Biblical Repentance

[Lamb]

For without a change of behavior, God cannot know that we have turned to Him.

The same God who can hear our prayers doesn't know if we have turned to Him?

 

[psalms 91]

I believe that if the behavior hasnt changed then I would question if the person turned to God

 

[Lamb]

I believe that if the behavior hasnt changed then I would question if the person turned to God

But that's concerning men knowing. Michael insists that God can't know the heart.

 

[psalms 91]

God knows the heart of every man which is why we shouldnt judge but leave it to God at least for those outside the church for we are instructed to judge those inside.

 

[MennoSota]

God knows the heart of every man which is why we shouldnt judge but leave it to God at least for those outside the church for we are instructed to judge those inside.

Here is what Michael stated:
"For without a change of behavior, God cannot know that we have turned to Him."
This paints God as failing to be all knowing. It says that God is dependent upon human behavior in order for Him to discern who is repentant.
Michael's statement is false.

 

[Michael]

The same God who can hear our prayers doesn't know if we have turned to Him?

All we can do, friend, is go by what the God's Word (not mine) declares -

"The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous."
- Prov 15:29

and the New Testament tells us the same; for our God “changeth not.”

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
- 1Pet 3:10-12

Notice it is our works (referring to "Christians") that determine whether we are “righteous” or “evil” in God’s eyes.

And not only is there not an asterisk saying this doesn’t apply to “Christians”, but this letter and ALL the epistles of the NT are written ONLY to those who have ‘accepted the Lord.’

I believe God will hear the prayers of the sinner who cries out to Him for deliverance, and He will answer and set them free. But once we have been saved from bondage to sin, as Paul writes,
“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom 6:1-3)

If we come to a place in our journey on the Way that we accept that we will always sin but Jesus will always love us and God will just continue to forgive us because of what His Son did, then we will be, as Paul understood, “disqualified” from receiving the fullness of the promises of God given only to those who “overcome.”

Of course we won’t hear this message from most pulpits these days, but you will always hear it from those who are “led by the Spirit” and speaking as the “oracles of God.” But there are some. God has led me to hear and learn from some of the old time saints who know/knew God.

Remember, many of Jesus followers left Him when He started teaching them that they had to surrender to Him, quit their carnal ways, and partake of His substance.

May we be among those who truly “repent” (turn away from our sins) and strive to do those “good deeds ordained from the foundation of the world”; who “hold fast” and “endure til the end”; that we may be assured God hears our prayers, and that we may receive an inheritance and enter into God’s rest in that Day.
Amen.

Peace & Blessings as you walk with Jesus.

 

[Lamb]

No, Michael, it's JESUS' works that determine our righteousness. Our efforts don't pass the test of perfect holiness that God has always demanded.

 

[MennoSota]

The bookends of Romans 8 tell us who has made us holy.
Romans 8:1-4,35-39
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[MennoSota]

Can someone be damned if they repented and continue to repent of their*sins?

Of course. Even Judas was sorrowful over his sin, according to the Bible. The world is full of people who are disgusted at at least some of their sins, who seek to put particular sins behind them. This kind of sorrow is not how we have peace with God. While repentance is intimately connected to how and why God forgives us, it is not at all by itself a sufficient*cause.

Properly speaking that repentance which “saves” is not merely a turning*from, but is a turning*to. We have peace with God because Jesus suffered the wrath of the Father that is due to us for our sin, and because He lived a perfect life.* The work of Christ becomes ours when we, because of the work of the Holy Spirit in first regenerating us, repent and believe, or trust in the work of Christ. If we so trust all our sins are forgiven, because they have already been punished. This describes all our sins, past, present and*future.

If our repentance includes turning to the finished work of Christ, if it includes trusting in His life and atoning death, the promise of God is that we will indeed be forgive (I John 1:9). Because His promises are true, we can and must trust*them.

We do, of course, continue to sin. Satan, the accuser, delights to make much of this. He loves to rub our faces in our sins, to tell us that sinners such as we surely cannot be saved. If our response to this kind of assault is to deny the reality of our sin, he wins. If our response on the other hand is to wallow in our sin, he wins. The right response is, “I am a sinner. Worse even than you know Satan. But my Father sees me as pure and whole, a spotless bride, because He has dressed me in the perfect righteousness of His Son.” Telling the devil, “No, I am good” invites more attack. Telling the devil, “Yes, I am evil” only invites more attack. Telling the devil, “Jesus is righteous and I am in Him” will make him*flee.

When we diminish our sin, we foolishly rest in ourselves. When we despair in our sins we foolishly diminish His grace. Our calling is to own our sin, to plum its depths, but then to know that God’s grace in Christ is greater still. Deep sorrow and repentance followed by deep confidence in His grace will lead to deep and immovable*joy.

Continue to repent. We do so not because our future sins are not forgiven, but so that we might nor presume upon that grace, that we might rejoice in our forgiveness. Let us all, however, also continue to repent for our unbelief in His grace. When God says “I forgive you and I love you” to respond “I don’t believe you” is pure folly, To respond “I’m not worthy” is to belabor the obvious. To respond “Thank you” is to grasp the Good*News.

(From R.C. Sproul, 2011)
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/repenting-and-continuing-repent/

 

[Michael]

No, Michael, it's JESUS' works that determine our righteousness. Our efforts don't pass the test of perfect holiness that God has always demanded.

"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." - 1John 3:7

Again, we are not talking about having to be righteous to be "saved." This is so far PAST salvation. Yes you & I are "saved." But it is what WE do AFTER we are saved that matters most.
Those who will attain to the promises of Rev 2 & 3 actually WILL pass the test of holiness that God requires.

We talk so much about 'receiving Christ', but at the same time, God is saying to those who HAVE received Him to DO what is right, repent and quit sinning so that He may "RECEIVE" us.

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
- 2Cor 6:17-7:1

These passages... this Truth... has been in the Bible all along. And I'm learning more & more that unless God opens our spiritual eyes to actually perceive and comprehend what our natural eyes see, we will not understand Kingdom mysteries. Remember that even those who had personally walked with Jesus often didn't understand the Truth He taught them until "He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45)
These and the multitude of passages I've been sharing are all in the canon of Scripture for a reason, they cannot be dismissed or ignored. These are ALL warnings to the church, to "saved" people. Not a verse in the Bible is written to the unsaved. "Those whom I love, I (the Lord) reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent." (Rev 3:19) His discipline is not toward the world, but toward His chosen people, that they may learn to choose to repent and actually turn from their wicked ways and "purify themselves." (1John 3:3)

In our churches today preachers often claim we have obtained all the promises of God because we have uttered a prayer or raised our hand, "we think we are rich and in need of nothing", yet Jesus is telling us - "to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." (see Rev 3:17-18)

This is why the Apostle Paul prayed for those who were saved in the churches that they would "walk worthy" of what God had called them to, so that they might actually come to know God. In Paul's own words he said I do "not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col 1:9-10)

Again, as I've told MennoSota (whom is on my ignore list again), there is no verse of Scripture that cancels out or supersedes what God is saying through Jesus and the Apostles in these multitude of passages. My wife and I have been doing Bible Study nightly since we were married 10 years ago. We use Devotionals oft-times from Daily Bread or Guideposts to get us started, before we delve into the meat of the Word. And we've noticed that there are maybe 20-25 verses that are quoted extensively from the various writers, while most of the other passages are never mentioned. I know that they use the select few they do to encourage people, and that is the purpose of such books, BUT it is hardly the "whole counsel of God." The promises of God are not automatic because we've been "saved." The great promises of rulership, inheritance and union with Christ are only to the overcomer, the ones who actually repent and turn from their sin, "deny themselves, pick up their cross daily and follow Jesus." A popular 'Christian'song sings that 'Jesus bore my cross.' He didn't. Jesus bore HIS Cross, and we must bear ours if we are to truly "come after" Him and be "conformed into His image." (Matt 10:38, Luke 9:23, Rom 8:29, 1John 3:3)

"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
- Rev 3:21-22

This is what the Bible says. Perhaps we're reading the Word; do we comprehend it? Maybe we are listening for the voice of Jesus; are we hearing and receiving what His Spirit is actually saying?

Lämmchen, I believe your heart is in the right place, and that you debate with me because you love Jesus and truly want to defend Him and the great work that He has done for us. If you are walking as you believe He has directed you, and diligently using the "talents" He gave you, then God is pleased. I truly believe that. MennoSota, on the other hand, I had to 'ignore' again as he does not care to discuss Truth, but rather attack everything I write, even the very Word of God from the Bible. His is a personal animosity/envy/anger against me for some unknown reason. I wish the young man no ill-will, I just pray that he will surrender to God and allow Jesus Spirit to guide how he responds to me and others on this site.

Peace & Blessings to you & all your house.

 

[MennoSota]

Apparently sharing God's word is an attack on our non-church attending young man. Funny how he imagines he, whom no other churches support, has interpreted scripture correctly while all others are wrong.
Truly there is little value in arguing with a fool.

 

[Michael]

"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." - 1John 3:7

Again, we are not talking about having to be righteous to be "saved." This is so far PAST salvation. Yes you & I are "saved." But it is what WE do AFTER we are saved that matters most.
Those who will attain to the promises of Rev 2 & 3 actually WILL pass the test of holiness that God requires.

We talk so much about 'receiving Christ', but at the same time, God is saying to those who HAVE received Him to DO what is right, repent and quit sinning so that He may "RECEIVE" us.

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
- 2Cor 6:17-7:1

These passages... this Truth... has been in the Bible all along. And I'm learning more & more that unless God opens our spiritual eyes to actually perceive and comprehend what our natural eyes see, we will not understand Kingdom mysteries. Remember that even those who had personally walked with Jesus often didn't understand the Truth He taught them until "He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45)
These and the multitude of passages I've been sharing are all in the canon of Scripture for a reason, they cannot be dismissed or ignored. These are ALL warnings to the church, to "saved" people. Not a verse in the Bible is written to the unsaved. "Those whom I love, I (the Lord) reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent." (Rev 3:19) His discipline is not toward the world, but toward His chosen people, that they may learn to choose to repent and actually turn from their wicked ways and "purify themselves." (1John 3:3)

In our churches today preachers often claim we have obtained all the promises of God because we have uttered a prayer or raised our hand, "we think we are rich and in need of nothing", yet Jesus is telling us - "to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." (see Rev 3:17-18)

This is why the Apostle Paul prayed for those who were saved in the churches that they would "walk worthy" of what God had called them to, so that they might actually come to know God. In Paul's own words he said I do "not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col 1:9-10)

Again, as I've told MennoSota (whom is on my ignore list again), there is no verse of Scripture that cancels out or supersedes what God is saying through Jesus and the Apostles in these multitude of passages. My wife and I have been doing Bible Study nightly since we were married 10 years ago. We use Devotionals oft-times from Daily Bread or Guideposts to get us started, before we delve into the meat of the Word. And we've noticed that there are maybe 20-25 verses that are quoted extensively from the various writers, while most of the other passages are never mentioned. I know that they use the select few they do to encourage people, and that is the purpose of such books, BUT it is hardly the "whole counsel of God." The promises of God are not automatic because we've been "saved." The great promises of rulership, inheritance and union with Christ are only to the overcomer, the ones who actually repent and turn from their sin, "deny themselves, pick up their cross daily and follow Jesus." A popular 'Christian'song sings that 'Jesus bore my cross.' He didn't. Jesus bore HIS Cross, and we must bear ours if we are to truly "come after" Him and be "conformed into His image." (Matt 10:38, Luke 9:23, Rom 8:29, 1John 3:3)

"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
- Rev 3:21-22

This is what the Bible says. Perhaps we're reading the Word; do we comprehend it? Maybe we are listening for the voice of Jesus; are we hearing and receiving what His Spirit is actually saying?

Lämmchen, I believe your heart is in the right place, and that you debate with me because you love Jesus and truly want to defend Him and the great work that He has done for us. If you are walking as you believe He has directed you, and diligently using the "talents" He gave you, then God is pleased. I truly believe that. MennoSota, on the other hand, I had to 'ignore' again as he does not care to discuss Truth, but rather attack everything I write, even the very Word of God from the Bible. His is a personal animosity/envy/anger against me for some unknown reason. I wish the young man no ill-will, I just pray that he will surrender to God and allow Jesus Spirit to guide how he responds to me and others on this site.

Peace & Blessings to you & all your house.

Just a little more teaching of Jesus that came to mind when thinking about what I wrote earlier...

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matt 7:21

"He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matt 12:49-50

And when we realize that Jesus is speaking of doing God's will, which is obeying His commands given through Christ, the whole of the Scripture begins to much so much more sense. For it is the DOING of God's commandments (not the Law of Moses) that is God's will for all who will "come after" Jesus.

"if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” - Matt 19:17

What was set forth by God in the Old Testament....

"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments." - Dan 9:4

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." - Ecc 12:13

... continues through Jesus teaching in the New Testament. For our God "does not change."

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." - John 14:15

"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” - John 14:21

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love." - John 15:10

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." - 1John 5:2

Is there any other way to interpret these declarations of the Son of God, to come to the conclusion that we can continue to walk in ways contrary to God's Eternal Moral Law and still end up receiving all His promises given to those who overcome?

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

Just a little more teaching of Jesus that came to mind when thinking about what I wrote earlier...

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matt 7:21

"He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matt 12:49-50

And when we realize that Jesus is speaking of doing God's will, which is obeying His commands given through Christ, the whole of the Scripture begins to much so much more sense. For it is the DOING of God's commandments (not the Law of Moses) that is God's will for all who will "come after" Jesus.

"if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” - Matt 19:17

What was set forth by God in the Old Testament....

"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments." - Dan 9:4

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." - Ecc 12:13

... continues through Jesus teaching in the New Testament. For our God "does not change."

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." - John 14:15

"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” - John 14:21

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love." - John 15:10

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." - 1John 5:2

Is there any other way to interpret these declarations of the Son of God, to come to the conclusion that we can continue to walk in ways contrary to God's Eternal Moral Law and still end up receiving all His promises given to those who overcome?

The problem for you is that no one is saying we can walk contrary to God's eternal moral laws. Try again.

 

[Michael]

The problem for you is that no one is saying we can walk contrary to God's eternal moral laws. Try again.

Saying that we can't NOT sin in this life IS indeed saying that 'we can walk contrary to God's eternal moral law' and still be viewed as "righteous" in His eyes. Of course that goes against the Scripture. So... no problem here son, just Truth!

Accepting the falsehood that 'as long as we're in this world we will sin' is to deny what Jesus came to accomplish. If we are not striving diligently to "stop sinning" now, we will NOT be perfected when Jesus returns. As His Elect are "gathered to Him", those who relied solely on grace and forgiveness to see them through, while neglecting the required Repentance, will not be joining these First Resurrection saints. That is clear Bible.

 

[Michael]

Repentance (a snippet of Truth)

"If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die." - Eze 18:21

And most people, even unbelievers know that real Repentance is a "turning away from sin." It may begin with a feeling of sorrow, but if it ends there without us actually doing something to prove what we may speak, then we haven't truly begun to repent.

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." - 2Cor 7:10

For those who like shorter videos, here is a brief 5-minute snippet on Repentance as the Bible teaches it -

https://youtu.be/KAcKpr2c1z4

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

Saying that we can't NOT sin in this life IS indeed saying that 'we can walk contrary to God's eternal moral law' and still be viewed as "righteous" in His eyes. Of course that goes against the Scripture. So... no problem here son, just Truth!

Accepting the falsehood that 'as long as we're in this world we will sin' is to deny what Jesus came to accomplish. If we are not striving diligently to "stop sinning" now, we will NOT be perfected when Jesus returns. As His Elect are "gathered to Him", those who relied solely on grace and forgiveness to see them through, while neglecting the required Repentance, will not be joining these First Resurrection saints. That is clear Bible.

No, that's not what is being said. Again the problem is with your understanding of what is being written to you. A few people on this forum have pointed out your errors to you repeatedly, and you still insist on twisting Scripture to teach sinless perfection. So all your threads are not about teaching the word of God, as you claim, it's about all of us agreeing with your interpretation of Scripture, and if we don't... "God is watching!" Please peddle your lies elsewhere.

 

[Michael]

No, that's not what is being said. Again the problem is with your understanding of what is being written to you. A few people on this forum have pointed out your errors to you repeatedly, and you still insist on twisting Scripture to teach sinless perfection. So all your threads are not about teaching the word of God, as you claim, it's about all of us agreeing with your interpretation of Scripture, and if we don't... "God is watching!" Please peddle your lies elsewhere.

As anyone here who shares on a topic, I am merely presenting what I fully believe the Lord God has given me to share. Some who are willfully stubborn will verbally attack, while some who are "more fair-minded... will receive the word with all readiness, and search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

Like someone with a Master's Degree trying to teach Calculus to a child in 2nd Grade, the child who is unable to understand at this point due to immaturity in such things will say "That's not true" and perhaps giggle a little; or if they have a bratty little side to them, even become accusatory and verbally attack the one who really does know.
In the end,the elementary principles of Math the child has learned are indeed true, but of course not the whole picture; and what the scholar has learned concerning the deeper aspects of Mathematics is also true.
The "elementary principles" of the Word which most of us have learned are indeed True; but so are the deeper things of the Kingdom, that "hidden manna" which comes to those who strive to "overcome" and "present themselves a living sacrifice to God."

The writer of Hebrews addresses the immature believers who had settled into thinking True Repentance, actual Righteousness & Holiness, and Obedience to God were unnecessary because they had been 'saved.' And he admonishes them as Journeyman does a lazy Apprentice -

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits." - Heb 5:12-6:3

No, I do NOT teach 'sinless perfection' in the saints... YET. For to deny what the Scripture declares concerning those who will become "one with Christ" (which IS the Goal of God for His Elect), is to deny the Word of God.
I do correctly teach, as the Scripture does, that we are to Repent and surrender to God in ALL areas of our life. For yes, God sees all we do; you & I & every living being that will "give an account" to Him in that Day.

Tell me, young man... What sin is there you are committing that Jesus cannot help you be totally set free from? Some sins that you just have to do, but you believe Jesus will keep forgiving you for? If there is a single one, then Jesus failed in His assignment from the Father. And if one tells me that 'as long as I'm in this world, Jesus cannot help me stop sinning', then I say with full confidence that they are following the wrong "Jesus."

My prayer is that none the Father has called will "receive the grace of God in vain." (2Cor 6:1) But that we will truly obey what our Lord Jesus commands us, and ever strive to "stop sinning" and "come out from among" those who make any excuse for continued sin in their life, that the Father may "receive us." This is the teaching of the Holy Spirit that often I merely repeat in the teachings He has given me. To reject this Truth is not to reject me, but God.

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
- 2Cor 6:14-18

May we be "separating" ourselves from sin today, and "walking worthy" of our calling in repentance and holiness of conduct before the Lord God.

Peace & Blessings, Wisdom & Understanding to all,
Michael

 

[Josiah]

We MAY not sin... But we CAN sin. Christians have the ability to sin, but not the permission to sin.

Even SAINT Paul referred to himself as "the chief of sinners." The Bible says, "If we claim to be without sin we are a LIAR and the truth is not in us."

You may CLAIM to be morally PERFECT in thought, word and deed - in what you do/feel/think and what you don't - and that NEVER do you "miss the mark" (sin) in being the equal of God in holiness and love (thus without sin) but the Bible says you would be a liar.





.

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

As anyone here who shares on a topic, I am merely presenting what I fully believe the Lord God has given me to share. Some who are willfully stubborn will verbally attack, while some who are "more fair-minded... will receive the word with all readiness, and search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

Like someone with a Master's Degree trying to teach Calculus to a child in 2nd Grade, the child who is unable to understand at this point due to immaturity in such things will say "That's not true" and perhaps giggle a little; or if they have a bratty little side to them, even become accusatory and verbally attack the one who really does know.
In the end,the elementary principles of Math the child has learned are indeed true, but of course not the whole picture; and what the scholar has learned concerning the deeper aspects of Mathematics is also true.
The "elementary principles" of the Word which most of us have learned are indeed True; but so are the deeper things of the Kingdom, that "hidden manna" which comes to those who strive to "overcome" and "present themselves a living sacrifice to God."

The writer of Hebrews addresses the immature believers who had settled into thinking True Repentance, actual Righteousness & Holiness, and Obedience to God were unnecessary because they had been 'saved.' And he admonishes them as Journeyman does a lazy Apprentice -

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits." - Heb 5:12-6:3

No, I do NOT teach 'sinless perfection' in the saints... YET. For to deny what the Scripture declares concerning those who will become "one with Christ" (which IS the Goal of God for His Elect), is to deny the Word of God.
I do correctly teach, as the Scripture does, that we are to Repent and surrender to God in ALL areas of our life. For yes, God sees all we do; you & I & every living being that will "give an account" to Him in that Day.

Tell me, young man... What sin is there you are committing that Jesus cannot help you be totally set free from? Some sins that you just have to do, but you believe Jesus will keep forgiving you for? If there is a single one, then Jesus failed in His assignment from the Father. And if one tells me that 'as long as I'm in this world, Jesus cannot help me stop sinning', then I say with full confidence that they are following the wrong "Jesus."

My prayer is that none the Father has called will "receive the grace of God in vain." (2Cor 6:1) But that we will truly obey what our Lord Jesus commands us, and ever strive to "stop sinning" and "come out from among" those who make any excuse for continued sin in their life, that the Father may "receive us." This is the teaching of the Holy Spirit that often I merely repeat in the teachings He has given me. To reject this Truth is not to reject me, but God.

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
- 2Cor 6:14-18

May we be "separating" ourselves from sin today, and "walking worthy" of our calling in repentance and holiness of conduct before the Lord God.

Peace & Blessings, Wisdom & Understanding to all,
Michael

What makes you think I'm committing any sin? According to your false teachings, not Scripture, "True Christians" don't sin and forgiveness of sin is for those outside the church. Also, why would I reveal that information to a random nobody on the internet? Jesus is faithful to forgive all my sins.

The Christian life is one of daily repentance, it is not one where we work our way to a reward when we die, whatever we think that may be. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us. He didn't say, 'As long as you do things to my Father's standard, which is perfection. Good luck!'

This GOAL you keep talking about is a yoke of slavery. No one can complete it, because everything we do is tainted by sin. So you and anyone else you've convinced need to work their way to residence on the new earth, will fail, because God demands perfection and we can't offer anything to God that is perfect because we are imperfect.

But you refuse to acknowledge that and as long as that is the case, you will continue in these works, convinced you're pleasing God, but always wondering “Are my works good enough to please God? Have I done enough? Did I already do enough to reach the GOAL?" I'm glad Christ did it all for me and all the works I do, I do because Christ loved me first, and because I love Christ and my neighbor, I do the works prepared by God for me to do. Not works I made up in order to get something that's already been promised to me.

 

[Lamb]

Saying that we can't NOT sin in this life IS indeed saying that 'we can walk contrary to God's eternal moral law' and still be viewed as "righteous" in His eyes. Of course that goes against the Scripture. So... no problem here son, just Truth!

Accepting the falsehood that 'as long as we're in this world we will sin' is to deny what Jesus came to accomplish. If we are not striving diligently to "stop sinning" now, we will NOT be perfected when Jesus returns. As His Elect are "gathered to Him", those who relied solely on grace and forgiveness to see them through, while neglecting the required Repentance, will not be joining these First Resurrection saints. That is clear Bible.

How are you doing with that...trying to be sinless? I bet you fail. I can easily bet on that because only Jesus was the sinless lamb who actually died for those sins that you're trying hard to not commit...yet you do sin. If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

So how are you doing? And why not rely on Jesus for your salvation instead of trying to earn your own salvation?