Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | stjones | 28419 | ||
Hi, Lanny; Thanks for the reply. I am indeed implying that I can't live a sinless life. Which might be really depressing if not for the fact that even Paul couldn't manage it (Romans 7:14-24, for example). Are you implying that you are able to live a sinless life? If so, I commend you. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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2 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | Lanny | 28436 | ||
Hi Steve, Just a quick note about Ro 7:14-24. I believe that if Paul was actually speaking of himself here that he was speaking about his life prior to hearing the blessed words: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It seems that most want to stop reading there in order to justify sinning, but we really can't if we keep on reading. But regardless of how we may look upon Paul's life after he was saved, or anyone else's for that matter, we have but one true example and there is no cotroversy there. And he said that I am the way, the truth, and "the life". St. Jn 14:6. And the answer to your question is, yes. May God Bless You Always. In Christ, Lanny |
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3 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | stjones | 28486 | ||
Hi, Lanny; I hope I don't sound like I'm interrogating you.... Paul's words seem pretty clear - first person singular, present tense - so I can't see where your before-and-after interpretation might come from. I also can't think of anywhere in the Bible that says anyone other than Jesus can lead a sinless life. That is the goal, of course. The Bible contains many calls to Christians to live a holy life. But as a fallen race, failure is a certainty. Consider 1 John 1:8-10 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." Or Paul's much shorter "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Neither John nor Paul qualifies his statement by suggesting that it applies only to people before they are saved. Indeed both were writing to communities of believers, many of whom were undoubtedly saved. If we are able to live a perfect life, what did Jesus die for? Only to pardon those sins we committed before we were saved? That's not what the Bible says. In the passage above, John said "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.". And he continued "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2) No before-and-after qualification, just an unequivocal statement that "if we sin", Jesus' death has already atoned for it. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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4 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | Lanny | 28566 | ||
Hi Steve, No, your questions and perspectives are always welcome. I agree that all have sinned. And yes just about all of the apostles writings are directed at the churches or so called religious groups. The writings were of so that it was if nobody was saved. As far as 1Jn 1:8-10 is concerned I believe that this also implies to people before they are saved. With verse 10 meaning that if we say that we had no sin prior to accepting Christ as our Savior we would make him a liar because the word of God says that all have sinned. 1 John 1-2, "write I unto you, that ye sin not. And "if" any man sin." Why if instead of when if all men are still sinning? Jesus died for all of us and is the propitiation, " the reconciling factor" for our sins. If we hold verses 8-10 to a certain standard can we hold the same standards in verses 3-4 the same way in chapter 2? And I think that verse 6 is very clear when he said that, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, "even as he walked." If you actually believe that it is our goal, why don't you believe that you can obtain it. Are you giving more credit to satan than to Christ? Are you conceding that satan can lead us into sin but Christ can't deliver us out? Can He only help us to go so far? Not the Christ that I know. St Jn 8:32. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Why would Jesus tell the man in St Jn 5:14 and the woman in 8:11 to sin no more if he thought that there was no way for them to do it. Would you command your children to do something that you knew they couldn't do? Lk 15:7, Jesus here was giving a recap of the preceeding parable. Study this verse closely. Heb 12:14 is another good verse and there are many others that are clear. I will wrap up by mentioning Jude 4 "ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness", meaning, a license to sin and making a mockery out of the grace of God. May God Bless You In Christ, Lanny |
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5 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | stjones | 28575 | ||
Hi, Lanny; It seems to me that you have to add a lot of opinion or personal belief to the plain meaning of these passages and many others to get the before-and-after qualification. For example, John clearly acknowledged (2:1-2) the possibility that "anyone" might sin in which case Jesus speaks to Father on that person's behalf and the sin has been atoned for. If he were speaking only to non-believers, he surely would have said "when" not "if" because 1:8 and 1:10 would certainly have applied to them. Also, why would John say "we" and not "you"? He applied the present tense to himself as well as to the recipients of his letter. If I understand your idea correctly, Jesus' death only atoned for your sins up until you were saved. From that point on, you started earning your way into Heaven by living a sinless life. But how do you know it is sinless? How do you know that every deed, every word, every thought, and every nuance of behavior is in conformance with God's will? If you follow John's admonition to walk as Jesus walked then I assume you must keep every jot and tittle of the Law as he did. Since the sacrificial system is done away with, if you slip up just once, will you go to hell? As for giving Satan credit, I am indeed giving the devil his due. He is the prince of this world; I am by nature a sinner. It is in the next world where, by faith in Christ, I will be made perfect. My job in this world is not to suddenly become perfect but by the indwelling Spirit to become different - salt and light - and to become a witness for Christ. My job is to grow toward perfection and to do it boldly, not fearing failure but confident that every failure is covered by the blood of Jesus. And yes, I do give my children commands that I know they can't do. For example, I tell them to always do their best, without exception. I tell them this knowing that sometimes, due to fatigue, inattention, peer pressure, or simple teenage rebellion, they won't. They in turn know that when their very best effort falls short of achieving its goal, their father will still love them and commend them for giving it their best shot. That's something I learned from my Heavenly Father. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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6 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | Lanny | 28584 | ||
Hi Steve, Only one final thought. Are we giving it our best shot? In Christ, Lanny |
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7 | assurance of salvation | Matt 7:21 | stjones | 28591 | ||
Hi, Lanny; Yup. And missing the target sometimes. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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