| Author | Message | ||
| Linda |
Amen. This is my feeling also. When Paul spoke of our not sinning, it has been my understanding that he was not saying that we cant possibly sin anymore. He was saying: "We must not sin!" Just like we tell our children: "You will NOT play in a busy street. You will NOT lie. It is not tolerated, not allowed. We must NOT do it." Big difference in saying that because we accept Jesus and His wonderful redemption, that we no longer can sin. We must always avoid sin and He empowers us, through His Holy Spirit to do so. But we should be careful lest we fall into an area of spiritual pride, thinking that we are above those who sin. We are not. We just have the wonderful resource of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to convict and help us. Thank God. | ||
| Lynn W |
I just read something that puts it rather well. "For the Christian, it's not natural to sin." That was an interesting thought. Just like it's not natural for dogs to climb trees. It's just not in their nature. That's what's meant by getting a new nature. | ||
| Linda |
Lynn, I like that. It goes against the grain for us to keep on sinning. We slip, but we dont wallow. | ||
| RoyT |
I was recently reading a book that put it this way: We are not sinners; we are saints. Therefore, even if we do go against our nature once in a while, we still don't become sinners. Like, the dog that climbs the tree, going against his nature, doesn't become a cat. He's still a dog. | ||
| Lydell |
Exactly so RoyT! Our label is no longer "sinners" our label now is "saved by grace". We are children, a work in progress. The old man has died and a new one has been born. And just as with any infant there will be poopy diapers that need changing, dribble to wipe off our chins, boo-boos to repair, a lot of tripping over our own feet, apologies to be made, lessons to be learned, and some discipline to be taken. But that doesn't throw us back into the "sinner" category because he has declared us to be his children who wear His family name. | ||
| Linda |
Kind of reminds me of an old hymn: "Lord Jesus, I want to be perfectly whole. I want Thee forever to live in my soul. Break down every idol, cast out every foe. Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow. Lord, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, but Jesus can wash us and put us into a perfection program which nothing or no one else, especially we ourselves, can do. We can rejoice in the process and show our appreciation by humbling obeying Him. Right? | ||
| Joni |
I like what Tony Evans said the other day. When your child does wrong, you may have to talk to him, you may have to bring it to his attention, you may have to disciple him, but you are still his Father. You still love him. You still take care of him. You don't abandon Him. Neither does God. God gave us a gift. The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. His Grace is not only for salvation but for life. He dosen't take it away when we fall. "For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, It is a gift of God not as a result of work that no noe should boast" Ephesians 2: 8,9 I believe God when He says He will finish the work He started in me. "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:9 |
