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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Show me scripture that says we can sin | Acts 15:11 | romans5n1 | 143876 | ||
EdB, I definately see where you're coming from. And, on the surface, I agree with you. Scripture paints a picture of Christian life, led by the Holy Spirit, and founded on a firm relationship with Christ. Simply, Scripture speaks of the ideal. Instead of restating the same thoughts I've already communicated, I would like to provide an illustration. There is a certain man named John. John once lived a fairly wild life--partying, drugs, premarital sex. One glorious day, John heard the Gospel. He was convicted of his sins, repented and asked Jesus to be his Savior and Lord. John's heart became focused on God. He joined a church, and eventually took on a ministry. He joyfully served the Lord for many years. One day, while at work, John was called into his boss' office. John's boss had decided to give him a promotion. He was now going to be manager over his office. The promotion came complete with a increased salary, his own office, and a secretary. John began his new job, and was getting along quite well. John's secretary was a very attractive woman, and he began to notice that she seemed to be flirting with him. John was married and had no intentions of doing anything to damage his marriage, so he ignored his secretaries seeming advances. John's new job required extra time at the office, and his wife was none to happy about that. He would frequently have to work late, and his wife grew increasingly irritated. She asked him to stop working late, but John didn't want to risk his new position. In her anger, John's wife began to deny him in bed. At work, John's secretary continued to flirt with him, and while John still did not want to jeopardize his marriage, he found himself lusting after his secretary. John did not act on his desires, but he failed to deny them either. John's wife continued to deny him, and one night John's secretary increased the intensity of her advances. She had noticed John looking at her that afternoon, and felt that the time was ripe to approach him. She kissed John, catching him off guard. He came to his senses and stopped kissing her, but found it a real struggle. He went home, considering the whole way home whether or not he should tell his wife. He decided that, given his wife's temperament already, and since he HAD stopped the kiss, it wouldn't serve anything to tell her. Nevertheless, John found himself dwelling on that kiss. It continuously played in his mind, and he thought about how nice it had been. Not one to be refused, John's secretary became even more forceful in her advances. She began wearing very low cut blouses and short skirts. She'd give John little winks, and sit and stand in provocative manners. Catching John looking at her, she approached him once again, and this time things went too far. John and his secretary began having an affair. Ok, now let's consider this illustration. John's affair becomes a premeditated sin. He knew it was wrong going in, but through a progression of circumstances and subtle deceptions, he finally gave in to the temptation. Once he had given in, it was already too late. The same circumstances that led to the affair continued to existed after the affair began. Indeed, now matters were worse because John had already been with his secretary. It took no great leap for it to happen again, and with each successive encounter it became easier and easier to give in and harder and harder to resist. If you notice from this little illustration. John failed to confess his lust and eventually his affair to the Lord. With each progressive unconfessed sin, that still small voice of the Holy Spirit became more and more muted. What I hope to communicate with this illustration is just how easy it is for something like this to occur. A sin here, a sin there. Failure to restore his relationship with God, led to a distancing that made it ever increasingly easy to be caught by the deceptions of Satan. John, in this example, is a true Christian. He lived years in best Christian form, but the flirtaitions of his secretary and the coldness of his wife created an explosive minefield, and John stepped on a mine. I'm not sure if I illustrated this properly, but hopefully I managed to communicate just how easily all the events occured. This is something that could really happen to one that let themselves be caught off guard, and that could be any of us. So I ask you, what of John? Was he ever a Christian? Did he lose his salvation? This was no case of "easy-believism" for sure. If John had been a Christian at all, he was a true blue devoted one. That is of course, until the fateful events occurred. Just think about it; really ponder what I've said. This will be my last post, for there's nothing more I can say. Believe what you choose, but at least consider what I have said. God bless you brother. |
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2 | Show me scripture that says we can sin | Acts 15:11 | EdB | 143903 | ||
romans5n1 Was John saved or was John doing what he saw mimicked before him? Was John depending on Jesus or was John able to live a life of Christian because his life was going smoothly? In your example we see John living for Christ when things are going his way but the minute adversity entered the picture John started to justify his sin. Was John Saved? Who was first in his heart his flesh or Jesus? We judge people by their outward appearance and that is how we get into trouble. God knows the heart. God knew where Johns heart was at and He had to show him. In your illustration God allowed these things to occur so John would see exactly where he had placed his trust. John knew the right things to say, the right things to do, and be Christ like as long as he could handle the situation. But the minute the situation got out of his control he abandoned it all to once again try to regain control. He never gave control to Christ. There are many like this today. People that are the sweetest, nicest people in church. They attend every time the door opens, working and serving others but then a child dies, all of sudden they are gone. Or one become sick and the other looking for their physical needs to be met fall into adultery. The example you gave is the classic example of the easy believism of the American Christian. As long as it cost us what we are willing to pay we are sold out for Christ. But the minute it costs more than we "think" is fair we justify our sin. Compare your John to Daniel and the Hebrew Children. Or John and Joseph. Surely Joseph had more reason to forsake God than John. Not only was Joseph sold into slavery but here was a very beautiful and desirable woman promising to make life easy if he sinned and hard if he didn't. Was john Saved I don't think so but John probably thought he was, right until he found out it wasn't Christ he was serving but his flesh. He had been playing the part of Christian but never really gave his life to Christ. EdB |
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