Results 1 - 3 of 3
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Enteuxis Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Are Christians sinless? | 1 John 3:6 | Enteuxis | 225570 | ||
Are Christians sinless? No. Shouldn't Christians be sinless? Yes. This is admittedly a difficult verse because if we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are not sinless, and it seems to say that unless we are sinless, we aren't Christians. But one might ask what John's purpose was for writing the letter. He tells us here: 1 Jn 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. NASU It is in this passage that he answers both of your questions: Are Christians sinless? No (and he knows, which is why He has provided us an Advocate for just that purpose). Shouldn't Christians be sinless? Yes. The whole purpose of the letter is an encouragement for us to not sin, and brings us great conviction when we do sin, which is what we need so that we will turn from it and grow in righteousness. He had already written this: 1 Jn 1:8-10 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. NASU Some might use this as an excuse for sin, but if one reads the entire epistle one cannot say that this was John's intention. So why does he say what he says in 3:6? In context we learn his point: all sin is from the devil. When sinning we are not abiding in Him, and He is not abiding in us. We cannot sin and abide in Him at the same time, nor can He abide in us while we sin at the same time. This is not to say that Christians move in and out from being saved and not saved. It is not to say that the Holy Spirit is sometimes in us and sometimes out of us. It is to say that our adherence and obedience to Him isn't perfect, and when we are not actively abiding in Him, our tendency is to sin, and it is not something we should allow in ourselves, knowing that sin is of the devil. John is exhorting his readers about the source and nature of sin, to encourage us against it. The apostle Paul addresses sin and the Christian in a slightly different way but sending the same message and I would encourage all interested to read Romans 6-8. Enteuxis |
||||||
2 | What is prayer, Where does it come from? | Matthew | Enteuxis | 225567 | ||
Hi Legsrandall, The subject of prayer is large and the recommendation to find a book on it is really good advice. Even though you have a good prayer life, learning more about what the Bible says about prayer can help you to better understand in such a way that you can help others. But to address what your sister said: "Prayer can come from praying to God and it can come from an energy source in your head" That idea 'energy source' is New Age-speak for other spirits. New Agers speak of spirit beings as 'energies' these days. I would address this directly by taking her to 1 John 4:1-6. Read that passage in a few different versions. It tells us that we should not believe every spirit, but that we should test the spirits to see if they are of God. Every spirit that confirms Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that rejects Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh is not of God. So if there is some 'energy' in her head guiding her prayer, you can help her to discern if it confirms the truth about Jesus. It may help her to realize that 'energies' in our heads are not from God. But she would probably need to discover that herself by testing rather than by you just telling her so. We also learn from the passage that those who are of God hear the apostles of Jesus. In other words, the teachings of Scripture are accepted and believed by those who are of God. I would encourage you to study that passage and go through it with her, if she would be willing to do that. The book of 1 John was written to address what was in that day, a very early form of the New Age type beliefs we see in the world today. The Bible also teaches us to pray "in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20) which is not the same as prayer coming from 'energies in your head.' You can know prayer is 'in the Holy Spirit' if the prayer lines up with what is written in Scripture. If it is contrary, then you know it is not in the Holy Spirit. It may also help to know that Satan counterfeits everything that God gives, and that we need to know the difference. 2 Cor 11:3-4 shows that Satan can deceive people so that they preach a different Jesus, believe a different gospel, and receive a different spirit not the Holy Spirit. Many people who have fallen for the New Age beliefs want to believe the truth and I pray that showing these things to your sister will help her to believe and know the truth. Your sister in Christ, Enteuxis |
||||||
3 | Why did God wait so long to send Jesus? | Gal 4:4 | Enteuxis | 225566 | ||
God has special timing for all of the works that He does. 1 Pe 1:10-12 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look. NASU Just as you are wondering why it took God so long to reveal Christ, so also, those who wrote about Him wondered who it would be and when it would happen. Even the angels wonder about it! God revealed parts of the truth about His plan of salvation little by little. Heb 1:1-2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. NASU It was necessary for time to pass to bring this about. First the promises had to be made in detail, and then the fulfillment of those promises could be manifested. I’m sure God has other, more important reasons for choosing the timing He chose. All who believed what God had shown them before about Christ were saved. They were saved by faith just as we are. The difference is they were looking forward to something they knew very little about, while we look back to the fulfillment and have much more revelation. Nevertheless, both they and we are saved by faith. We are all concerned about the suffering that still exists in this world. There are still more promises to be fulfilled, and the time will come when there will be no more wars or pain, suffering or death. Rv 21:3-6. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." 5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." NASU |
||||||