Results 21 - 40 of 44
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Results from: Notes Author: Pam D Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | James 1:9-10 high and low positions? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 102788 | ||
Dear Ed, Thanks for the advice about college, I'll have to pray about it. Right now, I have something else I need to ask you. Tonight I am going to be speaking to a woman named Lori about salvation. She is undergoing some very, very heavy duty problems. Our mutual friend just called me and would like me to help her explain salvation to Lori after work tonight. I am very familiar with the Scriptures on salvation, but would you pray that the Lord gives me wisdom and discernment when I speak to this woman. I can lead her to the Lord, but I do not have the skills to counsel her. A further possible complication is that (in an unrelated conversation), I told my friend about some verses in the Bible where it says that the Lord is the one who brings adversity. (Lam 3:37-38, Isa 45:7, Ecc 7:14, Lam 3:32-33 ). These verses led me to the conclusion that the Lord just doesn't allow adversity and calamity, but He Himself brings it on. She told Lori this and now Lori is interested in salvation. I want to make sure she is not coming to the Lord as a fire insurance policy. From what I can see in Scripture, the Lord brings adversity on unbelievers and believers alike. Please pray the Lord would give me wisdom and discernment regarding this, too. Thanks so much for your prayers. Blessings, Pam These are the verses I gave my friend on adversity: Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. Lam 3:37-38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other... Lam 3:32-33 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. I also told my friend that God brings adversity for a reason(s), and many times we will never know those reasons. But one of the truths to hang on to is that God is infinitely wise and never makes a mistake. He is in complete control and will not give us more than we can bear. And that God loves us and He is good and wants good things for us. I gave her verses to support these truths also which I have listed below. Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Heb 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 1John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son. 2Chron 7:3 .... "He is good; his love endures forever." Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness. Jn 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Job 9:4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? Job 12:13 To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. Psalm 147:5 His understanding has no limit. Romans 11:33-34 How fathomless the depths of God's resources, wisdom, and knowledge! How unsearchable His decisions, and how mysterious His methods! For who has ever understood the thoughts of the Lord, or has ever been His advisor? |
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22 | James 1:9-10 high and low positions? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 102507 | ||
Dear Tim, I think I am going to hold off ordering the commentaries that you suggested until I have an opportunity to examine them a little closer. I would think the F.F. Bruce commentary would just expand on the answers he has already given in the one I have. And I would like to take a closer look at the Critical Commentary Series before I purchase it. I ended up ordering the one that Ed suggested by Zodhiates. Ya, know, I think I would like to go to college to study the Bible after my kids finish college. It would be awesome to be able to have a bunch of professors answer my questions about the Bible! Although, I must say, I thought I already hit gold with this web site and all of you to help answer my questions! Thanks again, Blessings, Pam |
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23 | James 1:9-10 high and low positions? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 102506 | ||
Dear Ed, I just wanted to let you know that I ordered Zodhiates commentary on James, "Faith, Love and Hope". I should get it Thursday. I think I am going to hold off on ordering the ones that Tim suggested. Thanks again for the suggestion and for your help. By the way, what do you think the "Crown of Life is in James 1:12? Blessings, Pam |
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24 | James 1:9-10 high and low positions? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 102111 | ||
Dear Tim, I forgot that I have a commentary by F.F. Bruce! (I have a lot of books) The one I have is the International Bible Commentary published by Zondervan. When I first got it, it made me a little nervous because he is into the higher criticism stuff, so I put it away. I just pulled it out and I think I like it now! Is the New International Commentary on the New Testament similar? I only have a basic understanding of Greek. I taught myself using Jim Founds book "Basic Greek in 30 minutes a Day". And I have almost no knowledge of Hebrew. Do you think the New International Critical Commentary would be of use to me? Do they translate the languages when they are commenting on them? Blessings, Pam |
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25 | James 1:9-10 high and low positions? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 102108 | ||
Dear Ed, Thanks so much for your suggestion on a commentary for James. I have two books by Zodhiates, "The complete Word Study Old Testament" and "The Complete Word Study Dictionary". Both are helpful. I am sure that a commentary by him would be great! I will probably order it. Do you have Zodhiates 3 volume commentary set on the book of James? If so, what does he say about James 1:9-10 and what does he say the rich brothers low position is? Blessings, Pam |
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26 | Is the sin nature substance or mind set? | Phil 3:9 | Pam D | 100939 | ||
Dear Tim, I posted this first on Saturday and just read on ID 93586 that you had a virus on your computer for the last few days so I thought I would send it again. Here is what I posted over the weekend. "I was hoping you might jump in at some point. I have read some of your old postings and it is evident you have insightful comments on many subjects. I just ordered 2 books by an author you suggested in one of your past posts on election, Robert Shank. I came out of atheism in 1988 into a Baptist church in which the pastor was a Calvinist. I received some of the same Calvinist arguments when I pointed out the Scriptures that say God is not partial and wants all to come to salvation. I enjoyed reading your insightful posts where you shared your views with Reformer Joe and others who disagreed. I thought you always had great answers to their ojections. I was also so surprised to read your take on Romans 9-11 as I had studied Romans 9 with my friend Deb and we came to the same conclusions you did! We also did not think it was talking about the individual salvations of Jacob, Esau, or Pharoah, but rather about God’s sovereign right to use them to further his purposes on earth. Heb 12:16 says Esau was godless and therefore God foreknew that he could not have given Esau the birthright - which I understood included the spiritual welfare of the family. It would have damaged God’s purposes to do that. And I think that God did not harden Pharoah’s heart against salvation, but against letting his people go. If Gods main purpose in the plagues was to get Pharoah to let his people go why didn’t he just soften Pharoahs heart or kill Pharoah off ! I think the reason God hardened Pharoahs heart is because all the plagues were against Egypt’s false gods and if Pharoah let the Israelites go halfway through the plagues before he had discredited ALL of Egypts false gods then the Egyptians may have just added Jehovah to the rest of their gods that had not been discredited. Over and over it states in Exodus that God did these signs so they would know he is the ONE true God. I read with interest that you said you would be posting some detailed examinations of chapters 9-11 from an Arminian perspective soon. I’m not sure if you have done that yet - I will do a search after I send this to you and read it eagerly. If there is a book that you could recommend on Romans from an Arminian perspective I would be most interested in it. But I am rambling on! Let me get back to your current post to me with regard to the sin nature. First, thank you for your answer. I was asking Reformer Joe specific questions based on previous postings from him. He understood the background of why I was asking those specific questions. I had been mixed up in a Keswick understanding of practical /experiential sanctification which I have recently discovered to be wrong by reading an article on Bible.org about it. To view the article go to the bible.org website, select "Advanced Studies" on the left. Scroll down to pheumatology (the Holy Spirit). Then select "Wesleyan and Keswick models of sanctification". I would highly recommend that you read this article. It is quite excellent. Perhaps you can address this subject in the article you posted in 2 parts on sanctification. I’m thinking that Reformer Joe has the right answers on practical/experiental sanctification. I think you may also benefit from reading his postings to me on that subject and perhaps you can address that view in your article on sanctification too! The next question I am posting about 2Peter 1:4 I am asking with that background in mind. I would be thrilled if you would respond to it also." Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. Blessings, Pam |
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27 | Why are NT epistles in that Bible order? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100928 | ||
Dear Ed, For my own benefit, I think I'm going to summarize this thread on sanctification and the other one that started when I reposted one of my questions. When I get done, I will post it for others to read. I'm just waiting for one more answer from Joe on his view of 2Peter 1:4. You probably saw the post on ID 100109. I was asking Joe specifically because of his view on what the new nature is. If you would like to address the question, that would be great. If you don't want to "get into it with Joe" you can address it here if you like. I sent it Sat - do you think it is buried now - or do you think perhaps Joe took the weekend off? After I summarize this thread, I'm thinking of summarizing some of the other major topics that people keep discussing. What subject do you think I should attack first after this thread? Blessings, Pam |
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28 | What is God's part in my santification?. | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100882 | ||
Dear Ed, Agreed - let's not go there. Any other differences? Blessings, Pam |
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29 | Why are NT epistles in that Bible order? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100865 | ||
Dear Ed, Thanks for my chuckle of the day! Blessings, Pam |
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30 | What is God's part in my santification?. | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100864 | ||
Dear Ed, May I ask what different viewpoints you and Joe are coming from? Election? Covenant Theology? Escatology? Other? I find it helpful to know what theological bias (everyone has a theological bias) someone is coming from so I can discern why they are saying what they are saying and still benefit. I think for some it colors their view too much so they are unwilling to hear what the other person has to say. But I personally like to hear all sides and prayerfully meditate on them and come to my own answers. After all, I have been wrong from a theological perspective before (i.e. Keswick sanctification), and I suppose it will probably happen again ! Blessings, Pam PS I most wholeheartedly agree that our relationship with Jesus is the MOST vital thing. And I loved your final statement -“Sanctification is our conscience effort along with the Holy Spirit to seperate ourselves from the lusts of the flesh and this world to walk in a closer relationship with Christ.” It pretty much summarizes the what, how and why of practical sanctification ! Funny thing - this is exactly what I was doing before I got messed up in the wrong Keswick understanding of practical sanctification! |
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31 | Why are NT epistles in that Bible order? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100850 | ||
Let’s make a deal. I’ll summarize the answers to the questions that I have posted if you would summarize the answers to all the other questions. What do you think Ed? Do we have a deal? I think it would be a great idea to do this as I do not have DSL and it takes me forever to read through every answer - especially, with regard to past posts on subjects I am interested in reading. Blessings, Pam |
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32 | What is God's part in my santification?. | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100835 | ||
Dear Ed, Do you and Joe not play well together? If so, it's too bad. Both of you seem to have a lot of knowledge and wisdom to offer. How does that saying go, "Iron sharpens iron"? I find that when someone disagrees with me, it forces me back to the Scriptures to make sure I have not made an error. Or if I still think I am "right" it still forces me back to the Scriptures so that I can explain my position in a better way. I also find that just because someone might be what I consider to be "wrong" on one subject does not necessiarly mean they will be "wrong" on another subject. In fact, just when I am getting a little cocky, I find that I am the one who is "wrong"! I think on this position with regard to practical sanctification you are both saying the same thing but from different angles. Joe is speaking from a theological perspective of how it all works and you are speaking from the perspective of how to put it into practice. Both perspectives were extremely helpful. Blessings, Pam PS I forgot to send you the first answer Joe sent. Here it is: JOE SAID: Your self-effort before you are saved is a pointless exercise, because no one can attain the perfection that God requires. We all have sinned, and legalism (the idea of earning salvation by law-keeping) is thoroughly refuted in Scripture. We need the imputed righteousness of Christ to be able to stand before an infinitely holy God. The key is understanding that you were not saved just so that you will go to heaven, but so that God's glory would be displayed through your sanctification. So, the Spirit of God motivates us and empowers us to fight against our old sin nature, to put sin to death (Colossians 3). Our role in our sanctification is to wage "no-holds-barred" war against our sin and thereby glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12). To do this, we rely on God's Spirit that is working within us to give us the strength to do so, and we make use of the means of grace God has given us (word, sacraments, prayer) as our tools and weapons in this struggle. None of those things is effectual in the life of the unbeliever seeking to establish his own righteousness (other than to be used as visual aids for a hypocritical legalism), but they are God's gifts to the Christian, ways in which the Spirit works to glorify the Triune God through our cooperation and transformation (Romans 12:2). A great book on this subject is _The Discipline of Grace_ by Jerry Bridges: http://www.discerningreader.com/disofgracjer.html --Joe! |
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33 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100827 | ||
Dear Ed, I was wondering whether you knew your "Assistant"! Blessings, Pam |
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34 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100826 | ||
Dear Ed, I was wondering whether you knew your "Assistant"! Blessings, Pam |
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35 | Why are NT epistles in that Bible order? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100811 | ||
Summary of epistles order answers Dear Evangelica, Thanks for you answer. I thought you might benefit from a summary of what answers I have already received. Summary: EdB ‘s answer: Pam the epistles are arranged by category as such; Gospels, Here there is a further break down placing Matthew, Mark and Luke as Synoptic Gospels and John separate,followed by Historical (Acts), the Pauline epistles followed by the general epistles, followed by Revelation. Some make the distinction in the Pauline Epistles further grouping them as letters to churches and pastoral (or individuals) epistles followed by the general epistles and Revelation. Still others assigning a separate designation to Hebrews. Pam’s followup questions: 1. Why aren't the Pauline epistles listed in the order they were written? 2. I am also wondering why the General epistles were put in that order. EdB: First the dates are very subjective. Most can be debated. Aixen7z4: neither the chapter and verse divisions nor the ordinal placement of the books are inspired things. EdB: There is a Bible that places the text in Chronological order it is called the Reese Chronological Bible. Searcher56: The epistles of the New Testament are arranged by author, then length. Even the order of authors are arranged by how much they contributed. I am not sure that the Council of Carthage, in 327, had that in mind ... but, I remember reading that was the (a) reason. Blessings, Pam |
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36 | What is God's part in my santification?. | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 100572 | ||
Dear Ed, I wanted you to know that I reposted the question Mommapbs suggested I repost with the background of why I asked the question. The ID No. is 1000109. It has led to very interesting answers from Reformer Joe that I wanted to share with you and get your comments on. Subject: ?self effort 2 B holy now vs befor saved Joe’s answer: Thanks for your comments. I am familiar with the whole Keswick "Higher Life" thing, and it is quite a mess. I wrote: After recognizing all of that, I now think MY part in my practical / experiential sanctification is that “I” am supposed to PURSUE holiness.' Joe wrote: Yes, as Hebrews 12 tells us and 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us. We are called to work for God's glory (NOT for our own justification, which was applied to me on the basis of faith in Christ), and those who have been truly justified WILL work. I wrote: "Personal Holiness is not attained by faith, like justification." Joe wrote: I would qualify this by saying that it is not attained by a faith that is alone. I recommend reading Hebrews 11, the so-called "Hall of Faith." These examples of godliness did what they did "by faith," but the fact is that by faith they DID things. Whatever is by self-reliance is futile, but relying on God for the strength to obey Him is not a passive experience. I wrote: 'It is work. “I” need to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to be like Jesus, and get rid of every attitude,action and motivation that is unchristlike.' Joe wrote: Yes, by the power that God supplies. I cannot conquer sin by Joe's effort alone, but because the Spirit of God is sanctifying me and empowering me both to hate my sin and love God's law (see Psalm 119 for the supreme example of the right attitude toward God's commands), I am graciously equipped to fight the good fight of faith. I wrote: "But then the question arose in my mind as to what is Gods part in my practical / experiential sanctification? I believe that God plays the whole part in both my positional sanctification and my ultimate santification. But what is Gods part in my practical / experiential sanctification?" Joe wrote: God supplies the power and works in our hearts to expose sin, causing us to acknowledge it,confess it before Him, thank God for the pardon that comes through Christ, hate that sin, and get to work killing it. I wrote: "I suppose part of it is that the Holy Spirit reveals to me through reading the bible where I am missing the mark so I can fix it." Joe wrote: Yes. I wrote: "But whats the difference between my self effort to be holy now that I am saved and my self effort to be good when I was unsaved?" Joe wrote: The latter is impossible and turns the law into a means of justification. The former is aided and motivated by God himself and is possible because an omnipotent God is bringing it about, even as we participate. Again, I wholeheartedly recommend the books of Jerry Bridges, who has written some very biblical and fascinating things about this. Try to get _The Pursuit of Holiness_ and _The Discipline of Grace._ They both should be available at your local bookstore or any of the usual online Christian booksellers. They are very much worth your time. The bottom line is that even though *we* are working out our salvation in fear and trembling, it is *God* working within us both to WILL and to WORK for His good purposes (Philippians 2:12-13). Both aspects of that must be understood to get the biblical notion of sanctification down. --Joe! All of this led to my next set of Questions to Reformer Joe: Question: "Is the sin nature a substance or a mindset?" Refomer Joes Answer: Not a substance. Mindset is closer. I would call it a disposition. Pam: "Has the sin nature been eradicated and replaced by the new nature?" Joe: That is a good question. Since the believer still struggles with "the flesh" (NIV translates the Greek to "sin nature"), I would say that it hhasn't been eradicated, but it is being put to ddeath in the believer. There is a struggle bbetween the desire to please and obey God in faith and the sin nature (which will ultimately be eradicated). Pam: "Or does the sin nature remain in the believer and battle against the new nature?" Joe: I think that it is clear in the Bible that both dispositions are there. Galatians 5:16 ff. describes this struggle. Pam: "Is the sin nature the same thing as the flesh?" Joe: Yes. Pam: "What is the new nature? Is it God in me or is it a part of me that is a new creation?" Joe: The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, but the new nature is a human one that the Spirit is changing. Pam: "Is the new nature a substance or a mind set?" Joe: A disposition, like the old one. --Joe! Am I still on the right track for thinking that Joe has the right answers regarding practical/experiential sanctification? Blessings, Pam |
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37 | Is the sin nature substance or mind set? | Phil 3:9 | Pam D | 100571 | ||
Dear Tim, I was hoping you might jump in at some point. I have read some of your old postings and it is evident you have insightful comments on many subjects. I just ordered 2 books by an author you suggested in one of your past posts on election, Robert Shank. I came out of atheism in 1988 into a Baptist church in which the pastor was a Calvinist. I received some of the same Calvinist arguments when I pointed out the Scriptures that say God is not partial and wants all to come to salvation. I enjoyed reading your insightful posts where you shared your views with Reformer Joe and others who disagreed. I thought you always had great answers to their ojections. I was also so surprised to read your take on Romans 9-11 as I had studied Romans 9 with my friend Deb and we came to the same conclusions you did! We also did not think it was talking about the individual salvations of Jacob, Esau, or Pharoah, but rather about God’s sovereign right to use them to further his purposes on earth. Heb 12:16 says Esau was godless and therefore God foreknew that he could not have given Esau the birthright - which I understood included the spiritual welfare of the family. It would have damaged God’s purposes to do that. And I think that God did not harden Pharoah’s heart against salvation, but against letting his people go. If Gods main purpose in the plagues was to get Pharoah to let his people go why didn’t he just soften Pharoahs heart or kill Pharoah off ! I think the reason God hardened Pharoahs heart is because all the plagues were against Egypt’s false gods and if Pharoah let the Israelites go halfway through the plagues before he had discredited ALL of Egypts false gods then the Egyptians may have just added Jehovah to the rest of their gods that had not been discredited. Over and over it states in Exodus that God did these signs so they would know he is the ONE true God. I read with interest that you said you would be posting some detailed examinations of chapters 9-11 from an Arminian perspective soon. I’m not sure if you have done that yet - I will do a search after I send this to you and read it eagerly. If there is a book that you could recommend on Romans from an Arminian perspective I would be most interested in it. But I am rambling on! Let me get back to your current post to me with regard to the sin nature. First, thank you for your answer. I was asking Reformer Joe specific questions based on previous postings from him. He understood the background of why I was asking those specific questions. I had been mixed up in a Keswick understanding of practical /experiential sanctification which I have recently discovered to be wrong by reading an article on Bible.org about it. To view the article go to the bible.org website, select "Advanced Studies" on the left. Scroll down to pheumatology (the Holy Spirit). Then select "Wesleyan and Keswick models of sanctification". I would highly recommend that you read this article. It is quite excellent. Perhaps you can address this subject in the article you posted in 2 parts on sanctification. I’m thinking that Reformer Joe has the right answers on practical/experiental sanctification. I think you may also benefit from reading his postings to me on that subject and perhaps you can address that view in your article on sanctification too! The next question I am posting about 2Peter 1:4 I am asking with that background in mind. I would be thrilled if you would respond to it also. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. Blessings, Pam |
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38 | Is the sin nature substance or mind set? | Phil 3:9 | Pam D | 100472 | ||
Dear John, I think you meant to post this to Ken hepting and not to me. It is okay though. I just realized that I accidently posted my questions about the sin nature to you John Reformed instead of to Reformer Joe ! I appoligize if I seemed rude by asking you to please stop arguing with Ken and answer my questions. I thought I was talking to Joe! I also addressed the same plea to Ken. I was getting a little frustrated by the bickering. I thank you for your answer to my question but the answer I received from Reformer Joe was the answer I was looking for. I wanted to ask Joe because he was familiar with the reason I was asking those questions to begin with. To follow the background of my questions, read the two part posting of my question to Joe on Thur 10/16. Blessings, Pam |
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39 | ?self effort 2 B holy now vs befor saved | Phil 3:9 | Pam D | 100279 | ||
Dear Ken, I am so sorry. I did not mean to slight you in any way. I posted the note to Joe at 2:45 am and I was getting awfully tired so I went to bed and planned to send a note to you this morning. Since Joe was coming from a Reformed perspective and I am unfamiliar with that viewpoint, I wanted especially to hear his views on this subject which is why I emailed him first. I hope you have had a chance to read the article that I recommended. I would certainly love to hear your views on it as well as I am still a little bit shaky on my conclusions. You will also note that I just emailed Joe another note in response to his note to me and I asked for his perspective on another question. Would you please respond to that question too? Blessings, Pam |
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40 | ?self effort 2 B holy now vs befor saved | Phil 3:9 | Pam D | 100243 | ||
Dear Joe, This is Part II of my response to you. Part II: As you can see, all of these points would certainly give someone the wrong idea as to exactly what their role in sanctification was. Once I recognized what “wrong” beliefs I was believing, a whole new world opened up! After recognizing all of that, I now think MY part in my practical / experiential sanctification is that “I” am supposed to PURSUE holiness. Personal Holiness is not attained by faith, like justification. It is work. “I” need to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to be like Jesus, and get rid of every attitude, action and motivation that is unchristlike. But then the question arose in my mind as to what is Gods part in my practical / experiential sanctification? I believe that God plays the whole part in both my positional sanctification and my ultimate santification. But what is Gods part in my practical / experiential sanctification? I suppose part of it is that the Holy Spirit reveals to me through reading the bible where I am missing the mark so I can fix it. But whats the difference between my self effort to be holy now that I am saved and my self effort to be good when I was unsaved? That last question is the one I was urged to repost and which you responded to. But I guess what I am really asking is: if God plays a part in my experiential sanctification, exactly how does God help me in this struggle to be holy? Thanks for any insight you may have. Blessings, Pam PS The following are some of the very helpful answers I received before I reposted the question and you answered. -------------------------------------------------- Emmaus answered and said: Let me offer that the difference is grace. By that grace of Justification you are now a child of God, a member of His family and you are able to cooperate with God because of that grace, which is something you could not do without it. It is the fact that you are now in Christ that allows you to be conformed to Him and to cooperate with Him in the process of being sanctified by Him. I hope this is of some help. -------------------------------------------------- EdB answered and said: I like what Emmaus said. Let me add. As we strive for perfection (holiness) grace covers our imperfections and gives us the desire to become holier. The difference between your effort to be holy now versus your effort to be good when you were unsaved is GRACE. Your effort to be good was an effort to conform to the law, a task that was virtually impossible. Once saved your effort to be holy is an effort to have a deeper relationship with God. What is God's part in all of this? In the past you did everything to in your attempt to be good, being human you failed and tried and tried again. Today you do what you can and God provides the rest so that you can be in relationship with Him. The more we put out of our lives seeking more of God, brings us closer to God and us less accessible to sin. James 4:7. Stay with it your on the right track. EdB -------------------------------------------------- |
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