is as if his body is his adversary. It is like he was beating his body whether it is said metaphorical, but to the subduing of the natural appetites of the flesh, a life of self-denial not to succumb to the sins of the flesh. The Greek adokimos translated as castaway, is the same word for reprobate, Romans 1:28 Titus 1:16. I do not think Paul is talking about rewards.
Hebrews 3:12-13 This chapter starts with "Wherefore holy brethern" These are Christians, saved, verse 6 "if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." The writer includes himself "If We". Verses 12 and 13 are to these same people and verse 14 says "For we are made partakers of Christ" Because they are made so they are saved believers in Christ.
1 John 1:7 If is conditional a choice if you walk in the light there is fellowship, if you don't walk in the light, you are outside of the fellowship.
See part four.
Part 6.
This section I will attempt to address those scriptures you presented suggesting one can lose his Salvation.
Hebrews 3:12-13.
Verse 12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Well, if there is an evil heart of unbelief, and deceitfulness of sin. THEN YOU ARE NOT SAVED!
1 John 1:7.
Ronald, I don't grasp you here. This is not a verse saying you can lose Salvation.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, if we are in the light we are saved. If we are not in the light, we are not saved.
2 Peter 2:20.
Look at 2 Peter 2:22. These are dogs, NOT SONS! This is the same group described in the previous verses!
Take it from 2 Peter 2:9-20 to get the context.
Galatians 6:9.
Christians will go before the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for the things done in the flesh.
We are to keep sowing and in due season we will reap. this is the fruit of their labor.
He that soweth to the Spirit, sows to the spirit by the power of the Holyspirit.
Paul has just asked the Galatian Christians to be convinced, once again, that trusting their flesh in this life will only lead to corruption. Reliance on our own power only leads to death. That is true whether we trust human effort to save us by following the rituals and sacraments of the law, or by following our own selfish, sinful desires.
Salvation comes only by "planting" the Spirit. Through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sin.
God gives to us His own Spirit. Only that Spirit will deliver eternal life in the end.
Colossians 1:23.
Verses 21-22 states we have been reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Jude 1:24. says "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
So, those who is moved away from the faith was never saved.
See Part 7.
It presses me deeply within by recognizing the Virtue In Strength seeing language has evolved so many eras, past and even now In our day, so deep meditation and prayer aids me to hear God's message.
A firm foundation is {'knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture came to be of one's own interpretation, for prophecy never came by the desire of man, but men of Elohim spoke, being moved by the Set-apart Spirit. Kpha Bt (2 Peter) 1:20-21 TS2009}
In John 1:1 ( Gen. 1:1; Rev. 3:14 along side being lead back from Isa. 46:9-10) begins to point out the bigger portrait necessary to come to better understand Him.
Before being born regenerate by (and through) Yeshua, I would read and not understand. Now The Scriptures (Genesis to Malachi) bring clear evidence that caused an ahha moment like Mosheh at the Bush that burned which wasn't consumed. ( Ex. 3:2-4). Isa. 46:10 also renews the mindset as written, {I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering - set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim - your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim. Romiyim (Romans) 12:1-2 TS2009}
because { Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Irim (Hebrews) 13:8 TS2009}
among many others brings understanding to Yeshua meaning by the ancient tongue, means Yehovah saves. Showing they are One. ( said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I am."). Yohanan (John) 8:58 TS2009
joining God to be understood as ONE {And Elohim said to Mosheh, "I am that which I am." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Yisra'l, 'I am has sent me to you.' "
Shemoth (Exodus) 3:14 TS2009.}
God created everything, nothing was made the God didn't create. John 1:3 Yes, God states that He created everything, so that includes evil, he also created good, you my friend have the choice to choose which one you prefer. If God only created good, we wouldn't be talking. If everything he created could only be good and do good, that would be like God creating robots that could only do good, right?
Freewill.
He created all beings to have a freewill, many choose to sin. We all have to make a choice. The devil and his demons made a choice, Adam and Eve also, and all those living in the past, and living now in the present also get to make the same choice of living in the light or darkness. John2:19-20
God loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us. If we listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and pick up our cross and follow in His footsteps he will assure us of salvation. This is Love! God loves us and if we love Him we should reject this world, (satan) and follow Christ. If we are living worldly lives we are not following Christ! It's easy to spot true Christ followers, they are few, and they will not be living worldly lives. Easy to understand this verse Matt 7:14
There is another side to this Love/Fear coin. Fear (Wisdom). God tells us to fear Him so that we realise that we need to repent in order to be saved. So God provides us with a carrot (promise of Salvation) if we believe and follow Christ and incorporate what he teaches into our lives. He also provides a stick (Fear of dying and going to hell to suffer for eternity).
When we accept Christ, and follow His commands he indwells in our heart and we have his Holy Spirt to Chastise us, or approve of what we do. If we listen, and follow His Spirit we walk in the light, and grow in sanctification. John 14:20
Lastly, God states that He created everything so that includes evil, he also created good, you my friend have the choice to choose which one you prefer.
GBU
Greetings in Christ JESUS
You said that you "don't know if the angels can see the Father, or if for all eternity they saw the Godhead in the Son even before He was incarnated".
Remember that John the Baptist was an angel( Isaiah 40:1 to 14 reveal who is his person combined with Malachi 3:1), angels are born by the Power of the Word of GOD, by prophecy, even our Lord JESUS affirmed this( Matthew 11:9-10), and John the Baptist, the angel of the Lord, knew JESUS before His birth, as even he testified: John the Apostle wrote about the testimony of John the Baptist, saying: John 1:18 - 18 No man hath seen GOD at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.
By the way, we must know with certainty through the Word of GOD that the TRUE BELIEVERS will be angels of GOD from now on, by the transformation and changing of the nature of them all, the Word of GOD will do it in the true believers, do you understand? Because they was born from GOD-from the Word-the Word is GOD- Philippians 3:20-21 combined with 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and Romans 8:18-25, Believest thou this?)
Our Lord JESUS said: Luke 20:35-36-
35 - They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world (next world-the Kingdom of GOD- Revelation 11:15-18) and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are EQUAL UNTO THE ANGELS; and are the children of GOD, being the children of the resurrection.
Matthew 25:29 - For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Matthew 25:4-6
4 - The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and SLEPT. (Similar Genesis 2:21-25)
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; GO YE OUT(yes, GO OUT)TO MEET HIM.
Come up hither- Revelation 4:1
Hallelujah, praise our GOD
The first thing I came up with was anger which is not normally something people begin with in studying God; but perhaps a topic that needs discussion. God is clearly angry with the wicked every day ( Psalm 7:11). That verse also says that He judges the righteous.
In discussing God's reaction toward a saved individual as "chastisement" and the wicked as anger; we see a different outcome ultimately with believers not being damned every time they sin to hell. Nonetheless even with chastisement we can't say that God isn't angry. A father can be angry with a child with righteous indignation; and God as our Father certainly is upset when we grieve the Spirit ( Ephesians 4:30). Sin is sin; we clearly can't use grace as an excuse to sin more ( Romans 6:1-2). The REASON for His anger is different to some respect IF we are His children. We are as believers TRULY dead to our old nature; and if Satan attempts to renew our sinful behaviors it is foreign to our new nature; thus the Spirit contends against the flesh. ( Gal. 5:17). It is contrary to who we are in Christ DEAD TO SIN ( Galatians 2:20) if we sin as believers. If we really deceive ourselves then the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). Thus without the Lord we are still dead in sins and trespasses ( Eph. 2:1); and if we do believe there is still potential for the old man to rise up but no NEED for it to happen if we continue to walk in the Spirit we will not satisfy the desires of the flesh ( Gal. 5:16). Clearly Galatians 5 in particular is a good read for that subject.
There are some things which God particularly hates ( Proverbs 6:16-19) and one he loathes (same idea). God also hates divorce ( Malachi 2:16). Anger and hatred are justified for God
"And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, "
The Spirit creates a spiritual space a Garden where every tree is grown with a specific purpose. This is is harmony with the blessings of God, and we read in this epistle that divine blessings cover total man,- body spirit and soul of man. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."(3 John 1:2) Only Spirit of God can address soul since He made man a living soul.
He creates the spirit as a candle (Pr.20:27). Above all the word is like a surgeon's scalpels lays bare his thoughts inclinations and state of being. "and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart./ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." He.4:12-13) How can not a man prosper with His blessings? His mercy works with the spiritual space of man like a threefold cord and he is secure. No wonder one can read the Bible through his lifetime and find comfort and consolation,- and his Presence is cure for all.
Not so with literary space. The hucksters who create a best seller list wants profits so they ratchet up a media frenzy to draw in suckers who after reading would want another one to cater to his inflamed senses. The writers who have no integrity immediately set to cater to the public tase and are feted as a nine day wonder. Publication of Ulysses and Lady Chatterly's Love in their day created an uproar. But now bestiality and violence create readers who crave more titillation. What gives?
The God Document to all intent and purpose begins here. "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,"
What we consider as the family covers both heaven and the earth. For this reason we have our heavenly father in heaven which also forms part of the Lord's Prayer. Some cults in their will worship forbid the prayer altogether in order to condemn others as nominal Christians. Jesus declared "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.". He was in the bosom of his Father and when he speaks he speaks by authority.(Matt.23:9)
So family has its significance and when God say, be ye holy for I am holy it is in accordance with the eternal will of God the Father.
A day is decreed for the Son in which his holy family shall be set in context of the heavens and of the earth. It is this ,-the world of the Spirit signify heavenly places to which each of us may access freely. We consider Jesus Christ as the firstborn from all creation.
"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,"(He.2:10-11) This familial relationship is different from the biological relationship. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, "( John 1:12-13)
There are several section in the Bible narrative beginning with "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him."(Ge.5:1). "These are the generations of Noah"(Ge.6:9) "Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah,(Ge.10:1-2).
It is of great significance that the Spirit once again takes up with these line, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David," (Matt.1:1). "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence unto the end."(He.3:6)
45 ...The first man Adam was made a living soul;the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual,but that which is natural;and afterward that which is spiritual.
Well, since the beginning the Word-i.e. GOD-had planned to make man in His image,but how once He is Spirit?GOD sent JESUS about 4000 years after Adam,the first earthly man.And JESUS said:My Father works hitherto,and I work- John 5:17.Notice that when JESUS said this, still very recently He was in the bosom of the Word- John 1:18-,but now He already was in person working together with the Word, i.e.GOD tghe Father, and it at the age 30 or so,then He revealed that His Father was still working, although it was the beginning of the fifth Day. But Jesus knew what He was talking about, so He said: I and my Father are One.
The Word-i.e. GOD-is Spirit. How could man see an image of the Spirit? What is its image of the Spirit? It would be impossible to describe, unless it be created materially, physically, its own image. This explains why Israel always was tempted by the Devil to create an image of GOD for to worship it, and they made even a golden calf.
According to the Word, first He needed to create an image from He Himself and that's what God did, and thus JESUS was born in the turn of the fourth to the fifth Day or in the turn of fourth to the fifth millennium. GOD sent JESUS, for"He loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. GOD sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;but that the world through Him might be saved.He that believeth on Him is not condemned:but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the NAME of the only begotten Son of GOD, JESUS.And this is the condemnation,that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil"- John 3:v.16 to 19.
I don't advocate the studing of the letter, for these reasons,
it's takes away from Holy Spirit as our Teacher
in the Apostasy in became rely on as God definitive rule to know Him
it has become a form of knowledge without the power,
in man's ungenerated nature, he going to naturally reject the suffering of picking up the Cross & denying self.
Yet, he deceives himself by thinking he can still follow Christ. Pacifying himself with wearing the cross around his neck, along with his beloved sins in his heart.
With that being said, an a added encouragement it can be a help while we"re in our weaker state, if Holy Spirit is our Teacher & Guide who will lead us into all Truth, again emphasising The Living Word of God heard in our heart, Grace appearance. John 1:9
In Titus 3:5 "washing of regeneration & renewing in the Holy Spirit" define as
(spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specially, Messianic restoration --"moral renovation, regeneration, the production of a new life consecrated to God, a radical change of mind for the better" effected in baptism, Commonly, however, the word denotes the restoration of a thing to its pristine state, its renovation, as the renewal or restoration of life after death.
The death speaking of here is Rom 6:3-6 the consummation of Matt 3:12 being raise in the newness of His Life, "ye must be born again"
Therefore 2Cor 7:1
Just a question not to offend, just to inspire thought and study. Do you think when God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and told Adam he could eat from every tree and fruit of the garden but one tree? God declared the end from the beginning do you think He did not know what Adam was going to do?
I am sorry, but on some subjects, I struggle to convey my understanding. To continue in sin and repentance is not what I was saying and not the way I am living. Daily repentance and obedience are not living in doubt the power of God's forgiveness. It is a daily lifestyle repentance is a way to progress in our sanctification a pattern of life to endure until the end we forsake sin daily not just one time.
It is through the repentance of all the sins we have done and the glory we give to God through the faith and obedience of Jesus Christ that we can be forgiven. Repentance is the foundation of our lives it is the beginning and the end of our life.
We can get slack, but we must every day test ourselves that we are walking in the Spirit and are striving to endure until the end and that starts with being obedient and repentant as we have been commanded to do, 1 John 1:9 Luke 13:3 Matt. 4:17 Acts 17:30. We will be absent from the presence of sin when we are glorified at our resurrection.
God bless,
RLW
Part 2
This we must do for the rest of our lives, to live in repentance and obedience walking in the Spirit, not in this world. We must include these scriptures that show during our life and be sanctified one can fail, fall away whatever we want to call it, Heb. 3:12-13 1 John 1:7 2 Peter 2:20 we are told to keep ourselves Jude 21 If we hold fast the confidence, Heb. 3:6 If we faint not, Gal. 6:9 If ye continue in the faith, Col. 1:23 If ye do these things, 2 Peter 1:10, Paul said this about himself 1 Cor. 9:25-27.
Do we err when we say I was saved on whatever date when we should say my salvation started and I was justified made righteous, and I am now walking in the Spirit of God looking for the day I will be glorified when My Savior Jesus Christ returns and I will be like Him and as long as I breathe I will continue to walk in the Spirit of God as I am sanctified to be made perfect as My Lord Jesus is perfect? We must, every day be obedient and ask for forgiveness and guidance to keep going for the goal.
When are we saved is it when we accept Jesus as our Savior, if then do we overlook we must endure until the end. We must have the earnest/downpayment of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5:5, a downpayment for the final purchase when Jesus returns to claim His elect. We must know and realize that for whom the downpayment has been placed it must be intact when Jesus returns. We must endure until the end. Matt. 10:22 Matt. 24:13 John 6:27 As Abraham Heb. 6:13-16 James 1:12
I wish I could explain this better; I feel I have come up short, but I feel those who believe when walking down the aisle and confess they believe in Jesus they have a nonrefundable ticket to eternity, that is wrong.
God bless,
RLW
Let us agree to walk with the LORD and put forth HIS will and commandments first by carrying out HIS promises.
1- Let us confess and repent of our own sins. 1 John 1:9
2- Ephesians 2:8-10 Remember we are ordained to do good works!
3- 2 Peter 3:9 love the lost
4- Matthew 28:18-20 Go make disciples
5- 2 Timothy 2:15 Study HIS word
6- 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Love, and apply HIS word
7- 1 Timothy 2: 1-4 pray for "...all that are in authority..."
8- Romans 10:1, 2 cultivate the desire and pray to GOD that all might be saved
This is in no particular order and not exhaustive by any means. I am sure the brethren on this forum are able and capable to add to it to the glory and praise of the LORD.
Titus 2:11-14 for while we wait and looking for that blessed hope; for HIS
glorious appearing may we be "...Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"
Our hope must be only in CHRIST and no one else. GOD to shine HIS face on all who are on this forum and gloriously bless your situation.
September 19, 2023
Thank you, I did use 1 Cor. 9:25-27 there are many other scriptures on this but I try to keep my posts as short as I can. I agree the longer we walk in the Spirit the stronger our faith becomes. Our repentance and our obedience keep us in a relationship through the Spirit of God with Jesus and through this faith given to us by God it becomes easier to say no to the temptations that come against us.
Our obedience and our conscience reveal who we are servants to, and we must stay obedient unto righteousness, Rom. 6:16. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, and as you said only sin separates us from God that is why if we fail to stay repentant and obedient, we fall out of His mercy and grace and our sins will no longer be covered and if we do not repent and return, we will perish and pay the penalty. My understanding is that is our choice, many are called few are chosen, Matt. 22:14.
If someone wants to do a word study that will be worth the time it would be on the little word if. If is a little word but is important, it expresses directly to our responsibility to God. If we hold fast the confidence, Heb. 3:6 If we faint not, Gal. 6:9 If ye continue in the faith, Col. 1:23 If ye do these things, 2 Peter 1:10 If we say that we have no sin, 1 John 1:8, many many more.
God bless,
RLW
We should not accept that sin will always play a part in our lives!
God is not a sinner, and if you are a true child of God you will not be saying you can't stop sinning. Worse than telling yourself that you can't stop sinning, is telling others that they can't stop sinning! The phrase misery loves company is so true here. This mindset is wrong, and goes directly agains all of the bible scripture.This thought that you can never stop sinning is from Satan, and he has convinced you that you can't stop sinning. If you believe this , and live this, you will certainly die as a sinner, and never achieve becoming a true child of God.
God's children strive to live without sin, and eventually succeed and win the race! Those who have been born of God (Born Again) should no longer be a part of this world (we have died to this world) and we should no longer be slaves to satan/sin that is inherent to the world.
So, if we are truly Born Again we are now becoming the children of God and not children of this world.
Scripture goes on to state that children of God are gods: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. Psalm 82:6
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
Matthew 12:50 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Well said brother, likewise reckon, we should think or consider and live a life as if we are dead to sin. Some take it as it is a one-time deal, and they are good to go. But is it conditional? If we are conditionally accepted there is something on our part, we must do to be accepted. Our faith, like Abraham, is that God is the only true God and He can and will reward us. We must choose to come to Him on His terms or continue in the ways of the world and if we do we will receive the gift of faith from God, His calling.
What must we do? We are all sinners in need of God's mercy, or our sins will remain, not forgiven, blotted out, or paid for unless we come to repentance as we are commanded to, Acts 17:30. If we obey we will enter His mercy, and our sins will be blotted out, Prov.28:13 Is. 55:7 1 John 1:9 Acts 3:19. Our past sins that separated us from God, Is. 59:1-2.
With repentance and confession, we are no longer separated from God, no longer under condemnation we enter justification, made right with God we enter the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:19. Baptized into Christ we begin a relationship through the Holy Spirit to all who obey and repent, Acts 2:38.
To remain in justification, we must continue to follow the lead He provides through the Holy Spirit, Rom. 8:1 Rom 8:12-14. While we remain in Justification and repentance Jesus continues to cover by His blood the penalty for sins we commit, 1 John 1:7.
Paul, we know was chosen by Jesus and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, but he said even he could be a castaway, 1 Cor. 9:25-27. Even with the seal of the earnest of the Holy Spirit, a downpayment is for what we are at that time, if we fall back, it can be forfeited if we are not willing to remain repentant. If we choose to walk by the flesh and not after the Spirit we return to condemnation and we will perish, John 15:6 the word IF, we will have to pay the penalty for sin ourselves, Rev. 21:8.
Just my understanding.
God bless,
RLW
Thank you for your response, your words of encouragement mean a lot to me, as well all the relevant scripture regarding worshiping God in Spirit and Truth, and overcoming sin. I agree with all, and if we our honest with ourselves and take the time to evaluate our true walk with Christ we should be conforming to the scripture you mentioned such as 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 1 John 1:5-6 and if born again should have a mind like Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16
Scripture tells us we can have a mind like Christ! Not conformed to this world, but have renewed minds, and prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God Romans 12:2 Sinning is not acceptable to God, and for Christians to maintain the steady drum beat that they can't stop sinning is unbelievable per all of the scripture telling us that we are required STOP sinning, even including Jesus telling us that with Faith nothing is impossible for us! Matt 17:20
We are supposed to be as HOLY as Jesus and walk like him.Through the Spirit of God we CAN stop sinning. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:50 The Bible emphasises several times that we are supposed to be holy:Ye shall be holy: for I theLordyour God am holy. Leviticus 19:2
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:48 Frankie, I think we can both agree that being perfect is without sin. But the multitude of worldly Christains say they can't ever be perfect and will always be sinners in this life - so they are saying Jesus/God is lying in Matt 5:48 and they are not accepting this Truth!
GBU
"In the beginning God created the heaven(s) and the earth." Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of GOD(the Word is GOD, self-executing), so that things which are seen WERE NOT MADE of things which do appear.
In the beginning-in JESUS- GOD the Father created the 1st,2nd,and 3rd heavens(this is the next to be established- Luke 20:35-36, combined with 2Corinthians 12:1-4, and Revelation 11:15-18), and the heaven of the heavens. By the way, "the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto FIRE against the Day of Judgment (this Day arrived, that is the seventh and last Day, or seventh and last millennium) and perdition of ungodly men. NOTE: The heavens which will be burned from now on is the 1st and 2nd heavens, the 3rd will be established, and "unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath"- Matthew 25:29.
Furthermore, GOD revealed the creation to Moses around 2.500 years after Adam or 1500 years BC. JESUS, the Greater Light- Genesis 1:16- came in the fourth Day, around 4.000 years after Adam. John 5:17 - JESUS said: My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. According Chistian calendar from JESUS until the present time passed more around 2.000 years, so we are living in the beginning of first century of the seventh and last millennium or seventh and last Day, the LORD's Day. Therefore, GOD RESTS DOWN FROM HIS WORKS FROM NOW ON.
"In the beginning-IN JESUS- GOD -the Father - created the heaven(s) and the earth - earth here is Israel, still in the embryo, and not the planet Earth where GOD sits Himself - Isaiah 40- ,for Israel as a nation was created around 2500 years after Adam.
John 1:3-5
The light shineth in darkness;and the darkness comprehended it not. All things were made by JESUS; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. Let us apply the worlds framed by the word of God (He.11:3) and the life of vegetation also derives from it. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."( John 1:4)The same holiness transcribes the Law in the case of plant life. " A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit"(Matt.7:18) A herb yielding seed seasons the dish presented at the table. If it is not subject to law can we depend on it? One day it adds 'zing' to your palate and next it may be poison.
12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Herb yielding seed after his kind is an objective lesson from the word sent forth by God. It applied to his Son and i applies to animate and inanimate world. In the quantum world exists an exclusion principle so 'no two electrons in the same atom can have identical values for all four of their quantum numbers'.
The word of God is sound and signs so when we read of the glory of grass it is in context of the glory of the Son "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away."(1 Pe.1:24) The Preacher calls it as 'vanity' and it is also a sign.
13And the evening and the morning were the third day.
The command number Three signifies the Son and the familiar phrase the morning and the evening were' shows us him as the tree of life.(Re.22:2)
"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so;And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."
On second day he defined the light in terms of 'works wrought in God." It has a quality that darkness cannot comprehend. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."( John 1:5) The similar separation was introduced by a firmament between waters above and waters below. This serves as a face so whosoever on the darkness may seek and find light. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."(Matt.4:16;Is.9:2).
This explains the quality of mercy.
The Spirit moving upon the face of the waters did it so for a purpose. There is a certain knowledge in the face. Even adulterous and wicked generation looks for signs therein. This knowledge is different than what is in the face,"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."(2 Co.4:6). This face serves as a looking glass for man individually as well as whole mankind. On the cross the malefactor saw this knowledge,"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." ( Luke 23:41-43). What work did he do to ask a favor? He got it without trying, is it not? Here we see grace. By Jesus Christ came grace and truth. In short the separation of waters above from below is to give a body to holiness of God. This is the mercy of God embodied in the Son.(Ec.1:4)
This clarifies still further: as gathering of seas and the dry land. Holiness of God through his Son sets this seal on a firm basis."God knows who are his." (2 Ti.2:19). Where does it lead to? "And there was no more sea."
As an encouragement to you,
In Rom 6 Holy Spirit describes the certainty of God expectation of not continuing in sin & reveals the working of Grace as the divine power to accomplish the command. Peter says, God gives His Grace to the humble, meekness of heart, lowliness of mind is the pathway to receiving the power of Grace that we desperately need & it is Merciful kindness of God who will work this within us if we acknowledge the Truth about ourselves concerning growing in godliness, Jesus says, "without me you can do nothing". A love for God must be cutivated, for faith worketh by love & Gal 3:2 so obedience to the hearing of the Word of God "Grace" in our hearts we receive ever increasing measures of His Spirit, this is the faith that purifies the heart & will eventually be held in a pure conscience in the working out of our perfect salvation.
In Rom 7 Holy Spirit reveals the interworking of Paul struggles, now that He found himself without the righteousness of the law, now having to die to this self efforts, what a struggle he had. At the end of 7 Holy Spirit starts to open to us, the Righteousness that is by faith, the hearing of the Word of God in the heart. the Grace of God that appears to all mankind bringing salvation Rom 7:25 picking up the Cross & denying the motions of the carnal minded flesh. Rom 8:2 reveals His Grace is the Law, & goes on to declare Rom 8:14 Revealing 1John 3:6, abiding in His Grace/Spirit/Light/Cross. For the Spirit of God will never lead us into sin. As we continue in the exercise of Grace, putting Christ on, 2Cor 4:6 we're in the working of Titus 3:5 1Pet 1:2 unto the new creature, Col 3:10 where 2Cor 5:17. Rom 8:29 reveals this sonship, the divine nature implanted being Rom 8:15-17 & in Him there is no sin or 1John 1:5,6 we're sinless
All a free gift from our Father, yet must be appropriated by Faith, God causing us to will do of His good pleasure, for His own Name sake. Ezekiel 36:21-23 Isa 55:3
Continue in His Love
Holiness is His name. Mary mother of Jesus qualified God thus,'Holy is his name'. From whence came this knowledge? The Spirit moving upon the waters (v.2) sensitized every vapor that God is knowable. "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly" accordingly gave Mary a measure of the invisible quality of God. How do we differentiate between good and evil? There is only one standard which is what we can infer from this short colloquy. "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God."( Mark 10:18). When God settled for light as good who shall contradict him? He as the Father of lights saw the light, that it was good. Amen.
Light and darkness are alike unto him. His Son consequently is the true Light which has a great consequence. He named the light as His own. He called the light Day which from henceforth shall signify his holiness as radiating from His godhead, from his force of will. It is set as the law. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."( John 1:5). So children of light cannot remain hidden but shine forth boldly. "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"(Ph.2:15)
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
God separated two nations, children of light and children of darkness on the basis man responds to His holiness."But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."( John 3:21) Adam hid from the presence of God knowing that he disobeyed him.
After reading two threads, which stated that "we could never love like God loves" I felt compel by Holy Spirit to correct this belief, that's unscriptural.
Paul states 2Cor 5:14
The love of God that flowed through him, he states in Gal 2:20 it was Christ that dwelling within him, living, moving & having His being within Paul, having His mind, heart & spirit. & where Christ dwells He brings His Father with Him John14:23 & God is love, he became an living expression of the Godhead, there's no way that in this abide abode that God love was not known, felt, displays in his life. Have you ever tried keeping your human love in? What about God ?
Jesus states in John15:10 "abide in His love"
We must believe that we can Ephesians 3:19 as we continue to grow in Grace in the knowledge of His will that
Hebrews 10:10 for faith Gal 5:6
1 John 1:14 perfect love experienced, is what John the beloved "tasted, seen & handled" 1John 4:12
1 Thessalonians 4:9 God taught them how to love as He loves
John 13:14 "as I have love you"
Folks,
To my understanding, Jesus prayer in John 17:21-23 reveals a union between the Spirit & Soul of our Creator & his creatures that unites us in such an wonderous way, that it took Divinity to imagine it, & the Son accomplish all His Father's heart desire. Matt 17:5
Jeremiah 32:38-41 Love never fails.
1 John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
The above is an example of a misunderstanding that may occur when a scripture is not translated precisely. Well there is an excuse here since in this case there isn't a respective English term for the grk verb "amartano". It is translated "commit sin" but unlike the Engl. the grk indicates a continuous action, a continuous situation. This means that what the verse says is that whosoever is born of God does not keep sinning or living a sinful life because the seed/Word of God lives inside him. This doesn't mean that he never sins but he never lives a sinful life any more.
Similarly 1 John 3:6, "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." That "sinneth not" is not right, it shpuld be "sining not", a continuous condition.
See 1 John 1:8-9, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Blessings
The Grace of God that appears to all mankind, begotten Paul & he declares in 1Cor 15:10 made what he now is.
What the Apostles received by the Revelation of Jesus Christ from His Grace appearance, they wrote down in the Epistle's that bares their name, & they believed & attain unto this knowledge by the diligent exercising thereof Hebrews 5:14 Hebrews 12:11 Philippians 3:16
Here's a small unfolding of His Grace / Light
They let Patience James 1:4,25 James 5:11 1Pet 5:9,10
Make you Perfect Hebrews 13:21
Be ye Perfect Matt 5:48 indicating this perfection is the same as the Father, there's not a different standard of holiness for mankind describe here.
The angel declared to Mary, Matt 1:21 not in their sin!
Folks,
Everything that God does is perfect, do you really believe that He would sent His only begotten Son to suffer all that He did for our sakes, & it not be a perfect restoration for His beloved creations.
I tell you by the Scriptures, sound reasoning & the Holy Ghost it's goes beyond the state of Adam innocents before he fell
Rom 6:3-5 the newness of life spoken of here is the likeness of His resurrection life & that is attain by working of His Divine Power 2Pet 1:2-4
I'm talking Grace, here now in this life. Don't be deceived, it's accompanies all that Christ experience, 1Pet 2:21 this too is apart of being make in His image & likeness, walking as He walk, the Apostles final got it after Pentecost, being baptized unto His death. This is when 1John 1:1-5 truly came into spiritual experiential experience. John 7:17
John 4:23,24 True worship is doing His will
& that will is reveal by His Grace / Light appearance in your heart. 2Cor 4:6,7
SOUL
Vayikra (Leviticus) 17:11& 14- Torah -
11 The SOUL of the flesh is in the BLOOD, and I have therefore given it to you [to be placed] upon the altar, to atone for your souls. For it is the blood that atones for the soul.
14For [regarding] the soul of all flesh its blood is in its soul, and I said to the children of Israel: You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the soul of any flesh is its blood all who eat it shall be cut off.
SPIRIT
Isaiah 11:2-KJV
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
John 6:63 - JESUS said:
... the WORDS that I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT, and they are life. (The Word is GOD, self-executing, is the Power. Great mystery. The Word is from everlasting to everlasting. By the way, around 2.000 years ago, the Word was made flesh- John 1:14).
Romans 8:9-
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, HE IS NONE OF HIS.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up JESUS from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
It's it. Now, the interpretation is with you.
GOD BLESSES YOU
Matthew 10:28
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.