Subject: How do we see ourselves? |
Bible Note: Good evening Steve, How's your day been? Blessed, I pray? Thank you so much for joining me in my journey. I hope you enjoyed the moments of contemplation on the subject of just who we are in the Lord, I know that I have and have learned a few things. I can see where you are coming from and freely concede that sin definitely does remain in us - but I still think it's more to do with comfortable habits, natural human inclinations, laziness and pure stupidity rather than the "original" sinful inclinations that we as humans inherited from Adam's deed. Rom. 14:12-14 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 14:13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkeness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy, 4:14 But put on the Lord Yeshua Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Those verses tell me we have a choice. (Which you also stated.) But I think I choose to see myself more as the "new creation," being re-born of the Spirit and the Water and having all things be new. Then I can relate much better to Paul's exhortation of Phil 3:13-16 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Messiah Yeshua. 4:15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 4:16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Personally, I have trouble reconciling the thought that I or any of my brethren in the Lord (and you , definitely included!) who are "perfect" (4:15) can possibly be "sinners" also. If we keep looking back at what we once were, at where we once were, it's going to be very difficult to stay focused on what we are becoming and where we are heading. Don't you think? Doesn't that give the "old man" opportunity to take the lead, so to speak? I'm not trying to argue with you, dear brother, and I am taking to heart everything you are sharing with me; and I'm not trying to get you to go with my way of thinking either, I'm just trying to make the two aspects somehow make sense, meld. Still in a quandry!! Cheri |