I know my constant insistence that God saves us from sin, and not simply the penalty of sin, causes some folks a little (or maybe considerable) concern.
I know some folks have been taught that sin is inherent to the human nature and cannot be escaped as long as we are in the flesh (which they misunderstand to mean the physical body).
Some have been taught that Christians must observe Old Testament Ceremonial, Sacrificial and Dietary Laws.
Others have been taught that we cannot keep the moral law of God, even though we are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, in spite of the many passages which clearly tell us we must, we should, we can obey God, keep His commandments, and do that which is pleasing in His sight.
There are people who deny that we can walk in victory, and be more than conquerors, and that we can always triumph in Christ and we can overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, and we can be cleansed of all sin and pure, even as Christ is pure, and we can walk in the light, even as Christ is in the light.
I know my constantly declaring these great Biblical truths wear some people out.
But at least think about these things.
Does the Bible (the New Testament in particular) tell us that God does not want us to live a life of loving submission to His will, to His word, to His commands, or does it tell us the opposite?
Which side of this issue do you proclaim?
Does the Bible (the New Testament in particular) tell us that God cannot save us from all sin in this present life, or does the Bible tell us the opposite?
What to you tell people, with great conviction and joy?
If you could, would you live your life daily in joyful submission to the will of God or would you struggle and fail to walk in His steps?
If you sit down with the Bible, without any outside sources, would you find more verses that direct us to living faithfully or more verses which excuse us for being unfaithful to God?
Would you find more verses that promise God's deliverance from sin and sinning or more verses that says God will not deliver us from sin and sinning?
Would you find more verses that say we will be judged by our deeds, words and thoughts or that we won't be judged and rewarded according to our deeds?
Do you see the death of Christ on the cross as the Father's loving sacrifice to take away our sins and guilt and punishment, or do you see the death of Christ as an angry act of a wrath driven God, punishing His Son as a pervert who is hated by the Father?
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