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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | WAS MY IMPORTANT DIVORCE A SIN | Bible general Archive 2 | Theo-Minor | 126249 | ||
Hey Doc ... Listen brother, you're a wonderful fellow. Your posts have always been very polite and well thought out. I want to discuss something with you that is off this particular topic since the subject has come up. I'll try to be a brief as I can with it. You said this: "If this thing was a sin, it was probably only one of many -- and my own list of sins is assuredly far longer than yours!" In truth, brother, you are deceived in believing you are still a sinner. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. To believe that you have sin is to put yourself in a state of condemnation. I am genuinely and sincerely not trying to be critical. If you do a study on sin, you will find that in the New Testament, there isn't a single passage that says we must still be sinners. This is a teaching of self abasement that stemmed from the 2nd-3rd century church, and it has no foundation in a spiritual walk with Christ. The perception comes from two significant sources. 1. Romans chapter 7. I'm sure you're familiar. "What I don't want to do, I do. What I want to do, I don't do," etc. "But I realize it is not me, but sin that dwells in me." The sin dwelling within is as according to the old man, identified by the laws of sin and the flesh. Continuing on to chapter 8, it states that we are now free from the laws of sin and the flesh, subject now instead to the law of the spirit in Jesus Christ. God, because of sin, condemned sin in the flesh. It's dead. 2. The other significant passage is 1st John 1:8-10. Again, I'm sure you're familiar. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Therefore, confess your sins to God, and he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This passage, despite the usuage of the pronoun "we" is talking about people that come to Christ, not those that have already come. If you take this passage as a static statement that applies to all Christians for all time, you have two major problems with it. First, if Christ is the lamb of God, come to take away the sins of the world, and we still have sin, he failed miserably in his mission. Second, to view this 1st John passage as a static statement creates a paradox. We all have sin, so let's confess together, and he'll forgive and cleanse us. Now, we've confessed. So do we have sin? If we say no, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, so we need to confess again. If we say yes, then God was not faithful to do as promised. How many times do we need to confess before he does what he promised to do? This passage is clearly talking about new Christians. After removing those two passages from the repertoire, there doesn't remain any passage to suggest we still sin. On the contrary, all the passages pertaining to sin and Christians admonishes us not to commit any, not to live in it, to flee from it, etc. There is even the controversial passage from 1st John 3:6-9 that says that we do not, will not, and cannot sin because we are born of God. References or implications to "habitually" or "practicing" are a direct result of scrutiny over the tense of the word "sin." Because of it's present perfect tense, it reads: "All those abiding in God are not sinning." Sin[ning] implies an ongoing action according to certain words studies, but in their journey to discredit a passage they can't comprehend, they fail to appreciate the appropriate syntax of present perfect tense. Sin[ning] means that you are not sinning "right now." As a static statement that projects into the future via Greek grammar, the idea here is this: "Those abiding in God are not sinning [from one moment to the next]" Please read my posts from your question yesterday. I explained "not under the law" well, I think. It is the key to understanding how not to sin. I'd love to discuss this with you further, but I don't want to be any more pushy on the matter than I've already been. I love you and all other brothers in Christ, and I want to see you free from your condemnation. Theo-Minor |
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2 | WAS MY IMPORTANT DIVORCE A SIN | Bible general Archive 2 | DocTrinsograce | 126252 | ||
Dear Theo, thank you for your comments. I do indeed try to think through my posts. (Thank you for the compliments, too.) If you look back at my last post, you will notice that I did not call myself a sinner. I have been, in the past, a great sinner. I still fall short (sin) regularly. However, I do not generally use the epithet "sinner." I am not defined by what I do, but rather by Who created me. On the other hand, Paul states (1 Timothy 1:15) "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." If the Apostle Paul could call himself the chiefest of sinners (the word "am" is present tense), then if I did call myself a sinner, I would be in very good company! :-) This dear woman clearly senses her great need for the Savior. The Law shows us our need. She is in full agreement with the Law. What she needs now is the application of the Gospel, for the Law has accomplished its work in her. People who don't sense their sin, need the instruction of the Law. People who know they are sinners need the ministration of the Gospel! Theo, a pastor of mine used to say, "The Gospel is not the ABC's of our faith, but rather the A through Z of our faith." The Gospel is as pertinent in my life today as when I was first saved. Thank you again, sir, for your comments. Thank you also for patiently reading my inadequate ramblings! :-) |
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