Results 61 - 80 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# | |||
61 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19336 | ||
Salvation: if someone on this forum wants to debate or challenge my views on these issues, then please allow me to state what my definition and understanding is of salvation. Obviously this is my view and I will support it with scripture. But often I find that I am being misunderstood because my definition is not the same as another believer's. That's alright, we are all learning and growing, but it would help if you knew where I was coming from. I am not trying to rewrite the Bible here, I am simply trying to define my beliefs so fellow forum members who may not agree with my view, can at least understand it. The word 'salvation' means 'to be delivered.' Therefore it means that something is taken from one characteristic and moved or changed to another characteristic. Here is what I believe about salvation: 1. At new birth (conversion, general salvation experience, accepting Christ, being born-again, regeneration, asking Christ in your heart, etc.) God removes your 'old self'. This old self is also known as the old man, old sin nature, 'in Adam' spirit, Paul's old 'I no longer live' self. This is NOT the flesh. This is the core of identity. This is the dead- to-God (separated from Him), unregenerate spirit that you inherited from Adam. On our timeline, God does this at new birth. I believe that this is where God separates spirit and soul - Heb 4:12. From God's point of view (outside time) it was crucified with Christ and buried (because it is dead) with Him 2000 years ago - Rom 6:3-8. 2. God then creates in us a brand new spirit, a new creation, a new self that is alive to Him - 2 Cor 5:17. This new spirit is created completely righteous and holy - Eph 4:24. Because your old sinful spirit is gone, you are saved (delivered from the penalty of sin, spiritual death) by a new alive spirit inside. This is why I keep saying the true salvation is being delivered from the wages of sin, death (separation from God) by the free gift of God, eternal life in your spirit - Rom 6:23. This new spirit is eternal because it is joined to Christ's Spirit. It cannot sin. 3. This new spirit is joined to Christ's Spirit (aka the Holy Spirit) - Rom 8:9 and indwells the soul of the believer. This new spirit is your identity, who you really are, your deepest essence and it is forever united with Christ. Therefore, at the core of your being you are spiritually born-again from God, joined to Him and you (the old self) no longer lives but you have a new self. The Holy Spirit does all of this. We do none of it. Because it is a spiritual truth, we cannot reason out the mechanics of it. We can only accept it by faith. 4. The believer now is a new creation in Christ but he (or she) still has the same unregenerate soul (mind, will, and emotions), the source of behavior, and the same unregenerate physical body wherein 'flesh' dwells. But there is a comeplete, dynamic change is the identity. So much so that believers in the NT were often given name changes. We are no longer who we were. Unfortunately though, we have the same old soul and body. 5. As we live and have our minds (part of the soul) renewed by the Spirit and God's Word, the righteousness and life of the spirit within 'works it's way out' to change our behavior. It is an inward out sanctification process. It is not from the outside in. "Out of your inner-most being..." Jesus said. This, I believe, is the soul's sanctification process. It is the means by which the man of God is being renewed day by day so that his behavior is brought in-line with his new identity. The saving of the soul (deliverence from the power of sin) is gradual but it is assured because it has a new spirit (with God's Spirit as the seal and guarantee) within as it's power source. But if at any time the physical life is cut short by death (from our view), your righteous spirit standing before God allows you to go immediately into His presence without further salvation of the soul and body. But the soul part of us can, obviously, still sin depending on where we draw our sufficiency out of. 6. The believer's body is not saved (delivered from the presence of sin) until the rapture or the resurrection. In this body, dwells what Paul calls the 'flesh'. This flesh is not the true self. It is old thoughts, patterns, and habits stored in our physical brain that tempts us to get our needs met apart from God. God does not give you a new brain when you get saved. He also does not wipe out your intellect, will and emotions. But He does intend for you to choose to live your life out of the Spirit (walk after the indwelling Spirit) instead of the 'flesh.' Those that walk (live) out of their flesh cannot please God. Only by walking in the Spirit can our souls be renewed and Christ's life within be displayed through our bodies. So who are you going to obey, the Spirit of God within you or your flesh? See Part 2 |
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62 | Joe, who is ya, man? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19324 | ||
Joe, So you would say that you have a 'new self' and also an 'old self'. (My Bible says that my 'old self' the 'old man' was crucified with Christ - Gal 2:20, Rom 6:6) So you are a new creation in Christ - 2 Cor 5:17, but you are still the same old sinner. This would explain much of the reason you are confused, dear brother. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Well, it can for a while, but it will be unstable in all ways. Hmmm...interesting theology. A new creation but still a sinner. A new self but still an old self. Created in righteousness but still striving for it. Under grace but under law. In Adam but also in Christ. A slave to sin but also a slave to righteousness. Given righteousness as a gift but you don't posess it. Psychology would say that you are suffering from split personality disorder. Of course, very little psychology is biblically based. But I would say that the effect is the same. You don't know who YOU are in Christ. Oh, you know who Christ is in you. But you don't know who He has made you. As a stated, my old self, my old man WAS (past tense) crucified with Christ. That old fallen 'in Adam' spirit is dead and gone. He was crucified and buried with Christ 2000 years ago. Then Christ gave me a new spirit created in righteousness and holiness that is permanently joined with Him. Now, granted, my new spirit indwelt by Christ's Spirit lives in the same old body. And it still has to work through my unredeemed soul - mind, will, and emotions. And it still has my 'flesh', my self-sufficiency to deal with. But these things are not ME. They are in the members of my body, but they are not ME - Rom 7:18. Thanks be to God that though I was a slave of sin (I had no choice), I became obedient (past tense) from my heart to that form of teaching that was committed to me (the gospel, Christ in me) and, having been freed from sin (no longer a slave to it, the old sinful self was crucified) I became (past tense) a slave of righteousness...but now that I have been (past tense) freed from sin and now enslaved to God, I derive my benefit (Christ in me, my hope of glory), resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life - Rom 6:17,18,22. Yeehaw! Still a new creation, Bill Mc |
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63 | Where will you get your righteousness? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19316 | ||
Joe, To see what the yoke of slavery is, you need to look back to chapter 4. Paul says in 5:1 'therefore', this means that he is drawing a conclusion from what he has already stated, not from what he is about to state. So what is this yoke of slavery from chapter 4? Gal 4:21 - under law, the law Gal 4:24 - (One covenant) proceeding from Mount Sinai - the Law "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Circumcision is not a yoke of slavery. (Talk about poor exegesis :)) Circumcision is merely a sign that you are under the Old Covenant - the Law. Also, what is it about the death of your body, merely dust, a temple, which will not EVER stand before God, that makes you righteous before God? I agree that we will have a new resurrected, redeemed body when the rapture happens. But what is it about your 'shell', your house, that determines your right-standing before God? Can you cite any scriptures that speak of your body being your source of righteousness? I thought you said the Christ was your source of righteousness? Isn't He in you now? You said in another post that one day you will stand before Him with your own righteousness. How did you attain this? How does the death of your body cause you to be spiritually righteous? If, as you say, your spirit is not righteous now, how does the death of your body make it so? Always curious, Bill Mc |
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64 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19299 | ||
Dear Risen, Thanks for the encouragement, brother! I will indeed stand firm. I wore that old yoke of slavery for 30 years and it never sanctified me or satisfied my need for life. But, for some, it is all they know so they become comfortable with the burden. It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Unfortunately, many Christians think that we are advocating sin and lawlessness. The only tree that some of them eat from is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thanks be to God that He has provided a Tree of Life! Risen, too! Bill Mc |
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65 | Why keep the Moral Law? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19275 | ||
Dear Joe, Yes, brother, I do indeed see who your faith is in. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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66 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19274 | ||
Joe, 1 Tim 1:9 - Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers. I guess you have no church to take your bull or goat to this Sabbath then. If you wait just a few more years, the temple should be rebuilt :) In Christ, Bill Mc |
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67 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19273 | ||
Dear Joe, Was your 'new self' created in righteousness and holiness or not? Eph 4:24 in my Bible says that it was. I didn't claim to be perfect. Heb 10:14 says that Christ's sacrifice has perfected me for all time before Him. Does your Bible say that? How could God's Holy Spirit united Himself with an old sin nature? I already cited the verse that says we are one spirit with God. He has joined us to Himself on the spirit level. Did you skip over that one? The moral law is best reflected in Jesus Christ. He was the exact representation of His Father and the radiance of God's glory. If you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. What good is it doing to compare my beliefs to Roman Catholicism? Their beliefs are not my standard or plumb line. If this is an attempted insult, it is ineffective. (Try the antinomi-thingy again. That's sure to get me riled. Or maybe you could throw Rom 6:1 at me.) Show me a verse where the Spirit of God is united with something sinful. Blessings to you, Bill Mc |
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68 | The question stands | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19270 | ||
Dear charis, I agree with your post, brother. If you will read some of my other posts, you would also see that I feel that the OT has its place. And I agree with the 'intent.' But there are many who would not, and preach the 'letter' instead of the intent. They preach that we must keep the Old Covenant. While they have as much right to preach Old Covenant here as I do to point to the New, it would be a travesty to let them continually go unchallenged. Yes, I have read many of your other posts (not all, too time consuming) and I think I know you're heart. I think you do a great job here on this forum. Especially at keeping the peace. Thanks for your work. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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69 | Why keep the Moral Law? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19266 | ||
Dear Joe, See my other post. We view through different lens, brother. You see works as proof of what you are. I see works as a result of what we are. The difference is not the works. The difference is the source. Your source is yourself. Christ was never His own source. Our source is to be Him in us, not ourselves. You see commands are something that we have to do. I see them as something things we get to participate in with Christ fulfilling them in us - Rom 8:4. Let me lock the barn door. I, too, believe that a genuine faith results in works. But that is the correct order. Works are the results of genuine faith in Christ to work through us, not the by product of us doing it apart from Him. "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." (I am not going to, for the sake of time, interpret all these verses for you. You don't require it, Joe. But to illustrate our different lens, consider the Rom 7:4 verse that talks about us bearing fruit. That is correct, as we abide in Him, as the branch abides in the vine, we will bear, support, display the fruit. But we do not produce it. He does. If you cut the branch from the vine, it bears no fruit. If you splice a live branch into a dead vine, it will still bear no fruit. The source is always the vine. The life flows up from the vine into the branch and produces the fruit. The branch can produce none by itself. That is my point. But most legalist would say, "See, there, brother, if you ain't producin' good fruit, then you shore ain't no Christian." The legalist's focus in on him and others, what we do for God. Our focus should be on Christ, the author and completer of our faith.) Blessings to you, Bill Mc |
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70 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19264 | ||
Joe, 4. Yes, Paul (and other NT writers) quote the OT. As I've said, the Law reflects the character of God. In Eph 6, children are not generally indwelt by Christ. They are born unregenerate, dead in trespasses and sin, and have no idea of what God's character is like. So they need the Law to show them what God is like and how sinful they are. How many kids do you know that walk in the Spirit? The Law was given to lead us to Christ. Unless you teach the Law to children and sinners, they will never see their need for a Savior. 5. What is the epidomy of His commandments? He tells us right there in 1 John 3:22-24. 'We keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.' Why? Hold that thought. What is His commandments? 'That we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another.' This is the heart of obedience. It is not what you do or don't do, it is belief in Jesus Christ. Now, if you do that, and He indwells you, we abide in Him and He in us. That is how we do the things that are pleasing in His sight. We abide in Christ. Are they're things that we do as we abide in Him and He in us. Yes. I have already tried to explain this to you, dear Joe, in another post which you seemed to dismiss as some sort of 'touchy-feely, let go and let God' doctrine. I tried to explain to you what Christ in you means and the fact that we are supposed to be in total reliance upon Christ in us. And in another post, after I listed all the scriptures to support that, as Christians, we done initiate anything, we respond to what God initiates, you posted an 'agreed!' although you argued the point with me earlier. The bottom line is that I am motivated to let Christ live out of me because He is in me and He and I are one spirit. Do I still sin? Yes. I don't always walk after the Spirit. I still have my old, legalistic flesh that abhors the thought that there is not one thing that I can do to make myself more 'in Christ' than what God has done. My soul, and, most definately, my body are not yet sanctified. My body contains my (limited brain) that I still have to deal with. But scripture also assures me that I have the mind of Christ in my spirit and that I have been made a partaker of His divine nature. I am no longer who I was. I am a new creature, indeed created to glorify God and do good works as I let Him live through me. So are you, dear brother. Blessings to you, Bill Mc |
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71 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19257 | ||
Joe, A legalist is not just someone who believes that he can earn his salvation. I've read enough of your posts to know that you don't believe that. A legalist can often be someone who believes with all their heart that they are saved by grace alone, but after that, it is up to them to live a life pleasing to God. "You're saved to serve," they'll say. They seek to win God's favor and approval by what they do. This can take many shapes and forms. Often, they substitute there own set of 10 commandments for the Mosaic law and it usually looks like this: If you want to be a good Christian (more than what Christ made you at new birth), then read your Bible, pray, go to church every time the doors are open, tithe on your gross, witness to everyone you see, confess your sins continually, etc. The list just goes on and on. Their basic theory is that God saves you to enable you to do things for Him. I agree with you that the NT writers quote alot of the OT. But the point remains, Joe, that nobody but Christ could ever keep the Law. And no one since Christ ever has. One of the reasons, brother, that we don't see eye-to-eye on these issues is that you don't see these commands as a result of the relationship we have with Christ. You see these commands as a validation of that relationship. You and I would both agree that the Law reflects the character of God, right? The Law was given to show man how far he is from God's character. That is why Jesus turned up the heat with the Sermon on the Mount. Here is where we differ, brother. You seem to think that the primary reason that God gave you the Holy Spirit is to help you conform to God's character. I agree that He does bring us in-line with God's desires for our lives. But what I can't seem to be able to get through to you is the fact that you are not who you were before salvation. You think that you are just a sinner saved by grace and that if you didn't have all these rules, why, you'd just go crazy sinning. "I need rules to function," is the mind set of a legalist. "Rules tell me how to act." And if someone like me comes along and says that you are supposed to live by abiding in Christ, letting God work through you, resting in Christ, trusting that Christ will live His life in and out of you, well, you think that that person has slipped a cog. And, this is not an insult, but you have no understanding of the kind of life I am talking about. All you hear is that I don't have rules and commands. You then brand me a antinomian and inform me that the church has condemned it down through the ages. Please try to understand what I am about to say. When you became a believer, your spirit was united with Christ's Spirit - 1 Cor 6:17. This passage is reflecting marriage concepts but the point is still union. Now, if God's Spirit is righteous and holy and it is united with your spirit, was does that make you? The Holy Spirit of God would never unite Himself with something sinful or less than perfect. God, at salvation, creates a new 'you', a new spirit born from above, born from God - 2 Cor 5:17. This new spirit in you is created in righteousness and holiness - Eph 4:24. Yes, Joe, Christ in you is righteous, but He indeed creates a new righteous, holy, blameless spirit in the core of your being. That old sinful 'in Adam' spirit was crucified and buried with Christ. As a result, brother, you are not just imputed righteousness. You're righteous in essence (not always in action). You are now a temple of God. The temple of God is holy and that is what you are. But you still have the same unredeemed soul and body. And, granted, it does take a while for our new identities to influence that old habits and patterns in our soul. But you are still a new creation in Christ, created in righteoness and holiness. "Why is Bill rambling on concerning all this 'goobledygook' without answering my questions?" Because until you understand what Christ has done in me and in you, you will not understand my answers. The sum of my answers is this - we adhere to God's moral law from within, from our spirits that are joined to Christ's Spirit. Out of the relationship, Christ in us, we in Christ, we will live up to God's moral character. Not in order to attain something from God, but because we have already obtained something from God. We have His Spirit indwelling our new spirit and the motivation is from within. We meet God's righteous standard because we are in union with Him. I will create another post to answer your questions. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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72 | The question stands | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19248 | ||
Dear charis, I agree. The OT is a tutor to lead sinners to Christ. But once it has done that, and Christ makes us saints, we are no longer under it. Sure our Bibles have the OT. But they also have the NT. Contemporary Christian says that, in order to have the full revelation of how we live as Christians, we must meld them together. I.e. take all the Law and mix it with all of grace and then you will have the truth. That is like trying to mix oil and water. They are two different things. That is precisely why there is an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. A new will does indeed supercede any old one, as you have stated. But many on this forum would say that both wills apply. They imply that Christ saves you so that you can then fulfill the Law. I don't find this ridiculous, charis, I find this insulting to Christ's work. He said that it is finished. And I respectfully submit to you, dear charis, that Paul's words still stand - once you have come to Christ by faith, you are no longer under that old tutor. Free at last, free at last, Bill Mc |
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73 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19245 | ||
Dear Joe, It IS like the Trinity in that we have no right to separate the Persons. As the Trinity represents the whole Godhead, the Law represents the whole Law (hence James 2:10). There is no getting around this. James says that you cannot pick and choose which parts of the Law you want to be under. You do not have the options of saying, "Well, I'm not under the ceremonial Law, but I am under the moral Law." The Law is the Law. You are either under all of it with its moral, ceremonial, and civil restraints or you are under none of it. "Cursed is EVERYONE who does not abide by ALL things written in the Book of the Law, to perform them." Do you want to be under the Law? Then you better find a bull or goat for next Saturday. The only choice you have is the Law or Christ. You can't have both. That is called Galatianism and Paul condemned it. If you are a Christian and you want to be under the Law, any of it, then Paul would say this, "Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?" You are making yourself needlessly to be a child of a bondwoman when Christ gave you new birth - born of the free woman, according to the Spirit - Gal 4:21-31. Christ set you free from that yoke of slavery. Do you not know this? If you do, then stand firm in your freedom - Gal 5:1. No longer under the Law, Bill Mc |
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74 | The question stands | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19240 | ||
Dear charis, Paul disagrees with you. Ephsians 2:14-16 - For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. Galatians 3:23-25 - But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.' See these scriptures: Rom 6:14,15; Rom 7:1-4,6,18,18,22; Rom 8:2,13; Gal 2:4,19,20; Gal 3:13,25; Gal 4:5; Gal 5:1,18 In Christ, Bill Mc |
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75 | Why keep the Moral Law? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19239 | ||
On another side note, I'm sure it really bothers God to see so many of His children who claim to have faith in the sufficiency of His Son with the seeming attitude of "Watch and see HOW MUCH I can do FOR God. He really needs me." God never calls you to do things FOR Him. He calls you to Himself and to abide in Him. Doing things FOR God implies that He can't do it, when He said He could raise up stones if He wanted to. Doing things FOR God is what Abraham did when he sired Ismael through Hagar. Doing things FOR God is what King Saul did when he brought back all those nice sacrifices when God told him to kill everthing. Doing things FOR God is what the apostles did when they drew lots to replace Judas. That is what Peter did when he said, "Lord, I'll never deny you," and when he cut off the soldiers ear. That is what the Pharisees thought they were doing by keeping the Law, they were doing it FOR God. The New Testament has a really good word for this attitude and works - it's called 'flesh.' I do not for one second believe that we are saved by works, either. And if works can't make you right with God before salvation, they certainly can't keep you right with God after. Freed from PBA, Bill Mc |
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76 | Propitiation: Forgiveness or Provision? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19237 | ||
Lionstrong, one other note. BTW, thanks for making think so hard :). I can tell that I have got to choose my words very, very carefully and say exactly what I mean, nothing more, nothing less. I feel like I'm on trial here :). Though forgiveness of sins is provided for the whole world by Christ's work on the cross 2000 years ago, not everyone has received it. It is the same with the way of salvation. It has been provided for on God's part, but our part is to believe by faith and receive it. Forgiveness for sins is not something that you get from God. It is not something that He dispenses as we need it. The forgiveness of sins is found, after the cross, only in Him and is part of our redemption. One cannot have forgiveness apart from having Christ. So though it is (you guys love these words) 'positionally' provided for at the cross, it is not 'experiencially' received until you receive Christ. Supporting scripture: Eph 1:7 - In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Col 1:13,14 - For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Acts 10:43 - Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. Acts 13:38 - Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. In conclusion, though forgiveness is provided for my Christ's work at the cross, taking away the sins of the world and reconciling God to man, it is received by faith at conversion or new birth. Thanks again for the challenge. Still forgiven, Bill Mc |
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77 | Propitiation: Forgiveness or Provision? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19225 | ||
Lionstrong, Thanks for the clarification. Now I understand. I believe that all sins were forgiven at the cross, both believers' sins and unbelievers' sins. The forgiveness that we HAVE (posess) was provided at the cross (back then). The forgiveness that OT saints experienced from animal sacrifices, was provided at the cross - Heb 9:15. I don't believe that anyone will go to hell because of their sins (breaking God's law). I believe that they will go to hell because of their unbelief in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished. But again, Lionstrong, forgiveness is not salvation. You are not saved by being forgiven. You are not saved by being reconciled. You are saved by the indwelling life of Christ in you - Rom 5:10, Rom 8:9, John 10:10, the new birth, being born again, being made a new creation, all different words for the regeneration that God causes to happen to believers. Salvation is being saved from the wages of sin (death) by the gift of God, eternal life in Jesus Christ - Rom 6:23. Forgiveness of sins was necessary so that we could have ETERNAL life. If your sins were not forgiven, the first time you sinned after the indwelling of God's Spirit, He would have to leave you. But because sins were, and now are, forgiven, He will never leave us or forsake us. And all of this is experienced through faith. God says that it is true, so I believe it. So the defining issue after the cross, despite all our wrangling of words, is not whether we are forgiven or not. The question to be asked is, 'Are you in Adam or in Christ? Are you born again of not? Is Christ's Spirit in you or not? Are you a new creation or not? Are you spiritually dead to God or alive to God through Jesus Christ?' I hope this answers your question. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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78 | Propitiation: Forgiveness or Provision? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19210 | ||
Lionstrong, I guess that I don't understand your question. Why do you perceive that my statements are diametrically opposed? I don't see a conflict. So let's let God respond, "...That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them...therefore...we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." His words, brother, not mine. Reconciled, Bill Mc |
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79 | Propitiation or Faith? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19206 | ||
Lionstrong, God's provision for forgiveness is Christ's redemptive work. God so loved the world (everyone) that He gave His only begotten Son (as propitiation) that whosoever (anyone who chooses) believes in Him (by faith) shall not perish but have eternal life (through Christ's resurrected life in us) All sins, except unbelief in Christ's work, are forgiven because Jesus' blood provides the payment for sins - Heb 9:22. With His blood being shed, Jesus proclaimed that forgiveness, "Father, forgive them..." God provided it. But we must receive it. You can't receive something by faith if you don't believe in it, can you? Let's say you were dying from cancer. But a brilliant doctor finally discovers a cure for cancer and mailed you a letter saying that he was sending you the cure. So he mails you the package with the cure in it. But when you got the letter you said, 'Ridiculous, there is no cure for cancer.' So when the cure arrives at your house (that the doctor provided), you simply throw the box in the trash because you don't believe the doctor's letter. If he was truthful and had discovered the cure, you would die needlessly. Not because the cure wasn't provided but because you hadn't received it by faith. Likewise, God has provided forgiveness and salvation for all men. Forgiveness was provided at the cross by Christ's blood. Salvation is provided by Christ's resurrection, eternal life. But not all men have received it by faith. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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80 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19199 | ||
Lionstrong, You write, 'If unbelief is a sin (unrighteous act) and all sins (unrighteous acts) are forgiven, how are your statements not contradictory?' The sin of unbelief is not an act, it is an attitude. In other words, unbelief is not accepting what God says is true. That is it's purest definition. That is why God says that whatever is not of faith is sin. This sin of unbelief can manifest itself as a committed sin, an actual act of unrighteousness or lack of an act of righteousness and is the root of all sin. Consider Eve. Her sin was first unbelief in what God said (you will die). That unbelief was then manifested by her partaking of the forbidden fruit, the actual act of sin. The Christian world is caught up in defining sin as only what you do or don't do. From God's perspective, sin is much deeper. Sin, from God's viewpoint, is what you think or believe. Consider the Sermon on the Mount. The Pharisees thought that they were righteous before God because they kept the Law (So do many Christians). They said, "We have never killed anyone." - an act. Jesus said, "Have you ever hated?" - an attitude. They said, "We have never committed adultery." - an act. Jesus said, "Have you ever lusted?" - an attitude. They were concerned only with outward actions, Jesus was showing them that the true root of their problem was not their actions but their hearts. I believe that Jesus took the punishment for all our sins (wrong attitudes and actions) on the cross. He provided forgiveness for all sins. But to receive that we must change what we believe concerning Him and His provision. The Bible uses the word 'sin' in three primary ways: 1. An unrighteous act or lack of it (omission) 2. An unrighteous thought or attitude 3. A power within (Rom 6,7,8) that causes 1 and 2. We have to look at the context of the passage in order to determine which definition is being used. In conclusion, no matter how you define it, if you die without accepting God's provision for forgiveness and life - His Son, your sin of unbelief in Christ is what results in you eternal death in hell, not every unrighteous act you have committed. But if, while here on earth, you accept God's provision by faith, you are indeed forgiven for all your sins and you have eternal life. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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