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NASB | Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are." |
Subject: Show me scripture that says we can sin |
Bible Note: EdB, I definately see where you're coming from. And, on the surface, I agree with you. Scripture paints a picture of Christian life, led by the Holy Spirit, and founded on a firm relationship with Christ. Simply, Scripture speaks of the ideal. Instead of restating the same thoughts I've already communicated, I would like to provide an illustration. There is a certain man named John. John once lived a fairly wild life--partying, drugs, premarital sex. One glorious day, John heard the Gospel. He was convicted of his sins, repented and asked Jesus to be his Savior and Lord. John's heart became focused on God. He joined a church, and eventually took on a ministry. He joyfully served the Lord for many years. One day, while at work, John was called into his boss' office. John's boss had decided to give him a promotion. He was now going to be manager over his office. The promotion came complete with a increased salary, his own office, and a secretary. John began his new job, and was getting along quite well. John's secretary was a very attractive woman, and he began to notice that she seemed to be flirting with him. John was married and had no intentions of doing anything to damage his marriage, so he ignored his secretaries seeming advances. John's new job required extra time at the office, and his wife was none to happy about that. He would frequently have to work late, and his wife grew increasingly irritated. She asked him to stop working late, but John didn't want to risk his new position. In her anger, John's wife began to deny him in bed. At work, John's secretary continued to flirt with him, and while John still did not want to jeopardize his marriage, he found himself lusting after his secretary. John did not act on his desires, but he failed to deny them either. John's wife continued to deny him, and one night John's secretary increased the intensity of her advances. She had noticed John looking at her that afternoon, and felt that the time was ripe to approach him. She kissed John, catching him off guard. He came to his senses and stopped kissing her, but found it a real struggle. He went home, considering the whole way home whether or not he should tell his wife. He decided that, given his wife's temperament already, and since he HAD stopped the kiss, it wouldn't serve anything to tell her. Nevertheless, John found himself dwelling on that kiss. It continuously played in his mind, and he thought about how nice it had been. Not one to be refused, John's secretary became even more forceful in her advances. She began wearing very low cut blouses and short skirts. She'd give John little winks, and sit and stand in provocative manners. Catching John looking at her, she approached him once again, and this time things went too far. John and his secretary began having an affair. Ok, now let's consider this illustration. John's affair becomes a premeditated sin. He knew it was wrong going in, but through a progression of circumstances and subtle deceptions, he finally gave in to the temptation. Once he had given in, it was already too late. The same circumstances that led to the affair continued to existed after the affair began. Indeed, now matters were worse because John had already been with his secretary. It took no great leap for it to happen again, and with each successive encounter it became easier and easier to give in and harder and harder to resist. If you notice from this little illustration. John failed to confess his lust and eventually his affair to the Lord. With each progressive unconfessed sin, that still small voice of the Holy Spirit became more and more muted. What I hope to communicate with this illustration is just how easy it is for something like this to occur. A sin here, a sin there. Failure to restore his relationship with God, led to a distancing that made it ever increasingly easy to be caught by the deceptions of Satan. John, in this example, is a true Christian. He lived years in best Christian form, but the flirtaitions of his secretary and the coldness of his wife created an explosive minefield, and John stepped on a mine. I'm not sure if I illustrated this properly, but hopefully I managed to communicate just how easily all the events occured. This is something that could really happen to one that let themselves be caught off guard, and that could be any of us. So I ask you, what of John? Was he ever a Christian? Did he lose his salvation? This was no case of "easy-believism" for sure. If John had been a Christian at all, he was a true blue devoted one. That is of course, until the fateful events occurred. Just think about it; really ponder what I've said. This will be my last post, for there's nothing more I can say. Believe what you choose, but at least consider what I have said. God bless you brother. |