"And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."
Are we living unto ourselves by wanting to enjoy this worldly life and all those things associated with it? As of late, I'm beginning to believe that this is a very big obstacle preventing us (Christians) from achieving the perfect union with Him/God.
I've thought like other Christians for years that we could live a enjoyable life on this earth and walk with God at the same time. The more I read and believe the scriptures I am beginning to believe I am wrong. God is telling us he want's us completely.
Letting go of this fleshy world is a big hurdle, maybe too big for most of us. Hence, our need to find a compromise in our minds to mold/reinterpret the scripture to achieve a message that will accommodate us hanging on to our enjoyable worldly lives. Are we fooling ourselves?
Could this be a large part of why we haven't be able to achieve our perfect walk with God and become sin free? The overriding Bible message is we can't have the world and God - it's one or the other.
Thank you Bro. Dan. I can only deduce that you're assuming that I refer to Christians who sin, having sin's hold on them, as those wanting to 'hang onto their enjoyable worldly lives', even the "death grip hold to this worldly life we enjoy". I'm sorry if you were led to understand that was what I was referring to. Not in the slightest brother. 1 John 2:15.
I was hoping from my examples given earlier, both personal & otherwise, that I was never referring to a 'believer' who has one foot in the world & the other in his faith. I won't reiterate those here as they certainly did not indicate that I (& other true believers) could ever fuse the world's offerings to the holy & separated life we now have in Christ. Maybe James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" goes some way to reveal what sin is to me.
I realize that this verse means that when someone knows that he has before him the option to do what is proper, in line with God's Will, yet opts to not do according to the good inclinations of his heart, mind & the Spirit's Voice, then this becomes sin to him. However, I also include that 'doing good' means also doing what is right in the mind & not just at outward action, because sin also finds its secure harbor & breeding ground there.
So, I would refuse to let pride (sin) ever be my companion, but a friend showers me with much undeserved praise & flattery, which obviously would make me feel uncomfortable. Thanking him yet denying such worthiness, I let it go, but the mind continues to reflect on & off on the praise received, producing an undesired, unholy reflection on its veracity. This is not a personal example I share, as I've never ever received such praise, but an example of sin nevertheless. If you were the recipient of such adulation, what would be your response & would your mind ever come back to it for further reflection? To me, this is sin, but it may not be to you or others. I don't know. Blessings.
I agree that pride is a sin. When/if we receive praise/adulation we should not be internalizing it - but offering it back up to God where it rightfully belongs. We do all things to please God and all of the Glory adulation is His. If we do internalize it, I agree, it then becomes sin. I believe this verse is applicable here,
Matthew 5:16
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Thank you Bro. Dan, that's an excellent answer about not 'internalizing' pride or for that matter, any sin that finds its root in the heart. The real point of my example, is not just internalizing sin but when that very sin (at least the thought or recall of it), ever surfaces again. One may let pride go right at its inception to not become sin, but do we, or can we, in every instance not let our minds allow a reflection on it at a later point, even dwelling on it to some extent? If someone can be so disciplined & full of the Holy Spirit to so deal with it & for every sin that comes to entice, then yes, he is indeed abiding in Christ & has attained a state of sinlessness. But if he slips up even once (even though Christ's forgiveness avails), it proves he hasn't reached that state he's been striving for.
This is where I see the point of difference is: that even the appearance of that ONE sin only proves that a state of sinlessness cannot be reached while we remain in these bodies & minds of flesh. Rather to echo the words of the apostle, that like him, we must accept that "with the mind we serve the law of God; but with flesh the law of sin". Sin in all its forms & intensities, will continue to make its appearance showing that a state of absolute freedom from sin is not possible & to believe so, is an unfounded expectation & I believe not given in the Word at all. But teaching that we can & should deal with sin, to immediately confess it, receive forgiveness & strive to be alert to it, will give the believer the right attitude to sin & God's expectation of us in our struggles. GBU
2 Corinthians 5:15
"And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."
Are we living unto ourselves by wanting to enjoy this worldly life and all those things associated with it? As of late, I'm beginning to believe that this is a very big obstacle preventing us (Christians) from achieving the perfect union with Him/God.
I've thought like other Christians for years that we could live a enjoyable life on this earth and walk with God at the same time. The more I read and believe the scriptures I am beginning to believe I am wrong. God is telling us he want's us completely.
Letting go of this fleshy world is a big hurdle, maybe too big for most of us. Hence, our need to find a compromise in our minds to mold/reinterpret the scripture to achieve a message that will accommodate us hanging on to our enjoyable worldly lives. Are we fooling ourselves?
Could this be a large part of why we haven't be able to achieve our perfect walk with God and become sin free? The overriding Bible message is we can't have the world and God - it's one or the other.
GBU
Think about it, how do you read His life in the Scriptures
I was hoping from my examples given earlier, both personal & otherwise, that I was never referring to a 'believer' who has one foot in the world & the other in his faith. I won't reiterate those here as they certainly did not indicate that I (& other true believers) could ever fuse the world's offerings to the holy & separated life we now have in Christ. Maybe James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" goes some way to reveal what sin is to me.
I realize that this verse means that when someone knows that he has before him the option to do what is proper, in line with God's Will, yet opts to not do according to the good inclinations of his heart, mind & the Spirit's Voice, then this becomes sin to him. However, I also include that 'doing good' means also doing what is right in the mind & not just at outward action, because sin also finds its secure harbor & breeding ground there.
So, I would refuse to let pride (sin) ever be my companion, but a friend showers me with much undeserved praise & flattery, which obviously would make me feel uncomfortable. Thanking him yet denying such worthiness, I let it go, but the mind continues to reflect on & off on the praise received, producing an undesired, unholy reflection on its veracity. This is not a personal example I share, as I've never ever received such praise, but an example of sin nevertheless. If you were the recipient of such adulation, what would be your response & would your mind ever come back to it for further reflection? To me, this is sin, but it may not be to you or others. I don't know. Blessings.
The Sin of Pride.
I agree that pride is a sin. When/if we receive praise/adulation we should not be internalizing it - but offering it back up to God where it rightfully belongs. We do all things to please God and all of the Glory adulation is His. If we do internalize it, I agree, it then becomes sin. I believe this verse is applicable here,
Matthew 5:16
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
GBU
This is where I see the point of difference is: that even the appearance of that ONE sin only proves that a state of sinlessness cannot be reached while we remain in these bodies & minds of flesh. Rather to echo the words of the apostle, that like him, we must accept that "with the mind we serve the law of God; but with flesh the law of sin". Sin in all its forms & intensities, will continue to make its appearance showing that a state of absolute freedom from sin is not possible & to believe so, is an unfounded expectation & I believe not given in the Word at all. But teaching that we can & should deal with sin, to immediately confess it, receive forgiveness & strive to be alert to it, will give the believer the right attitude to sin & God's expectation of us in our struggles. GBU
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