Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | meaning of according to the flesh? | Rom 8:13 | leonore | 121029 | ||
What does it mean to live according to the flesh? Does this scripture mean that if we continue to sin or repeat the same sin over and over we will die? This scripture confused me because it seems to be saying that works have an affect on whether we have eternal life or not. Forgive me if I am misunderstanding the scripture. I am a fairly new Christian and sometimes it's hard for me to understand. Thank you! | ||||||
2 | meaning of according to the flesh? | Rom 8:13 | JCrichton | 121035 | ||
Hi, leonore! Part of the problem is confusing the works of the Law (as prescribed to the people of Israel) with the changes that are expected from accepting Christ (which means being in Christ). Matthew 11:13 tells us that there is an apex, a culmination, to the prophets and the Law. Since the Word came onto the world, all the prophecies that foretold about the coming of the Messiah, the Emmanuel, were fulfilled, all of the Laws that mirrored the True Sacrifice were completed, and all of the circunvention that were created to nullify God's commandments were eradicated! So we live not under the Law but under Grace! Yet, though Salvation is a free gift, we must be active participants! Jesus warned that not all who called Him Lord would be Saved. So the same is that not all who say I am born again, I am saved or any other catch phrase are automatically granted a place in Heaven. God does not change! From the very beginning He has commanded us to "be His people" and He would "be our God." Being His people or calling Him Lord means being doers of the Word not just grabbing tags and running with them. We must repent, turn back to God, and be in God. We must change our old nature into the new nature: we must give up our sinful lives and live for the Lord. We cannot simply say that we are children of the Light, we must walk in the Light! Being born again is a change from the sinful existence to God's faithful servants. Our first testimony of this is the water baptism... but that is not the only works that we have to claim! Re-read Matthew 5 through 7; and then read James 1:19 through 2:26. God Bless! Angel |
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3 | can you explain a little more? thanks | Rom 8:13 | leonore | 121038 | ||
Thank you very much for these scriptures. I am going to take the time to read them thoroughly.I really appreciate the information you have given me. I'm having a hard time seeing the difference, as you said, with the works of the law and the changes that are expected from accepting Christ. The thing is it seems like the changes that are expected from accepting Christ are that you will be following a lot of the law,(do not lie, kill, steal, etc...) and if you're not than you're not really saved? It almost seems like a contradiction to say being saved is a free gift but, we have to be active participants. I promise I'm not trying to argue, I'm just really trying to get this straight in my own head. I have been a Christian since October, and I am doing my best to understand things. I appreciate so much you taking the time to explain things and giving me more to think about. I feel bad for not completely understanding. | ||||||
4 | can you explain a little more? thanks | Rom 8:13 | Zsuzsi | 121089 | ||
Dear Leonore, I understand your concern and can assure you that you have absolutely no reason to feel ashamed of asking: Prov 3:13: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." I believe the solution to this problem is that you understand 'rebirth'. It doesn't mean that all of a sudden you will not be tempted to do bad things (remember, even Jesus Himself was tempted) - it simply means that you will have an identity as a child of God, so it is actually below your dignity to sin. Read Jesus' answer to Satan when He was tempted: "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Lk 4:4). I.e., 'Yes, I am the Son of God, and this is the very reason why I consider myself more worthy to do my Father's will than to simply satisfy my hunger.' (NB: He had been fasting for 40 days - so He was hungry!) You have to realize that God does not look at you as a wretched sinful rebel any more, since Jesus died for you; and it is this realization that will enable you to live up to your dignity by choosing not to sin. 'Rebirth' really means realizing Jesus WITHIN you, and allowing Him to work His will in your life. This will involve a lot of surrender in the beginning, it is like letting your Father take your dirty clothes and clothe you in white; for the Lord said: Isa 1:18: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." This surrender is what Jesus meant when He said: Mt:16:24: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." 'Deny yourself', that is, 'deny your right to yourself'. You are not your own any more: You are God's. You are 'His personal concern' (1Pet 5:7). Your pain is His pain, your joy is His joy; and vice versa, His pain should be your pain, and His joy your joy. 'Surrender' and 'deny' sound like awful words, but what we are talking about is the sweetest thing that can ever happen in your life. Simply deposit yourself in His hands, love Him, let Him do with you according to His will and watch the miracle happen. You are saved only if you are reborn: and if you are reborn to be His child, you will find it the most natural to keep those commandments. You will delight in His law (Ps 40:8: "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."), you will be IN but not OF the world.. Not because you are able to do it yourself, but because God by His Grace has done it already for you! So give yourself to Jesus, without Him you can do nothing. Jn 15:5: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Turning to the passage you are asking about in light of what I now told you, I believe it means that if you neglect the guidance of the Holy Spirit within you, by concentrating on satisfying your bodily desires (i.e. you are not reborn), you will not gain eternal life. If you, however, 'by the power of the Holy Spirit', 'put to death the deeds of the body', surrender yourself to God, (i.e. you are reborn), you will live. After you have read what Angel advised you to read, please turn to John 3:1-21, John 17 and Psalm 119... Another thing. Generally speaking, the best way to cope with Scripture problems is actually prayer. You'll find that God often reveals the meaning of certain passages right away; He loves you, and He promised: Ps 32:8: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." So He will sure do it. Ask, and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you... (Mt 7:7) Apart from the Bible, I do recommend a book for you: it is 'Birthright' by David C. Needham, Multnomah Press, Portland, Oregon (1979). (ISBN: 0-930014-75-8). Try to get hold of it; it has helped me a lot in clearing up the true meaning of 'rebirth'. The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26) Zsuzsi |
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5 | can you explain a little more? thanks | Rom 8:13 | leonore | 121114 | ||
Dear Zsuzsi, Thank you for giving me so much more to think about and also for the advice about prayer. When I first became a Christian in October I would pray to understand the things I was reading and lately I have forgotten to do so. Thanks for the reminder and the additional scriptures. For me it is so exciting, like putting pieces of a puzzle together. But, this is the most important knowledge that we could ever attain. Thanks again. Leonore | ||||||