Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Who makes the rules? | 1 John 3:9 | John Reformed | 94504 | ||
Dear Baptistbred, you wrote "I am not trying to be contentious, but just trying to understand. Here is another thing. 1 John 3:10 says "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are OBVIOUS" (NASB My emphasis.) I don't understand that. If they are so obvious, why is it so difficult to discern the saved and lost?" Let's look again at your friend with the besetting sin of gluttony. From the way described him, he sounds as if his profession of Christ is authentic. If we back up a bit, we see that John makes a sweeping statement that may prove to dispel the fog of seeming contradiction... 1 John 3:2,3 "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." I believe that the critical difference between the children of God and those of the Devil is not sin (though sin is important), but FAITH. Who are we looking to for our righteous standing before God? Our own works or the work of Christ on our behalf? John tells us that "...everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." This hope is in Christ alone. The reason why we desire holiness rather than sin is due to the love we bear for our Lord. Your thoughts? John Reformed |
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2 | Who makes the rules? | 1 John 3:9 | Baptistbred | 94604 | ||
You said: believe that the critical difference between the children of God and those of the Devil is not sin (though sin is important), but FAITH. Who are we looking to for our righteous standing before God? Our own works or the work of Christ on our behalf? John tells us that "...everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." This hope is in Christ alone. The reason why we desire holiness rather than sin is due to the love we bear for our Lord. James says one cannot see faith WITHOUT works. 2:20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? I appreciate yours and Sal's comments, but both of you are saying that basically salvation is a "heart matter" or a "faith matter". This goes against 1 John 3:10 and a host of other verses in 1 John that speak of objective, not subjective proof of real salvation. |
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3 | Who makes the rules? | 1 John 3:9 | John Reformed | 94609 | ||
Dear Baptistbred, Anytime I find within myself the ability to do good or to shun evil, I always try to remember to give God the praise for giving me the grace to do so. I am His workmanship. I am not my own but have been purchased at a great cost. If it were possible for me to be righteous by my own act of will-power, then I would have somewhat of which to boast! But no...I am weak and helpless apart from Christ. When I am weak, He remains strong. The sect of the pharisees is not for me; They would drum me out in short order. I am but a feeble saint whose only hope for righteousness lies in my dependance on the cross. My assurance that I am His comes from His grace working in me, molding and shaping me day by day. Even my sins (which bring me terrible anguish) serve to teach me humility and thanksgiving. I am astounded that the Holy One of Israel would have called such a one as myself. Faith without works is dead. This is true. If I were to have no works at all, I would doubt my salvation! I would fall on my knees and beg Christ to save me and to change me so that I might serve Him. But even repentance must be granted by God. If only, when we searched our hearts, we could cease from looking at what WE have done, but rather, look at what HE has done in us, our confidence would be boundless because it would be placed in Christ and not in ourselves. Grace and Peace, John Reformed |
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4 | Who makes the rules? | 1 John 3:9 | Baptistbred | 94624 | ||
No one has yet answered 1 John 3:10. It says , I quote once again, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are OBVIOUS." KJV says "manifest". Must I continually ask the same question and be told that we live under grace? I have been a Baptist my entire life hold to "grace by faith alone"! Of course I don't offer my corrupt works to God as an offering to him for my salvation! John obviously emphasizes that one's faith CAN BE SEEN. Everyone keeps saying in essence that only the inward life counts to God. Then what of the hundreds of scriptures that point to the OUTWARD life? #1. We are to be able to discern the lost according to John. #2. We discern this by their works according to John. #3. My original question, "Who makes the rules as to what sins manifest a lost person, and what sins manifest the Christian struggling with sin? #4. How are we to tell a struggling Christian from a expert hypocrite? John says we can-how? |
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5 | Who makes the rules? | 1 John 3:9 | John Reformed | 94640 | ||
I believe your answer is found by considering what John means by "practicing sin". 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Cannot sin does not mean that christians are incapable of sinning. It means that they are incapable of sinning in the same way as the children of the Devil. They make a practice of sinning. They love their sins and never experience godly repentence or shame that arises from the failure to glorify Christ. John says it is obvious to us when, a professor of Christ, leads a sin filled life. But he does not say at what point it becomes obvious to us. When, or at one point, does church discipine need to be exercised in the life of a church member? Usually when his sinning begins to bring reproach upon the chuch and upon our Lord's good name. It then behooves the leadership to call the offending person and confront him with the situation. If he remains unrepentant and refuses the counsel from the key holders, ex-communication may be unavoidable. Your fat friend may be digging his own grave with his teeth, but this behaviour is hardly an obvious proof that he is a child of Satan. John 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. |
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6 | Who makes the rules? | 1 John 3:9 | Baptistbred | 94693 | ||
I must say I appreciate your thoughtful and intelligent answer with some of the irrelevant answers I have been getting. Thanks! I think you understand my dilema. You have given me food for thought and I will condider your comments. They have shed some light on the subject. I will study the scriptures more to try and understand. Let me know if you can shed more light on "when" we can tell a lost person from a saved person. |
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