Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why this is not taught? | 1 John 3:9 | Pastor Glenn | 145116 | ||
Hello Brother Tim, "I'm not sure that they present so much a struggle as a choice." Maybe. :o) But isn't a carnal Christian struggling in his choices between flesh and spirit? "This would certainly indicate to me that while a believer can give into the flesh, he is no longer a slave to it." Yes, but for how long can a believer give in to the flesh before he is considered a slave to it; a moment, a month, or a few years? I motion that the scriptures are showing that we are the slaves of sin each and every time that we choose to walk after the flesh: Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Your brother in Christ, Pastor Glenn |
||||||
2 | Why this is not taught? | 1 John 3:9 | Morant61 | 145117 | ||
Greetings Pastor Glenn! Sorry about the double post! :-) While I certainly give into the flesh at times, I really don't view it as a struggle. I don't want to do the things of the flesh. And, Romans 8 indicates to me that a 'carnal' Christian isn't really a Christian. Rom. 8:9 - "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Notice also that Rom. 8:4 says that we 'do not live according to the sinful nature' and Rom. 8:8 says that those who do cannot please God. I certainly do agree that we become slaves again to what we obey, which is what Paul says in Rom. 6:16. However, v. 17 and 18 make is clear that Christians are no longer slaves to sin. The reason I don't prefer the word struggle is because 'struggle' implies that the sinful nature has some power or hold over us. Rom. 6 makes it clear that it does not. Romans 8 makes it clear that we have the Spirit of Christ and are not controlled by the sinful nature. So, I would say that when we do sin, it is not the result of losing an internal struggle but the result of a wilfull choice to not obey God. It was within our power to obey, but we chose not to do so. Just as a side note, one reason I reject that Rom. 7 is a description of a Christian is because the person described in Rom. 7 never does what he really wants to do. He always fails and is a slave to sin. Does this really describe the reality of a Christian's walk? I don't always fail. :-) I normally, and habitually live right. It is unusual when I do sin, as it should be! ;-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
||||||