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Single-eyed Object

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As we become more aware and understanding of the sinful nature we must also realize our Father’s conclusion concerning it, which is that He is for the present satisfied in the Cross of Christ concerning its being in the believer, thus we are to be encouraged concerning the knowledge of its “condemnation” in us (Rom 8:3), for this clears His side of the evil—from our old man to the Cross, providing us with the pleasure of our “acceptance” concerning it (Eph 1:6).
- NC



Single-eyed Object

Every believer owns that his sins could not be remitted but through the shed Blood of Christ. “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission”; but there is a want of clarity in almost everyone as to the way in which the flesh—its will, that actual principle that works it—is set aside.

Every conscientious believer admits that not an atom of the offensive thing can go into the Father’s presence; and strange and numerous are the expedients adopted to get rid of, or eliminate this troubler. From purgatory up to devotional efforts, there is the avowed desire to get clear of the sinful old man. The conscientious must desire, for a two-fold reason (though he might not be able to say so), to get rid of the rule of the flesh.

Every believer admits that he has committed, and does commit, sins; that even “the thought of foolishness is sin” (Pro 24:9); but while he seeks to have an untroubled conscience with regard to himself, he has not real freedom before God. It is simply because he does not see how the Cross removed the old man from the eye of God. Hence, he must, according to his light, resort to some method by which this grievous thing in him may be extinguished.

A Romanist thinks he can reach that by penance here, and purgatory hereafter, and this in itself is an admission that there is no use in being forgiven the fruit of the flesh, unless the root of it be reached. I only refer to the Romanist, because there is with him such an imitation, or counterfeit, of the real thing; for the truly conscientious is not merely satisfied that there is forgiveness of his actual sin, but he requires that there should be judgment on the parent flesh itself.

I am not only forgiven, but I see the enormity of my transgressions in the ashes—the token of the accomplished judgment which Christ bore on the Cross. The remembrance of this judgment is brought to me by the Spirit of Christ.

Another looks for perfection in the flesh, so that with him forgiveness is not enough; but he expects, through the work of the Spirit, to be improved, which really means to convert the bad into good; and this is called sanctification. But with this doctrine, as a necessity, it is held that if the flesh breaks out again, there is no conversion at all; and that the one who was regarded as a child of God today is, when he sins, no longer so, but a child of the devil.

The ritualist proposes to propagate through the elements of Christ’s death, and altered nature in himself. Holiness by faith is another from in which some believers seek to escape from the flesh in its principle, after they have received the forgiveness of sins. The doctrine of surrender of the will is an offshoot of this; while another form, very specious, but more disguised and pernicious, in proportion to is secrecy, is the sentimental delight which leads one to think that the less earthly he is, the more spiritual he is.

That sin in its root is in the flesh, I entirely admit; but my position now is, that I have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in me, and He manifests Christ in me. We find that Christ, according to the will of God, has brought to an end, judicially, in His own death unto sin, the old man—and thus the believer is “not in the flesh, but in the Spirit” (Rom 8:9): and the Lord Jesus Christ is the exclusive delight and object of the believer’s heart.

- J B Stoney




Excerpt from MJS devotional for Jan. 4:

“Has the Father led you into the desert? Has He plucked from under your feet all that you depended upon? Then a glorious experience is yours. See if this be not a way whereby God will glorify you! Do not complain about what you have lost, and do not yearn to have it back again, for then you are like Israel who wished to turn back to Egypt. God leads on, and instead of the flesh-pots He gives you bread from heaven, and instead of water from the Nile, water from the Rock.

“But you must put your trust in Him also in the desert, and through the days of darkness and difficulty. This is possible, however, only for those who have lost their self-assurance in the desert whereunto God beckons His children.”
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
 
Oops, no like button :thumbsup
One of those post that gets your mind to thinking for sure of who we are in.
 
That sin in its root is in the flesh, I entirely admit; but my position now is, that I have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in me, and He manifests Christ in me.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
That seems to be, essentially, the "cheap grace" theology** which tells us that we don't have to do anything.
But NT scripture is filled with the instructions of the apostles that we very surely MUST do something. In fact we must do everything we can to be conformed to the image of Christ..

Phl 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Paul says we are to "work out our salvation". We do that by responding to God working within us to will and to do His good pleasure.

That's why Paul had to tell believers; "do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." Rom 6:12-13

Your post appears to suggest that our behavior is either automatic, being controlled by the Holy Spirit< or that our actions do not matter at all.

Perhaps I misunderstood but, "nothing for us to do" would be completely unscriptural nonsense.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with y’all.


** “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession...Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

iakov the fool
(beaucoup dien cai dau)


DISCLAIMER: By reading the words posted above, you have made a free will choice to expose yourself to the rantings of iakov the fool. The poster assumes no responsibility for any temporary, permanent or otherwise annoying manifestations of cognitive dysfunction that, in any manner, may allegedly be related to the reader’s deliberate act by which he/she has knowingly allowed the above rantings to enter into his/her consciousness. No warrantee is expressed or implied. Individual mileage may vary. And, no, I don't want to hear about it. No sniveling! Enjoy the rest of your life here and the eternal one to come.
 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
That seems to be, essentially, the "cheap grace" theology** which tells us that we don't have to do anything.
But NT scripture is filled with the instructions of the apostles that we very surely MUST do something. In fact we must do everything we can to be conformed to the image of Christ..
Hi JP - Making a late reply, internet was out. Thanks for your input, but it must first be understood that all the work of God in and by the believer is only brought about according to the Spirit's direction and enablement concerning it. So, I agree we must do something, because He causes us to do so (Phil 2:13).

Blessings Brother!
 
Hi JP - Making a late reply, internet was out. Thanks for your input, but it must first be understood that all the work of God in and by the believer is only brought about according to the Spirit's direction and enablement concerning it. So, I agree we must do something, because He causes us to do so (Phil 2:13).

Blessings Brother!
There is a line between God doing good works through us and we co-operating with the Holy Spirit to do the good works which is often difficult to express.
 
There is a line between God doing good works through us and we co-operating with the Holy Spirit to do the good works which is often difficult to express.
Good point, but we are not at an opportunity to even desire evil (though we commit it unwillingly), so I see it as all God and not us with this issue. No cooperation involved, as though we would do anything else. God's using us, not the inverse!
 
That's the normal understanding concerning it in this manner, but I do not see Him "working" this in us as puppets but that He doesn't want us to possibly be any other way.
Yeah.
That's having it both ways.
God does not want anyone to be lost. That is His sovereign will for all of mankind. But that's not what happens.
The reason it doesn't happen is that God allows man to exercise his free will to choose to obey or not obey.
If God overpowers man;s free will then we are His puppets and toys and those whose will He does not overpower He purposely sends to hell.
Either man has free will or God is a monster.
 
Good point, but we are not at an opportunity to even desire evil (though we commit it unwillingly), so I see it as all God and not us with this issue. No cooperation involved, as though we would do anything else. God's using us, not the inverse!
It most certainly is our cooperation with the Holy Spirit to do good works, as it is the process of our sanctification.
 
Yeah.
That's having it both ways.
God does not want anyone to be lost. That is His sovereign will for all of mankind. But that's not what happens.
The reason it doesn't happen is that God allows man to exercise his free will to choose to obey or not obey.
I believe there are those who resist and reject the desire for His will, thus He works this only in those whom He knows will decide to receive Him!
 
It most certainly is our cooperation with the Holy Spirit to do good works, as it is the process of our sanctification.
Hi Free and appreciate your input! The reason why I eliminate the issue of cooperation is because if He "works" it in you, then it will transpire. He only does this with those who receive faith.
 
I believe there are those who resist and reject the desire for His will, thus He works this only in those whom He knows will decide to receive Him!
There are two sides to that story.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
There, Peter tells us that the Lord is patient with those who resist His love.
But, at Romans 1:18-30, Paul describes those who know God's righteousness but reject it anyway. Those God allows to pursue their lusts and receive the due penalty in their bodies.
So, yes, at some point God may just let an unrepentant and obstinate sinner have his way.

However, God NEVER forces anyone to love Him or serve Him.
Grace is not irresistible.
Isa 65:2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
According to their own thoughts;
 
Good point, but we are not at an opportunity to even desire evil (though we commit it unwillingly), so I see it as all God and not us with this issue. No cooperation involved, as though we would do anything else. God's using us, not the inverse!
Eph 4:30~~New American Standard Bible
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

1 Thess 5:19~~New American Standard Bible
Do not quench the Spirit;

Gal 5:25~~New American Standard Bible
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Eph 5:18~~New American Standard Bible
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Seems that scripture indicates that we can and do 'go our own way....willingly.'

I don't understand( but I do) why it is so hard to grasp that Christ saves us the moment we believe and we are sealed and justified. We are BOUGHT with a Price(HIS), and are no longer our own. And After salvation we are FREE to glorify Him. Some believers do and some believers don't.......willingly.

It is not 'loss of salvation' or 'really not saved.' It is loss of rewards or gaining rewards. And being great in His Kingdom or least in His Kingdom after we trust in Christ.

1 Cor 3:15~~New American Standard Bible
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.


Matt 5:19~~New American Standard Bible
"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
 
There are two sides to that story.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
There, Peter tells us that the Lord is patient with those who resist His love.
Though it's never the desire of the Lord that a soul perish (die in condemnation), yet His will (which He must do) is that the unbelieving--who are the unrepentant souls enter eternal damnation (Jhn 5:29). The "longsuffering toward us" are only the believers, and the "some count slackness" are those who perish.

Those God allows to pursue their lusts and receive the due penalty in their bodies.
So, yes, at some point God may just let an unrepentant and obstinate sinner have his way.
Those who will "receive their due penalty" are those condemned.

However, God NEVER forces anyone to love Him or serve Him.
Grace is not irresistible.
I believe He allows us to choose, although He knows our choices. He doesn't "work" in those He knows will never choose, which are those who are "already condemned" (Jhn 3:18).

Isa 65:2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
According to their own thoughts;
This refers to unbelievers among the Israel nation, who perished; those who were not His servants (Isa 65:13).
 
The "longsuffering toward us" are only the believers, and the "some count slackness" are those who perish.
I don't agree. IMO, His patience is toward those who resist. He gives them plenty of time to repent.
It doesn't make sense that God would not want anyone to perish but only show patience towards those who believe.
He doesn't "work" in those He knows will never choose, which are those who are "already condemned"
He doesn't work in them because they will not co-operate or respond to His offer of eternal life.
But it doesn't make sense that God would send to die for all sinners so that all mankind could be saved but not do anything to get sinners to repent.
This refers to unbelievers among the Israel nation, who perished; those who were not His servants
It does. So do you think God treats Jewish sinners differently from Gentile sinners?
That doesn't make sense either.

God so loved THE WORLD (that's everybody who ever lives) that He sent Jesus to die for THE WORLD.
Nowhere in scripture does God say "I only save those I picked to be predestined for salvation."
What scripture says is that God is the savior of ALL people (1Tim 4:10) not just some people.
 
I don't agree. IMO, His patience is toward those who resist. He gives them plenty of time to repent.
It doesn't make sense that God would not want anyone to perish but only show patience towards those who believe.
He knows those who will eventually repent, thus He knows to wait for them. He also knows those who will never repent, thus doesn't need patience with them, because He knows they will remain in unbelief. To me "resist" refers to a permanent position of unbelief.

God so loved THE WORLD (that's everybody who ever lives) that He sent Jesus to die for THE WORLD.
Nowhere in scripture does God say "I only save those I picked to be predestined for salvation."
What scripture says is that God is the savior of ALL people (1Tim 4:10) not just some people.
He doesn't pick, He just knows who will or will not choose faith!
 
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