Originally Posted by Forrest

I must confess, brother, I have been stubborn and I have rebelled. And God chastened, because He loves me and desired the fruit of righteousness.



None of us really deserve "well done". But by the precious blood of Christ, I am cleansed, forgiven, justified, redeemed, and declared righteous. WHAT A SAVIOUR!!!

I agree. But there is a difference in willful disobedience, and doing that which we would not do.

Paul, in Romans 7:19 stated that the evil he would not, that he did. This is unwillful sin.

But, look at Hebrews 10:26, 27

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

There is a fearful looking for of judgment that the one who sins willfully can expect. And that judgment is one of fiery indignation. Sounds pretty harsh, eh?

Originally Posted by Luke

I've done much worse than drink alcohol after salvation.

But here you go, since you seem to think, like others who have come here before you, that you can live a life of sinless perfection and full submission to God -

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Is there any time in your Christian life when you have known that it would have been God's will to do one thing, but you did another, or did nothing at all. The Bible says IT IS SIN - DISOBEDIENCE.

You are saved, not sinless.

When God reveals something to me through the reading of His Word or the listening to those called of God and checking their words with the Word of God, when He reveals to me I need to get rid of something, I get rid of it.

I do not willfully disobey God, no.

[Luke]

Then you are a better man than Paul

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Compare that with the verse I gave you from James, and you will see that Paul admits to willfully being disobedient to God at times.

Hebrews 10, and Hebrews 6, have been taken out of context more often than "God is love."

I trust that we are not going to be warned about losing our salvation....

Originally Posted by Luke

Then you are a better man than Paul

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Compare that with the verse I gave you from James, and you will see that Paul admits to willfully being disobedient to God at times.

No, I am no better than Paul. I did not say I do not sin. I fail miserably from time to time, but when God reveals sin, I repent and I confess. Then I ask Him to help me to serve Him more.

Notice in verse 19 that the evil Paul did was never intentional. He did not want to sin, but the flesh wars against the spirit, and unfortunately, sometimes prevails.

Originally Posted by Vendetta Ride

Hebrews 10, and Hebrews 6, have been taken out of context more often than "God is love."

I trust that we are not going to be warned about losing our salvation....

One cannot lose one's Salvation. Salvation is a done deal and as a gift of God is without repentance.

But, David wrote in the Psalms, If I regard iniquity in mine heart the Lord will not hear me. Some that have made a profession with their lips do not possess Christ in their hearts because of their unwillingness to give up the sins God tries to reveal they are holding on to. They love the sin more than the Savior. Jesus wants the preeminence in man's life. He is not willing to share you with satan any more than you would want to share your wife with another man.

The rich man went away sad... not because he was rich, but because of his love for those riches. Sin separates man from God.

God knows our hearts. He knows the hidden things of our hearts. That which we are unwilling to quit when His Word and not just His Word, but His Spirit tells us it is sin.

I have noticed something in 39 years of the Christian life. There seem to be two types of Christian: those who are concerned about reaching a lost and dying world, and those who would rather spend their time criticizing and gossiping about their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Guess which group God tends to use?

[George]

Originally Posted by Luke

I've done much worse than drink alcohol after salvation.

But here you go, since you seem to think, like others who have come here before you, that you can live a life of sinless perfection and full submission to God -

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Is there any time in your Christian life when you have known that it would have been God's will to do one thing, but you did another, or did nothing at all. The Bible says IT IS SIN - DISOBEDIENCE.

You are saved, not sinless.

Ahh, brother Luke, now your getting close!

So many of these Christians that come here are so concerned and occupied with the "sins" of the "flesh" - when if we looked to our hearts; and our minds; and our consciences; and our spirits - the "flesh" wouldn't have a chance. But this body of sin keeps getting in the way of obeying God according to His Holy word.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Herein is the "secret" - Don't keep fighting with flesh. (You cannot win), instead we must:

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. [Proverbs 4:23]

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.


Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:


John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

This is where the Christian life (and walk) is at. This is what its all about - NOT about "meat" or "drink"; or observing days, months, times, and years. NOT the WEAK and BEGGARLY ELEMENTS or all of the TRADITIONS OF MEN.

Most of the Posts by these Christians that are so concerned about DO NOT, TOUCH NOT, DRINK NOT, are "CARNAL", and benefit no one and there is no Profit to be gained from them. That is why I will not engage carnal Christians for any length of time. Our life is not in these fleshly observances, ordinances, and Laws. We have someone so much better than all of them!

Originally Posted by Vendetta Ride

I have noticed something in 39 years of the Christian life. There seem to be two types of Christian: those who are concerned about reaching a lost and dying world, and those who would rather spend their time criticizing and gossiping about their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Guess which group God tends to use?

The ones who tell the truth whether on internet boards or on the streets.

The Word of God warns us to abhor that which is evil and to cleave that which is good.

Reckon we need to tear those verses out of the Word of God since so many label us to be carnal because we preach the same things.

Amazing!

Liberty in Christ does not mean liberty to disobey His Word.