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Post by oap001 on Aug 25, 2006 9:36:28 GMT -5
I don't like to say that I was an alcoholic. Maybe it's just denial. But I had a very serious drinking problem when I was younger. I used to drink almost a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every day..plus much beer. God delivered me from that and I haven't had even a drop of alcohol, or the desire to drink for eight years. We need to edify (build up) one and other.
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Post by evanschaible on Aug 25, 2006 11:29:42 GMT -5
PACP please read this article I wrote some time ago. It is called "GO and sin no more". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The popular belief today is that the only difference between a Christian and a sinner is that a Christian “names the name of Christ”. It is true that that is one difference between the two, but a Christian who has named the name of Christ must also “depart from iniquity”. This is where things get cloudy and people get rowdy. No one believes, or wants to believe, that one can be free from sinful acts. If you even mention the fact that the scriptures teach that a Christian is supposed to be free from sin you will face much opposition from every side, including the so-called ‘church’. John the Apostle mentions something along these lines in his first epistle when he writes, inspired by the Holy Ghost, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (3:9). This scripture seems to teach that a Christian can go an entire day without sin (contrary to popular teaching). Before anyone accuses me of being a perfectionist, let me say that I utterly reject the claim that one can reach a stage where they cannot fall into sin and are above temptation. However, in the Christian life it is possible to stop sinning and defeat temptation. John here mentions this verse on purpose, he wants us to know that he writes these things that we “sin not” (2:1). However, there is still the possibility of one falling into sin; this is the reason John says, “IF any man sin we have an advocate with the Father” (emphasis mine). Notice the small, but significant word, IF. IF implies that it is not suppose to happen. The Greek definition means, “in case”. So if we read the scripture this way it may make a little more sense: “In case any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”. Above I mentioned the fact that this is where things get cloudy. And here is where many oppose the teaching of holiness (even though the scripture says that without it no man will see the Lord). Now we need to choose once and for all whom it is we yield ourselves to, and to whose opinions we follow. There are only two options, man or God. There are ways that seem right to man, but lead to death. The devil would love us to revert back to the days of the papist Catholic Church when the Bible was chained to the pulpit. We have the peculiar privilege of reading the Holy Scriptures for ourselves and letting the Holy Ghost lead us into all truth. So let us see what God’s word declares to be the truth. Our text makes it clear that the new birth experience is a necessity to being free from sin and living in “holiness unto the Lord”. However, this experience goes much deeper and much farther than many people realize. Jesus made it clear to the truth seeking Nicodemus that this experience of the new birth was necessary for salvation, “except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”. This is the most important thing that can happen to any one human being. The modern understanding of being born again is saying a short little prayer of confession and acceptance. It is my conviction that millions of people in our churches today have prayed that prayer and are still going straight to hell. The reason is that they have never turned from their sin and actually been birthed anew by the Holy Spirit of God. Being born again is much more than praying a prayer. Ezekiel states it this way, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (36:26,27). This is the promise of the new covenant. God not only forgives you by the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also performs a drastic change within you. He births your spirit anew, changes your heart and gives you His Spirit. You then hate the things God hates, love the things God loves, and that for the same reasons as God does. But perhaps the most wonderful promise is He causes us to walk in His statues. Under the old covenant the people of God fell into forms of godliness. They were caught up in ritualism and forgot the shadows of the coming Saviour. God was never worried about the sacrifices, he was worried about their obedience, “to obey is better than sacrifice”. The sacrifice was for their disobeying, but they had to work. In the new covenant, with better promises, God changes us inside so that the changes are manifest on the outside. He causes us to walk in His statues and judgements because we are truly born again from above. If we aren't walking in the statues and judgements of God, obeying His commands, then it is evident that we are not born of Him. Because as our text says, if we are born of God we will not commit sin. There are however, more aspects that come into effect and help us to understand this teaching. If we backtrack in Johns epistle a couple of verses we read, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (3:7). The word sin is translated in this verse, as well as our previous verse, as the act of sin, not the lifestyle. But this verse opens an entire new aspect of defeating satans devices against us. “Whosoever abides in Him sins not”. This abiding is the key to near all spiritual success. Jesus declared in John’s account of the gospel, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (15:4). This means to remain always in an attitude of prayer, “pray without ceasing”. To remain always conscious of the presence of God, “set your affections on things above”. To walk in such a way as is pleasing to God, “if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit”. This is not hard when it is realized that every saint of God can have this life with simple faith and obedience. Just like we are saved by faith, we are sanctified by faith; and just like “faith without works is dead”, sanctification without “works meet for repentance” is dead. The whole issue can be summed up in three words, “looking unto Jesus”. If you look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and away from popular opinion you can indeed be saved to the uttermost. But God will not force obedience upon you, you must, “present you body as a living sacrifice” and ask Him to let the fire fall on the altar whereon you lay. Then you will become holy as He is holy, and you will be empowered to obey the command of Jesus Christ when He said, “go and sin no more”.
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Post by oap001 on Aug 25, 2006 13:10:22 GMT -5
PACP please read this article I wrote some time ago. It is called "GO and sin no more". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The popular belief today is that the only difference between a Christian and a sinner is that a Christian “names the name of Christ”. It is true that that is one difference between the two, but a Christian who has named the name of Christ must also “depart from iniquity”. This is where things get cloudy and people get rowdy. No one believes, or wants to believe, that one can be free from sinful acts. If you even mention the fact that the scriptures teach that a Christian is supposed to be free from sin you will face much opposition from every side, including the so-called ‘church’. John the Apostle mentions something along these lines in his first epistle when he writes, inspired by the Holy Ghost, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (3:9). This scripture seems to teach that a Christian can go an entire day without sin (contrary to popular teaching). Before anyone accuses me of being a perfectionist, let me say that I utterly reject the claim that one can reach a stage where they cannot fall into sin and are above temptation. However, in the Christian life it is possible to stop sinning and defeat temptation. John here mentions this verse on purpose, he wants us to know that he writes these things that we “sin not” (2:1). However, there is still the possibility of one falling into sin; this is the reason John says, “IF any man sin we have an advocate with the Father” (emphasis mine). Notice the small, but significant word, IF. IF implies that it is not suppose to happen. The Greek definition means, “in case”. So if we read the scripture this way it may make a little more sense: “In case any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”. Above I mentioned the fact that this is where things get cloudy. And here is where many oppose the teaching of holiness (even though the scripture says that without it no man will see the Lord). Now we need to choose once and for all whom it is we yield ourselves to, and to whose opinions we follow. There are only two options, man or God. There are ways that seem right to man, but lead to death. The devil would love us to revert back to the days of the papist Catholic Church when the Bible was chained to the pulpit. We have the peculiar privilege of reading the Holy Scriptures for ourselves and letting the Holy Ghost lead us into all truth. So let us see what God’s word declares to be the truth. Our text makes it clear that the new birth experience is a necessity to being free from sin and living in “holiness unto the Lord”. However, this experience goes much deeper and much farther than many people realize. Jesus made it clear to the truth seeking Nicodemus that this experience of the new birth was necessary for salvation, “except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”. This is the most important thing that can happen to any one human being. The modern understanding of being born again is saying a short little prayer of confession and acceptance. It is my conviction that millions of people in our churches today have prayed that prayer and are still going straight to hell. The reason is that they have never turned from their sin and actually been birthed anew by the Holy Spirit of God. Being born again is much more than praying a prayer. Ezekiel states it this way, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (36:26,27). This is the promise of the new covenant. God not only forgives you by the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also performs a drastic change within you. He births your spirit anew, changes your heart and gives you His Spirit. You then hate the things God hates, love the things God loves, and that for the same reasons as God does. But perhaps the most wonderful promise is He causes us to walk in His statues. Under the old covenant the people of God fell into forms of godliness. They were caught up in ritualism and forgot the shadows of the coming Saviour. God was never worried about the sacrifices, he was worried about their obedience, “to obey is better than sacrifice”. The sacrifice was for their disobeying, but they had to work. In the new covenant, with better promises, God changes us inside so that the changes are manifest on the outside. He causes us to walk in His statues and judgements because we are truly born again from above. If we aren't walking in the statues and judgements of God, obeying His commands, then it is evident that we are not born of Him. Because as our text says, if we are born of God we will not commit sin. There are however, more aspects that come into effect and help us to understand this teaching. If we backtrack in Johns epistle a couple of verses we read, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (3:7). The word sin is translated in this verse, as well as our previous verse, as the act of sin, not the lifestyle. But this verse opens an entire new aspect of defeating satans devices against us. “Whosoever abides in Him sins not”. This abiding is the key to near all spiritual success. Jesus declared in John’s account of the gospel, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (15:4). This means to remain always in an attitude of prayer, “pray without ceasing”. To remain always conscious of the presence of God, “set your affections on things above”. To walk in such a way as is pleasing to God, “if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit”. This is not hard when it is realized that every saint of God can have this life with simple faith and obedience. Just like we are saved by faith, we are sanctified by faith; and just like “faith without works is dead”, sanctification without “works meet for repentance” is dead. The whole issue can be summed up in three words, “looking unto Jesus”. If you look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and away from popular opinion you can indeed be saved to the uttermost. But God will not force obedience upon you, you must, “present you body as a living sacrifice” and ask Him to let the fire fall on the altar whereon you lay. Then you will become holy as He is holy, and you will be empowered to obey the command of Jesus Christ when He said, “go and sin no more”. Evan, I am going to stop with the first sentence. That states: The popular belief today is that the only difference between a Christian and a sinner is that a Christian “names the name of Christ”.You are not accurate in what I have said my belief is. I live holy...I believe in holy living. A Christian bears fruit an unsaved false convert does not.
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Post by evanschaible on Aug 25, 2006 13:23:10 GMT -5
PACP,
Did you not read my introductory sentence? I wrote this article awhile ago, it is not pointed at you. You can however stop there, I didnt expect you to take it seriously anyway. Sin, in any way, shape or form, no matter what you profess, will send you straight to hell. I am not saying you live in sin, but you said "we all sin", which is not a scrioptural statement. You say "you beleive in holy living" and in the next breath you say, "we all sin". Not to sound pressing brother, but which one is it as they are contrdictory. Forgive me for my forcefulness brother, but I love you and I want you to see what scripture says.
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Post by oap001 on Aug 25, 2006 13:42:52 GMT -5
PACP, Did you not read my introductory sentence? I wrote this article awhile ago, it is not pointed at you. You can however stop there, I didn't expect you to take it seriously anyway. Sin, in any way, shape or form, no matter what you profess, will send you straight to hell. I am not saying you live in sin, but you said "we all sin", which is not a scrioptural statement. You say "you beleive in holy living" and in the next breath you say, "we all sin". Not to sound pressing brother, but which one is it as they are contrdictory. Forgive me for my forcefulness brother, but I love you and I want you to see what scripture says. No amount of "good works" that "add on to" the finished work of Christ will make you more pleasing to Him. Let alone wipe away any of your sin. I am fairly satisfied that you guys are saved. Because you have trusted Christ. But the dangerous thing about what you are saying is that we need to trust in something we do after we get saved. My position is that, after we get saved, that we need to live by the spirit and that the Spirit will bring about good works in us. Yes of course I believe we must obey to reap the blessing of God. But clearly one already has Christ if they believe. But as the last several of verses point out. God will severely punish a person who walks away from Him. Praise God I would never do that because I am surrounded by Christian people who love me and build me up in my faith. I have a Godly wife, Godly Children and I am fed continually by the Word of God. I have no Major sin in my life. And I have a great Church family..plus I live my Christian live public ally. There was a time after I got saved where I battled with sin. Until eventually God won out. Back then no one in my family was saved and I wasn't edified (built up) as I am now. I was recovering from years of alcohol abuse and sin. But by no means do I believe that I gained, lost and gained my salvation. You all must have experienced the same thing. I'm sure....it is God that sets the Christian back on track. We fall but we get back up...we can't be stopped. And before you know it God has complete victory in our lives. Do you get it? Plus one other thing...there are some that have secret sin. That BROTHER must be restored in humility. If there is someone out there, and you who ever you are, who has fallen to sin in some point of your life. My message is, God is the God of second chances. He will forgive you and restore you.....he will not scrap your life because you failed Him. That should make a person trust in who God really is. Now I have Christian love for you....(goof ball I am not mad brother, but I need to tell you this. It's important to me.
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Post by biblethumper on Aug 25, 2006 13:44:10 GMT -5
PACP, Did you not read my introductory sentence? I wrote this article awhile ago, it is not pointed at you. You can however stop there, I didnt expect you to take it seriously anyway. Sin, in any way, shape or form, no matter what you profess, will send you straight to hell. I am not saying you live in sin, but you said "we all sin", which is not a scrioptural statement. You say "you beleive in holy living" and in the next breath you say, "we all sin". Not to sound pressing brother, but which one is it as they are contrdictory. Forgive me for my forcefulness brother, but I love you and I want you to see what scripture says. Evan has a very good point here, PACP. Either we "all sin" or we walk in the COMMAND to "be holy"... "Be" holy is a PRESENT TENSE condition. You cannot have it otherwise. Holy Living is commanded, demanded and given by God as a Blessing of the Atonement to His People.
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Post by oap001 on Aug 25, 2006 13:48:54 GMT -5
Yes, holy living is commanded. We will all fall short of that commandment. A saved person will bear fruit.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Aug 25, 2006 18:57:57 GMT -5
I don't know. The last time I remember falling into sexual sin was about 3 years ago. I don't really keep a tally. I know I haven't wanted to have sex with anyone I am not married to today.
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Post by Josh Parsley on Aug 25, 2006 19:25:25 GMT -5
I've been tempted numerous times. I would like to boast in God delivering me out of temptation a little while.
When I was a sinner I was wrapped into pornography. The first time I remember seeing pornography and doing sexually oriented things was about 6 or 7 years old. And you can imagine by the time I was a teen I was overflowing with lust. I was completely bound to pornography by about 16 or so. It was almost like a drug and if it was not fulfilled it was like I was having withdraws or something.
When I was first born again I struggled with sexual sin for about 5 months or so. The last time I remember falling into it I remember instantly feeling God leave me. I felt like the ground was going to swallow me up or something. It was terrifying. (Regardless of your theology, I'm just stating what I felt.) I fell on my face and began to weep before God to forgive me. He did, and with that gave me power over it.
I have been tempted many times since then, some large, some what I would call "normal." I remember one night while I was in college I was about to fall asleep. The phone rang. I didn't knew who it was. I called it back and it was a girl that said she knew me. She didn't really know much about me but I guess I gave her my phone number a long time before this (before I was converted). She started to talk filthy things to me and asked me to meet her. I don't remember what all I said to her to make it clear that I declined, but I remember feeling an abhorrence to the very thought of meeting her. It mad me angry that someone would do such a perverted thing. I wasn't necessarily mad at her, but the devil. Later on that night I had a wonderful time in prayer thanking God for His deliverance!
Another time, I was going to text message a friend that was about to move out of the state. Apparently, she had changed her number and someone else had already gotten it. The new person that had the number texted me back and was just asking who I was. I'm guessing because she thought she might have known me? It went from a general conversation until out of the blue she started telling me perverted things about her and wanting to meet me or to call her to talk in person. I was tempted very heavily this time, because none of my friends were in town and no one would have known anything about it. But Glory to Him! He gave me power over it and I resisted the temptation and went the rest of the night rejoicing at the deliverance of God my Savior from sin!
There have been numerous times that "smaller" temptations have occurred. Oh I thank God for His deliverance! I can honestly say I abhor sexual sins. I am tempted constantly. Many times things that have happened in the past will come to my mind, but I reject them and begin to think about my Lord. He suffered and died to take away my sin.
Who am I to build again the things that God has destroyed?
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Post by biblethumper on Aug 25, 2006 20:13:29 GMT -5
Praise God brother!
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Post by oap001 on Aug 25, 2006 23:38:38 GMT -5
I've been tempted numerous times. I would like to boast in God delivering me out of temptation a little while. When I was a sinner I was wrapped into pornography. The first time I remember seeing pornography and doing sexually oriented things was about 6 or 7 years old. And you can imagine by the time I was a teen I was overflowing with lust. I was completely bound to pornography by about 16 or so. It was almost like a drug and if it was not fulfilled it was like I was having withdraws or something. When I was first born again I struggled with sexual sin for about 5 months or so. The last time I remember falling into it I remember instantly feeling God leave me. I felt like the ground was going to swallow me up or something. It was terrifying. (Regardless of your theology, I'm just stating what I felt.) I fell on my face and began to weep before God to forgive me. He did, and with that gave me power over it. I have been tempted many times since then, some large, some what I would call "normal." I remember one night while I was in college I was about to fall asleep. The phone rang. I didn't knew who it was. I called it back and it was a girl that said she knew me. She didn't really know much about me but I guess I gave her my phone number a long time before this (before I was converted). She started to talk filthy things to me and asked me to meet her. I don't remember what all I said to her to make it clear that I declined, but I remember feeling an abhorrence to the very thought of meeting her. It mad me angry that someone would do such a perverted thing. I wasn't necessarily mad at her, but the devil. Later on that night I had a wonderful time in prayer thanking God for His deliverance! Another time, I was going to text message a friend that was about to move out of the state. Apparently, she had changed her number and someone else had already gotten it. The new person that had the number texted me back and was just asking who I was. I'm guessing because she thought she might have known me? It went from a general conversation until out of the blue she started telling me perverted things about her and wanting to meet me or to call her to talk in person. I was tempted very heavily this time, because none of my friends were in town and no one would have known anything about it. But Glory to Him! He gave me power over it and I resisted the temptation and went the rest of the night rejoicing at the deliverance of God my Savior from sin! There have been numerous times that "smaller" temptations have occurred. Oh I thank God for His deliverance! I can honestly say I abhor sexual sins. I am tempted constantly. Many times things that have happened in the past will come to my mind, but I reject them and begin to think about my Lord. He suffered and died to take away my sin. Who am I to build again the things that God has destroyed? That is a great testimony Josh.
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Post by evanschaible on Aug 28, 2006 15:25:31 GMT -5
PACP,
I have posted an outline of what the scriptures say concerining this doctrine. Please read it. I called the thread "Christian Perfection (the final stand)". Read prayerfully brother, and allow God to speak to your heart.
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Post by Doc H on Aug 28, 2006 20:49:03 GMT -5
Thomas Watson Puritan preacher in 17th century London:
To the Christian:
"Though you fail in your obedience, and CANNOT keep the moral law exactly, yet be not discouraged. What comfort may be given to a regenerate person under the failures and imperfections of his obedience? That a believer is not under the covenant of works, but under the covenant of grace. The covenant of works requires perfect, personal, perpetual obedience; but in the covenant of grace, God will make some abatements; he will accept less than he required in the covenant of works...In the covenant of works, God required us to live without sin; in the covenant of grace he accepts of our combat with sin. Though a Christian cannot, in his own person, perform all God's commandments; yet Christ, as his Surety, and in his stead, has fulfilled the law for him: and GOd accepts of Christ's OBEDIENCE, which IS PERFECT, to satisfy for that obedience which is imperfect" (Ten Commandments-Thomas Watson 1692)
Watson then goes on to say that a true Christian will strive to live a holy life!
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Post by biblethumper on Aug 28, 2006 21:02:28 GMT -5
Well said!
A true Christian will not only strive to live Holy...he WILL live Holy! Praise God!
Does this mean he may never ever sin?
Not at all!
He may.
But he doesn;t have to... because Christ's PERFECT obedience to the Father secured not only Forgiveness, but also FREEDOM from the dominion of sin.
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Post by Doc H on Aug 28, 2006 21:23:59 GMT -5
That's good biblethumper.
We agree yet again.
BTW: Have you got any more footage of you doing 'hit and run' O/A using that micro bullhorn?
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Post by luketentwo on Aug 29, 2006 4:19:22 GMT -5
Victory in Jesus! What a great testimony.
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Post by brothertomm on Aug 16, 2020 10:00:34 GMT -5
To me its like this :
1. Make the conscious decision by your own Free Will and Accord to turn your back on "ALL" of your sins...REPENTANCE
2. Once you have made this decision and turned your back, every step you take closer to conforming to The Lord daily is SANCTIFICATION.
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