Results 41 - 60 of 361
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | healing | Ps 103:3 | Bill Mc | 19873 | ||
Dear James48, I believe that there are two aspects to the answer to your question, brother. One aspect is that all sins, those committed before the cross and those committed after the cross, were judged at the cross. The verdict was that all mankind was guilty and, in mercy, Christ took the punishment. Heb 9:15 tells us that all the sins committed before Christ sacrifice at Calvary were in 'forbearance.' It was kind of like a credit card. Old Testament believers could experience forgiveness, but it wasn't paid for yet. We too experience forgiveness but, for us, the price has been paid. The bottom line is that forgiveness for sins is a spiritual issue. That issue was dealt with at Calvary once-for-all. On the other hand, healing of physical diseases is not turly a spiritual issue. Our bodies are still unredeemed, still fallen as it were. The same is true of this old world we live it. The law of entropy is still in full effect. And, with few exceptions, our bodies return to the dust from which they are made. Disease is a part of that process unfortunately. Any healing that God grants to these mortals bodies is a band-aid at best. They are all headed for the grave. Can God and does God heal diseases? Yes, He does. There are numerous examples in the Bible where God has healed diseases instanteously (leprosy, the issue of blood, blindness, lameness, etc.). Some were healed gradually. Some were never healed for various reasons. But it is not correct to assume that if you are not healed, then there is unconfessed sin in your life or that God is punishing you for sin. If you are a believer, God exacted all punishment for sin upon Jesus Christ. God's ultimate reason for healing us, James48, is to bring glory and honor to Himself. He makes the decisions as to when, where and through whom He does that. Having said all of that, there is certainly nothing wrong with beseeching the Lord for physical healing. In James 5:14, God says to call for the elders to pray over the sick. Does God allow some to suffer? Yes, He does. Paul describes many who were martyred for the sake of the gospel. And he says that all these things conform us to the image of Christ. 2 Cor 4:7-11 says, 'But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.' There is an ultimate healing coming. Christ assures us of this. For the believer it is a new redeemed body waiting in heaven for us. I hope this helps you, James48. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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42 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 19846 | ||
Dear Sir Pent, Thanks for the admonition. I will go back and read your Forum Improvements #2 and respond to it. I, however, do not consider myself to be a leader here on this forum. I have been often reminded that, due to my lack of adherance to Calvanism or Armenianism principles, due to my ignorance of the original languages, due to my failure to worship at the feet of the revered church fathers, and the omission of ThD after my name, that I am just another sheep. That's fine. The only thing this sheep is trying to do is, hopefully, lead other sheep to the Shepherd, not the perceived 'Shepherd's crook.' We already have plenty of sheep and self-proclaimed shepherds doing that. Our greatest responsibility is to share the truth. Granted, this should be done in love, and I do endeavor to do so. But the heart of true love is concern for the other person's best interest, their soul, not just saying 'everyone's opinions are completely valid.' This is 'valid' in the sense of being the truth, not in the sense of whether they should be expressed or not. Everyone has the privelege here of free expression. And everyone here (including myself), must bear the consequence of having their expression challenged by the truth of God's Word. Thanks for the admonition. I will endeavor to see the forest more clearly. But, at the same time, I am not willing to sacrifice the truth of the one Tree (Vine) to do so. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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43 | Are Christians under the Mosaic law? | John 1:17 | Bill Mc | 19841 | ||
Dear forum readers, This should be a fairly easy question. Is the Christian still under the Mosaic Law? I am interested to see what the general consensus of this forum is. John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7: 18,19 - The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Hebrews 8:13 - By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. Hebrews 10:1 - The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. Romans 3:20 - Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 1 Timothy 1:8,9 - We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous... Galatians 3:19,24 - What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 2:16,21 - know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 3:11 - Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 7:10 - I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 1 Corinthians 15:56 - The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Romans 7:5,7a,8b - For when we were controlled by the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For apart from law, sin is dead. Galatians 3:10 - All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Romans 10:4 - Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Romans 8:3,4 - For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Galatians 3:24,25 - So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 7:6 - But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Galatians 3:1-3 - You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 1:6-8 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 2:19 - For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Under grace, Bill Mc |
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44 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 19832 | ||
Sir Pent, one other comment if I may. It is not with a spirit of self-righteousness that I posted my sarcasm. My righteousness is found in Christ and Him alone, not myself nor my ability to keep the Law. It is with a spirit of sadness that I responded with sacrcasm. Despite all the wonderful posts here on this BB stating what the work of Christ has accomplished, some will still teach their own brand of Judaism. That it would be tolerated and encouraged for the sake of 'keeping the peace' shocks me. While I would agree that those of the Jewish faith might come here occasionally seeking answers, they would need to be shown the truth in love. To them I would say that indeed the Messiah has come and they would need to turn from their tutor, the Law, a shadow, to the exact representation of God in Jesus Christ - the reality. But to tell them that they need Christ and are still under the OT Law, as Mr. Butler insists, is Galatianism and needs to be confronted. And it has been, at length. In many prior posts, Bible-believing Christians have shown with scriptural support that Christ alone is our redemption, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, and righteousness. Is this forum about the completed work of Jesus Christ, "It is finished", or is it about a return to Judaism? If we are here to reinstate Judaism then, as I said, I am greatly saddened that Christ's very bride, the church, is turning from the 'good news' to another gospel that is really no gospel at all. In Christ and Him alone, Bill Mc |
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45 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 19829 | ||
Dear Sir Pent, Although I cannot gauge what Steve's true motives are, I can state what his conclusions are from his own posts. You state that you believe that he is seeking to get others to resolve an apparent contradiction between the OT and the NT. He states what his goal is in a related post: "Second, we are not free from the OT Law, just its punishment ... as already pointed out in other post." And he has stated in another recent post: "While some people want to categorize them..." (Here he is refering to the distinctions between the moral law, the ceremonial law, and the civil law embodied in the words 'the Law') "the Bible does not." Therefore, I feel that he is seeking to reinstate the Law as a means of justification and sanctification. The majority of the New Testament writings were written to demonstrate the neither Jew nor Gentile can be justified or sanctified by keeping the Law. We are justified and sanctified by Christ alone. To advance the view that "we are not free from the OT Law", when so much of the NT refutes this, is error. If one is going to be under the Law, one must be under ALL of it - moral, ceremonial, and civil. The Law is not an 'a la carte' where you can pick and choose what parts you want to keep. This is the point that I was making with my sarcasm. As long as Steve purports that we are all under OT law, I will not rescind my comments. I'm sorry, brother, that we cannot agree on this issue. But to try to put those under grace back under the Law from which Christ has set us free demonstrates that one does not truly understand the purpose of the Law or what Christ has done. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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46 | How is it a law without consequences? | Rom 5:8 | Bill Mc | 19814 | ||
Steve, What does Gal 5:18 mean to you? 'But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.' You yourself said that 'While some people want to categorize them, the Bible does not.' Is the Mosaic Law the exact same as God's moral law? Why would God say that we are no longer under the Law? If your answer is that 'we are no longer under the punishment of the Law' then you are playing loose with the text. Paul was addressing circumcision as a sign of being under the Law. The Judaizers were trying to put the Galatians back under the Law with all its restrictions and rules. So Paul was not talking about JUST the punishment of breaking the Law. My analogy still stands. If there is a law that says, "Do this or die," then you have no right whatsoever to strip away the "or die." God never did. The wages of sin is ALWAYS death. Now either Christ took it for you, or you must take it. You cannot say that God overlooks it. God does no such thing. Every time you sin, Christ took the punishment for that sin upon the cross. So, back to my analogy. If the speed limit says 65 MPH and it is NEVER enforced, then how is it a law? You said that a law is "a rule that was parceled by (I'll substitute 'government' for the sake of illustration) to give me direction, having positive or negative consequences.' So, according to your definition, if there is no negative or positive consequences to going over 65 MPH, then, by your own definition, it is no longer a law. It then becomes merely a principle i.e. you SHOULD to this. But the Law said that you had better to this or else. If you break the Law, you deserve death. Neither you nor I have any right to change the conditions or to attempt to strip the Law of its power. How is a 65 MPH speed limit a law if there is no consequences? In Christ, not under the Law, Bill Mc |
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47 | Does God hate or love sinners, or both? | Rom 5:8 | Bill Mc | 19776 | ||
Dear Ray, I freely admit that I did not put much work into my answer. Searcher56 is posting questions in which he is seeking to prove HIS point that we are still under Old Testament law. My proof is one of the responses that he gave to your answer to a recent question. Search56 himself writes: "Second, we are not free from the OT Law, just its punishment ... as already pointed out in other post." Such a statement is not only false, it is misleading. Rather than upholding the Law, it demeans it. To say that a law has no punishment makes that law meaningless and of no effect. If the speed limit is 65 MPH, and no one is ever given a ticket for breaking that law, then a 65 MPH speed limit becomes meaningless. How can one say that you MUST not go over 65 MPH, but if you do, then their is no punishment for it? One cannot enforce a law if there is no consequence for violating that law. The Bible says, "Thou shalt not murder." But if a murder is commited, then punishment should be executed. To say that there is no punishment for murder invalidates the law. This is the atrocity of those who would uphold OT Law as completely binding on believers today. They will make ignorant statements like, 'We are not free from the OT Law, just its punishment,' thinking they are upholding the Law when, in truth, it is a subtile attempt to destroy it. The wages of sin is ALWAYS death. To insist anything else cheapens the sacrifice that our Lord made on the cross. To insist anything else demeans the true purpose of the Law to show us exceedingly sinful that we might come to Christ. There are plenty of posts on this forum that offer solid scriptural proof that believers are under a new law and a new covenant. There are plenty of posts that offer definitive proof that the OT Law has passed away. But some on this forum choose to ignore that solid scriptural evidence by quoting the OT. That is their choice. But they seek to disturb the body of Christ, His church, by mixing law and grace. Paul says in Gal 5:12 concerning those who would try to put the church back under the Law: "I wish that those who are troubling you would (not just cut off enough to be circumcised but finish the job and) mutilate themselves." - His words, not mine. Christian, if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not under the Law - Gal 5:18. And the inverse is equally valid, if you are under the Law, you are not led by the Spirit of God. You get to choose. You can't have both. Choose wisely. No longer under Law, Bill Mc |
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48 | Should the rapist marry their victim? | Deut 22:29 | Bill Mc | 19707 | ||
Steve, Yes, we should all indeed live under Old Testament law and rip the New Testaments out of our Bibles. To answer your question properly, in the light of Old Testament revelation, allow me to quote Deu 22:28,29 - "If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered, then the man who lay with her shall give to the girl's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he cannot divorce her all his days." This is the law. Trying to find fifty shekels of silver could be a challenge but the search would serve as a good deterent to crime, would it not? So, to answer your questions from Deu 22:27,28: Should we force the rapist to marry their victim? Yes. -Should this be law in our land? Yes. -This was God's idea, so is it bad? No. My reason? God said it so it must be true. Evidently there is no reason to search anywhere else. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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49 | Does God hate or love sinners, or both? | Rom 5:8 | Bill Mc | 19706 | ||
Steve, Once again your sharp eye has caught a grave contradiction in the scriptures. This is a very worth-while endeavor, showing that the Old Testament and New Testament are not in agreement. Keep up the good work. How did the Lord miss these when He had the scriptures written? He sure could have used your help. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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50 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 19705 | ||
Steve, Very interesting. You are correct. Lev 16:29 says that the day of atonement is a permanent statute. And vs. 31 implies that the sabbath is a permanent statute. And vs. 34 again says that the animal sacrifices indeed are a permanent statute. Hebrews is evidently wrong. If Christ had known about these verses, He probably never would have died. He should have stayed in the temple when His parents went back to Jerusalem. Then maybe He would have read these verses and discovered that He didn't need to die after all. What a shame! Congratulations! You have found the one verse in the Old Testament that completely invalidates the New Testament and what Christ has done. It must give you a great deal of satisfaction to prove God and the Bible wrong. Thanks for enlightening us. Now we can all get off this New Testament kick and get back to our animal sacrifices. Free at last, Bill Mc |
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51 | Only seal and horse in same verse Rev6:5 | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 19514 | ||
Hi Guys, I received this the other day and thought that you might find it interesting (or at least amusing). I've edited it slightly to make it appropriate for this BB: ----------- The date of the attack on America: 9/11 - 9 plus 1 plus 1 equals 11. September 11th is the 254th day of the year: 2 plus 5 plus 4 equals 11. After September 11th there are 111 days left to the end of the year. 119 is the area code to Iraq/Iran. 1 plus 1 plus 9 equals 11. Twin Towers - standing side by side, looks like the number 11. The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11. I have more....... State of New York - The 11th State added to the Union New York City - 11 Letters Afghanistan - 11 Letters The Pentagon - 11 Letters Ramzi Yousef - 11 Letters (convicted of orchestrating the attack on the WTC in 1993) Flight 11 - 92 on board - 9 plus 2 equals 11 Flight 77 - 65 on board - 6 plus 5 equals 11 (Dave's response) Oh my! How worried should I be? There are 11 letters in the name "David Pawson!" I'm going into hiding NOW. See you in a few weeks. Wait a sec ... just realized "YOU CAN'T HIDE" also has 11 letters! What am I gonna do? Help me!!! The terrorists are after me! ME! I can't believe it! There must be someplace on the planet Earth I could hide! But no .... "PLANET EARTH" has 11 letters, too! Maybe Nostradamus can help me. But dare I trust him? There are 11 letters in "NOSTRADAMUS." I know, the Red Cross can help. No they can't... 11 letters in "THE RED CROSS," can't trust them. I would rely on self defense, but "SELF DEFENSE" has 11 letters in it, too! Can someone help? Anyone? If so, send me email. No, don't... "SEND ME EMAIL" has 11 letters.... Will this never end? I'm going insane! "GOING INSANE???" Eleven letters!! Nooooooooooo!!!!!! I guess I'll die alone, even though "I'LL DIE ALONE" has 11 letters..... Oh no, I just realized that America is doomed! Our Independence Day is July 4th ... 7/4 ... 7 plus 4 equals 11! Dave ----------- Pretty good, huh? In the Christ (Oh no! This has 11 letters, too), Bill Mc |
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52 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19400 | ||
Joe, excellent post. Mere intellectual assent can save no one. These are great verses that you'd listed here. I especially like this, 'Or is it a complete and total dependence on Christ which will result in God-honoring works and a changed life?' I think that you have hit the nail on the head here. You've got it in the right order, too. Total dependence on Christ RESULTS in works and change. The type of 'born-again' that we see in the scripture is a complete life-altering experience. Obedience does matter. Works do matter. Believe and trust in Christ is more than an acknoledgement of the facts concerning Jesus. It is a radical change in your whole belief system. I wanted to share another passage that came to mind that, I believe, highlights the correct order. The disciples, impressed with Jesus' works, came to Him to see how they could also DO the works of God. Notice who's works Jesus did. Yes, He was and is God, but He was doing His Father's works. So they ask, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." -John 6:28,29. Some people use this to support easy-believism or 'dead' faith but I don't think it was recorded for that purpose. I think that Jesus was again stressing the abiding factor. Look at the Source. Abiding in Christ is not inactive. If we as a branch are not 'bearing' displaying any fruit, then we need to look to see if we are indeed grafted into the Vine. If we practice sin, we need to check to see if we really understand the FULL gospel message. Practicing sin is a concerted, willful, thoughtful effort to accomplish it. I play the piano and I can tell you, practice takes effort. When I am 'practicing', it involves the efforts of my mind, my will, my emotions and, obviously, my body to get the musical piece 'right'. I think that this is what James is saying. If you are just looking for ways to sin (that grace may abound) and you are bent towards it, then you need to question your salvation. If your whole being is geared to 'practicing' sin, then your faith, by biblical standards, is in vain. Thanks for your comments, brother, Bill Mc |
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53 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19375 | ||
Part 2 - Paul dealt with a similar question in Rom 6:1 - 'If grace always triumphs over sin, then should we sin to make grace even more triumphant?' 'No way, don't you know that you are no longer a sinner (my paraphrase)? You're 'old man' that was the source of sin in you, was crucified and buried with Christ. He is gone.' Why should I live a righteous life? For me there are two main reasons: 1) Your new desire and 2) love. There are many more, but I believe that these are two strongest. 1) Your desire: Because God has put His Holy Spirit in you and it is joined with your new spirit, at the deepest level, you don't want to sin. Paul says in Rom 7:15- 'I am not practicing what I WOULD LIKE TO DO, but I am doing the very thing I hate...For the good that I WANT, I do not do...if I am doing the very thing I DO NOT WANT, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin (his flesh vs. 18) which dwells in me...I find then the principle that evil (the flesh, NOT the old nature) is present in ME (the new Paul, not Saul), THE ONE WHO WANTS TO DO GOOD. For I JOYFULLY concur with the law of God IN THE INNER MAN (the new creation, the new self) but I see a different law (where? in his spirit?) in the members of my body, waging war against (his spirit? no.) my mind (part of his soul) and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in (again, where?) my members...So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind (part of the soul) an serving the law of God (where is this? in his heart), but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin." Paul says that his want to has been changed. Did you notice that his heart is in the right place? Nowhere did he say that he wanted to sin. He knows that he is a new creation. Does he struggle with his flesh? Yes. But, even when he sins, he IS NOT the old man. I believe that when God comes in and you discover who He is and who you are in Him, He changes your 'want to.' You will still fail at times, but even when you do, you will know that 'I am no longer the one doing it (sinning), but sin's power in my flesh in my body. Now, the body is NOT inherently evil. But the power of sin does use it as a vehicle to commit sin. Our bodies are still unredeemed. But I feel that God changes your desires. 2. Love. If you truly love God and understand His love for you, you will desire to 'live out' the righteousness that God has placed within. God does not primarily want your obedience. He primarily wants your love in a personal relationship with Him. He knows that true obedience can only come from a heart that is loved and loves in return. Say there exists a kingdom where the king falls in love with a common prostitute. The punishment for prostitution in that kingdom is death. But because the king loves the prostitute, he establishes a decree that prostitution is no longer punishable by death. He does not want to lose her. For all practical purposes, she is forgiven. Will she then give up prostitution? Maybe, maybe not. But what if the king tells her that not only is she forgiven, but he loves her and wants her to come to the palace to be his queen. Will she then give up prostitution? There is no guarantee, but it is likely. She is probably selling herself to get the love and acceptance she longs for. But now she is in a whole new relationship with someone who not only spared her life, but loves her, wants to marry her and live with her forever. Now, I'm a man, but I still have the need for unconditional love and acceptance. And God is the ONLY one who has ever given that to me. I love Him, not because it is one of the 10 commandments and I have to, but because I am coming to realize just how much He loves me. He would rather crucify His own Son than see me burn in hell. Jesus would rather die on a cross than live without me. I am humbled and amazed that He would do this for me. Not only has he forgiven my sins, but He loves me and has made me part of His bride. I will live with him happily ever after! What more motivation does anyone need? A couple more less significant reasons to live a holy life: 3. An unholy life is a poor witness. 4. We will give an account for deeds done in our bodies. 5. Our souls and bodies can still become slaves to the power of sin in our flesh and suffer sins consequences. 6. Our sin frequently hurts others. 7. Sin can still lead to physical death. These are just a few. My biggest motivation for not sinning and leading a holy life is embodied in my relationship to God. Yes, good works honor God. But non-Christians also do good works and false Christians can do good-looking fleshly works that count for nothing. You can't always tell who is who and which is which. It is our hearts that God wants. He has captured mine forever. Bill Mc |
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54 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19374 | ||
Joe, This is indeed a good question. In fact, I don't even know if I have an answer that you will find satisfactory. But I'll share what I think: Is this new nature inherently righteous or is it just oriented toward righteousness? The problem with using the term 'oriented toward righteousness' is that it is a nebulous term. What exactly does 'oriented toward righteousness' mean? And, if it is 'oriented toward righteousness' how much? How do you gauge that? At what point is it no longer oriented but righteous? As I see it, from God's viewpoint, nothing is almost righteous, nearly righteous, or oriented toward righteousness. God's moral righteousness is due to His character. That is why He cannot do something that is unrighteous. So I would have a problem using that term. Now the old nature was dead to God. It was separated from Him. Here again I don't think that it was just 'oriented toward evil.' I believe that it was independant of God and therefore evil. The idea that it was only oriented, leaning toward evil is almost humanistic in that humanism doesn't think that there is anything inherently wrong with man. It purports that man is innocent when born and is only influenced negatively or positively by the environment. But the Bible makes it clear the we are born 'dead in trespasses and sins.' This means that we are born separated from God at birth. Eph 2:5 - 'Even when we were dead in our transgressions...' Col 2:13 - 'When you where dead in your transgressions...' 1 Cor 15:22 - 'For as in Adam all die...' Our spirits are separated from God. And anything that is apart from God (who is total righteousness) is going to be what we would consider evil. So, this really only leaves 3 other possibilities: 1. The new spirit or nature is neutrally aligned. Again, I have a problem justifying this understanding. I guess the closest that I could come to defining this is that it would be 'innocent', knowing neither right or wrong. I do believe that this was the condition of Adam's pre-fallen spirit. He was not moral in the sense that he did not have a knowledge of right and wrong before the fall. But is our new nature created that way? I don't think so. If it was, we would have the capability of sinning and dying to God all over again like Adam did. And if this happened, then it would seem that Christ's work was all for naught. Why do everything thing He did if we would, as new creations, just make the wrong choice like Adam did? The outcome of this scenario is that if our new spirit were innocent and then, because of temptation, we sinned and it died to God, what hope would we have? Would God have to then keep recreating our spirit every time we sinned? I don't see any Biblical precedence for this. But what scripture does seem to support is that... 3. Our new spirit is created in righteousness and holiness - Eph 4:24. But let me add this: This new spirit, new nature, new identity is not created separate from Christ. So I don't think that we can pick it apart from Christ's spirit in us and examine it to see if it has it's own righteousness or not. It is indeed one spirit with Christ's Spirit - 1 Cor 6:17, and cannot be separated from Him. It is joined to Christ but it is also our identity, so much so that the Bible describes it as a new man, a new self. It is this new spirit created in righteousness that I think could be the 'gift of righteousness' that we receive from God. It is, I believe, inherently 'born of God's Spirit.' Jesus said that flesh gives birth to flesh, and Spirit gives birth to spirit - John 3:6. This new spirit is born of God - John1:13. 'For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable...' - 1 Pet 1:23. 1 John 5:4 - 'For whatever is born of God...' Just as a child is born inherently having the DNA and traits of his parents, how could God's new born children not be created righteous if He is indeed the Father? Remember, Adam was not born - he was created. And Genesis never implies that Adam's spirit was born or reborn. Granted, his spirit was created and our spirit is re-created, but I don't believe the Bible ever speaks of Adam as being 'born of God' like we are. So, if we are truly born-again of God, how could we be, at the spirit level, anything less than His righteousness, as righteous as He is? I'm not talking about our performance here. I am speaking of our identities, the core of who we are, saints. It is a fact that whatever has happened, it is so wonderful that the NT calls it new birth, a new creation. And as anyone knows, it is your birth, not your actions that determine who you are. I am a McCracken whether I act like the rest of my family or not. Birth, not performance, determines identity. Joe, I will attempt to answer the motivation question in Part 2. A new creation, Bill Mc |
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55 | Joe, I agree with you here. | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19369 | ||
Joe, Here's my understanding: "What is the ultimate reason for God saving us?...is there " a "bigger picture"?" -- Joe, there is indeed a bigger picture and you have stated it better than I could right here: "I hold that God's highest passion is to glorify Himself, since he is the epitome of all that is holy and just and morally upright...Therefore, I am not the center of God's creation; He is." -- Joe, I agree 120 percent. Especially with the fact that I am not the center of God's creation, He is (although we both know that Christ was not 'created' like man was). "As far as works go, I hold that good works ALWAYS accompany the transforming presence of Christ in those who have true faith." --Joe, some people do not live long enough after conversion to manifest any good works. Granted, this is rare, but it is none the less true. So to say that "good works ALWAYS accompany the transforming presence of Christ" is probably a little stricter than what I would say. I would phrase it this way: Given time, the transforming presence of Christ will manifest itself through good works. We are created for good works and I agree with that whole-heartedly. But, in my opinion, to say that good works ACCOMPANY the presence of Christ implies that the presence of Christ and good works are separate. I.e. good works and Christ presence are distinct from each other. I believe that Christ's presence is the SOURCE of the good works. As you know from my other posts, I think that any good works that we do apart from Him being our source are works of the flesh and will be burnt up. I believe that God will only bless what He initiates and performs through us. Christ did many good works but He did them through the power of the Spirit and because the Father told Him to. So, technically, good works did not ACCOMPANY Christ. He performed them as He abided in His Father. I hope you don't think that I'm nit-picking. But I do feel the distinction is important. As Christ abided in the Father, we are called to abide in Christ. "God-honoring traits and actions are the work of God..." --Notice what you say here, Joe, they are the WORK OF GOD manifested "... in the lives of every believer to demonstrate that we truly are his." --Agreed. "Works are important, and God will require them" --Once again, Joe, I have a problem with the words 'God will require them.' Every good and righteous trait and deed that we as Christians manifest is merely a reflection of what God has given and done in us. God requires holiness. Thru Christ He makes us holy. God requires perfection. Thru Christ, He makes us perfect. God requires 100 percent obedience. Thru Christ, God makes us obedient, etc. This is the nature of grace. What God required, fulfillment of the Law, He Himself fulfilled in Jesus Christ. What God requires of us, He Himself supplies. He says, "Love Me above all else." Then John says, "We love Him because He first loved us." God says, "Forgive men." Paul writes, "Forgive others as Christ has forgiven you." He is the source. We respond to Him, not He to us. "That is why, as a believer, I delight in the moral commandments of God found in the Law." --Joe, this is not one-upmanship, but I delight in Christ. I will boast in what He has done not the Law. Christ alone is my glory. Christ's 'morality' transcends even the Law. He demonstrated this with the Sermon on the Mount. How righteous do we have to be? As righteous as the Law? No. As righteous as the Father in heaven. And that kind of righteousness only comes as a gift. "Of course, we have and always will fall short of those requirements." --In our actions while on earth, yes. That is why God gave us His righteousness. We could never accomplish His righteousness on our own. "Gospel is the proclamation of God's grace and mercy extended to us who fall short of fulfilling God's demand of absolute holy conduct, through the work of Christ Jesus, who did indeed fulfill the Law in his sinless life on earth." --Agreed. And the mystery of this wonderful Gospel, Joe, is that through the Holy Spirit, this Jesus Christ who is the epidomy of God's glory is united with God's creation, man. Man now 'measures up' because of the union we have with Christ. We died to the Law so that we could be married to Christ. The marriage supper hasn't happened yet but we are already in union with Him, are we not? We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ and He is in us. No longer is God separate from His creation. We can manifest God to others around us through good works because this God that they long to see actually dwells within. What a wonderful salvation! In Christ, Bill Mc |
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56 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19353 | ||
Joe, How could they not know? Because they had probably not been taught. Why do you think that the NT was written? It was to teach us of the wonderful mystery of the gospel, that 'Christ in you' is not just for the Jew, but also for the Gentile. You see a similar pattern in 2 Cor 5. In verse 18,19 Paul says that God has reconciled the whole world to Himself. Then He says that, in light of the fact that God has done this, BE (acknowledge, accept it, bank on it) reconciled - Vs. 20. If we view this without any discernment, we would say, "Why does Paul tell them to be reconciled if God has already done it? If it is something that God has done and it is an accomplished fact, then why would Paul tell THEM to do it?" Faith is putting your trust in what God has done. The Bible says that Christ was slain before the foundation of the world. But we know as a historical fact that it happened 2000 years ago. Is there a contradiction? No. It is a spiritual truth that we accept by faith. I think that Paul is telling this crowd something similar. God has created a 'new self' for you, so acknowledge it, put it on, utilize it. Is this understanding really that far fetched, Joe? Bill Mc |
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57 | Joe, I agree with you here. | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19347 | ||
Joe, I agree with what you say here. You have stated that the Law itself is not means to attaining a righteousness of our own in addition to or apart from Christ's work on the cross. I agree 100 percent. So why do you and I cross ways? Confused, Bill Mc |
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58 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19345 | ||
Hey Joe, before you explain all my 'pet' verses to me, you might want to read my 2 posts further down concerning Salvation. The reason being that this is the 'lens' that I view through as opposed to the 'Reformed' lens that you view through. We all draw certain conclusions from the scriptures that we've studied (we can't help it) and have a certain belief system. So, if you read through mine, you'll see in a nutshell what I believe about salvation, sanctification, justification, etc. That way you can understand my understanding of some of these big words we throw around. Thanks, Bill Mc |
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59 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19338 | ||
Joe, Because they didn't know they had a new self. They wore 'the Law' as their righteous garments. Paul says that we have been clothed with Christ. This is precisely the revelation that Paul is trying to make - you are a new creature inside, you don't wear the same old clothing. Put on the new. If you keep on sinning, your body and soul will become a slave to it. I'm a Christian but if I go get drunk ever night, I'll start serving alcohol with my body and soul. So put off the deeds of the flesh and sinful actions because that is not who you are anymore. Bill Mc |
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60 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19337 | ||
Salvation - Part 2 This is why Paul says that you have died to sin and to present your bodies to God. That old sin nature is gone and you are no longer a slave to it. Instead you are a slave to the righteousness of God within. This is why I say that at the deepest level, I am no longer a sinner. I am a saint. Do I still sin? Yes, my soul and body does. Is my spirit always righteous before God? Yes, it is. This is precisely why Paul addresses born-again believers as saints. We are not who we were. But even Paul admitted that when he sinned, it was not him - Rom 7:17,20. It was NOT him, folks! It was the power of sin that dwelled in his flesh where he says nothing good dwells - Rom 7:18. He said that he agreed with the law of God in the inner man - Rom 7:21,22. Even he understood that, under the New Covenant, God has placed His laws inside us. But he also new that the power of sin still resided in his flesh, not in his spirit or his soul - Rom 7:23. And he concludes that only Christ within Him can set him free - Rom 7:24,25. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (that now dwells in us) has set us free from the power of sin and spiritual death. Is this not true? Don't agree with my view? That's Ok. You have to make your own decision. But, hopefully, you understand where I am coming from. A new creation, Bill Mc |
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