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Bible Study Can We Be Justified by Faith? – Bible Study Topics

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Some Christians think that they are no longer sinners, but are justified by believing in the Lord Jesus, and that they will be taken into the kingdom of heaven when the Lord returns. It is written in the Bible, “Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus” (ROM 3:25-26). So they consider that, with Jesus Christ acting as their sin offering, as long as they repent to the Lord, their sins can be forgiven, and thus they can be justified through the redemption of Jesus. However, whether or not we have ever thought: It is true that our sins have been forgiven through our faith in the Lord Jesus, but does this mean that we are righteous men and are no longer of sin?

First, we might as well see what the apostle John said about this, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 JOHN 3:7). The apostle John warned us not to be enticed by people’s exteriors, and that without doing righteousness, a preacher of righteousness isn’t necessarily righteous only by promoting righteousness, whereas the one doing righteousness as well is sure to be righteous. It is perceived that neither promoting righteousness nor doing righteousness can be absent. However, with neglecting to put righteousness into practice, we only think, as long as we endure to the end, we will be justified by faith and will not be counted as sinners, and also we will surely enter the kingdom of heaven. This viewpoint above doesn’t accord with God’s will, nor is there any proof in the Bible.

Next, looking at us, believers in the Lord Jesus today: Although we have some good deeds outwardly after accepting the redemption of the Lord Jesus, such as giving alms and helping others, yet these deeds are still far from proving that we are doing righteousness—merely standing for a good behavior, which can still not correspond to the Lord Jesus. It is because that we, having many corrupt dispositions within, can’t avoid committing sins and resisting God yet. For instance, when we encounter things in our real life, we can’t walk in God’s way or live out His words, filled with selfishness and baseness, crookedness and craftiness, but often reveal corrupt dispositions of arrogance and self-conceit without a heart of reverence for God; when we shepherd the church and suffer hardships to do some work for the Lord’s sake, we can exalt and testify ourselves to be venerated and looked up to; when we serve God, we can attack against each other and raise jealousy and strife between one another to compete for status; in addition, when our labor and sacrifice beget no God’s blessings, we can complain about and misunderstand God; when God’s work is not in accord with our notions, we can judge God; and so on. Aren’t these manifestations above the revelation of corrupt dispositions?

With so many sins existing within us, can we be called the righteous? Let’s see what is written in the Bible, “If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (EPH 4:21-24). These verses also tell us: Since we have accepted the way of the Lord, we must cast off our former corrupt behaviors, live out the likeness of a new man, and ought not to do abominations any more. We should know the ones God finally will get are those who can live out God’s words and righteousness from the inside out, instead of those who only have a few good behaviors on the surface but are still bound by sins within. We, however, have lots of corrupt satanic dispositions, full of sins. How can we be called righteous people for this reason? It is also recorded in the Bible, “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die” (EZEK 18:24). As can be seen from the verse, although we can be justified because of the redemption of the Lord Jesus and our faith in Him, nevertheless this does simply mean that we get an opportunity of being justified from the Lord, rather than represent that we are righteous people. If we can’t seize this opportunity to do righteousness, but live in sin and give free rein to the spread of sin, then how can we become righteous? So faith is inseparable from practice. If we only have faith but no living out in our behaviors, then we can’t receive God’s approval. Thus, the saying of being justified by faith is invalid.

Now that we can’t truly be justified by faith, how can we be justified then? In fact, the Lord Jesus has already set the standard of righteous people. It is said in Rev 19:7-8, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” From this we see that what God says about the standard of righteous people is based on whether we can do righteousness, in other words, it depends on whether we can live out holiness and the image of a just man. Supposing that we fail to do it, then we will not be justified by God. But, as for us, having many Satan’s corrupt dispositions within, we have not changed our life dispositions, full of sins in our living out, so we cannot glorify and manifest God at all, nor can we live out His words. Then how can we act out righteousness? Therefore, we must get rid of our corruption, not living in sin any longer, so that we can become the ones who accept God’s inspection in everything, follow His will and practice according to His words, have a heart of loving and obeying God in all our actions, achieve changes in our disposition, and finally fear God and shun evil. Such people are righteous ones of whom God approves. Just like Job, in all his life he conducted himself in conformity with the Lord’s way, and had a heart of fearing God and shunning evil in everything. Whether trials of hardships or refinements, he could obey God’s orchestration and arrangement without complaints, without his own choices or demands, and could still praise God’s name. So, Job is the one who truly lived out the image of a righteous man and became a perfect man in God’s eyes.

We think a man can be justified by faith. In that case, we can weigh whether what we do is the living out of a righteous man. For example, since we believe in and follow God today, whether we have changes in our disposition, whether we still live by the old satanic nature, and whether we have tolerance, patience and love to others on the basis of understanding the principles of the truth; on the other hand, whether we act strictly as words said by God without mixture of our own will, notions and imaginations, and whether all we do can be in accordance with Christ? How many, mentioned above, have we lived out? If we would like to be justified, we must remove our corruption, not living by satanic corrupt disposition any more. Only by breaking away from sin to carry out righteous acts can we get the Lord’s approval. Just like the words in 1 PET 1:15-16, “But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.” as well as in HEB 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” We all know that God is holy. So, God does not allow any filthy and corrupt things to exist in His kingdom. Only the ones who are purified and saved by God can enter God’s kingdom.
 
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This flesh will never enter the kingdom of God for the flesh will always sin for that is its nature, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.

We are only justified by God through the righteousness of Christ who paid the price for our sin taking it and nailing it to the cross as He shed His blood for the sacrifice He made for all who by faith through God's grace will believe in Him and will receive our inheritance that is the kingdom of God, John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10.
 
I was wondering this as well. People on here have kept telling me not to call myself a sinner even though I still sin as the only person who never sinned was Jesus Christ. Which I'm also trying to work that out since although I do believe that the reason for His virgin birth was that He was born of the God and not of Joseph,.. Mary was still probably a sinner like everybody else.
 
What is sin?

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(NOTE: Sin is transgressing God's law)

We've all broken God's law & deserve the sentence invoked in (Rom 6:23 - DEATH). No one can say he is not a sinner until some means is provided (not to take away the law) but to remove the sin, which is the transgression of the law.

A sinless Jesus willing sacrifice fulfilled/met & paid the laws requirement. When we place our faith in Him/HIS work our sins are imputed onto Christ & His righteousness is imputed onto us (Rom 4). Once our sins have been removed, there is no transgression of the law

It's thru Faith/belief placed in Christs sin atoning sacrificial death (sins required wage PAID), burial (proof he died) & resurrection (God's receipt, payment received & accepted)

All the believers sins are forgiven Past-Present-Future

In the example below. The word "forgiven" is a verb in the "PERFECT TENSE". Source: Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

PERFECT TENSE definition verb:
1) Action executed is "complete", "once & for all", "need's no further repetition"

2) Vine's Bible Dictionary: signifies the remission of the punishment due to sinful conduct, the deliverance of the sinner from the penalty divinely, therefore righteously, imposed; 2dly it involves the ""complete removal"" of the cause of offence; such remission is based upon the vicarious & propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ

1 Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are "forgiven" you for his name's sake
(NOTE: Lil children your Sin's (pural) havce been "Forgiven" Past-Present-Future)

Ja 5:15
The prayer of faith shall save the sick, & the Lord shall raise him up & if he have committed sins, they shall be "forgiven" him.
(NOTE: Sin's "Forgiven" Past-Present-Future)

On the cross, Jesus Christ "bought and paid for", "ALL" Mankind's Sin's (Past-Present-Future!)

All that's required by us (HE HAS ALREADY DONE THE REST) is to receive/believe in Jesus Sin Atonement

Rom 3:
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all 7 upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(NOTE: The righteousness of God is by the "FAITH OF" Jesus Christ to all & upon all them that believe & trust in HIS finished sin redemptive work/payment!)

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
(NOTE: Justified freely by God's grace thru faith, which beging & ends in Christ Jesus)

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
(NOTE: The just shall live by HIS FAITH)
 
People on here have kept telling me not to call myself a sinner even though I still sin
when reference to no longer a sinner. your not your a new creation in Christ 2 cor 5:17. we are a work in progress which means we are growing yes we will sin .but that does not make us a sinner yes it sounds complicated . maybe this will help do you make plans to sin? i am sure you don't is there a possibility you/ we will yes ? does that mean your no longer saved ? No . scripture says that we have a advocate if we sin this is not a license to sin when we sin the Holy spirit will prick our heart through conviction . we repent turn from learn and grow .just like growing up as a child .. we learned not to do it when we got in trouble .. justified means declared righteous just as if we never sinned
 
when reference to no longer a sinner. your not your a new creation in Christ 2 cor 5:17. we are a work in progress which means we are growing yes we will sin .but that does not make us a sinner yes it sounds complicated . maybe this will help do you make plans to sin? i am sure you don't is there a possibility you/ we will yes ? does that mean your no longer saved ? No . scripture says that we have a advocate if we sin this is not a license to sin when we sin the Holy spirit will prick our heart through conviction . we repent turn from learn and grow .just like growing up as a child .. we learned not to do it when we got in trouble .. justified means declared righteous just as if we never sinned





Of course I never actually make plans to sin even though sometimes admittingly I want to do things my way and not God's way but I still don't get it. If somebody farms for a living that makes them a farmer, if they teach they're a teacher, preach preacher, etc. So how is it that a true believe in Christ who sins is not a sinner?
 
Of course I never actually make plans to sin even though sometimes admittingly I want to do things my way and not God's way but I still don't get it. If somebody farms for a living that makes them a farmer, if they teach they're a teacher, preach preacher, etc. So how is it that a true believe in Christ who sins is not a sinner?
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I never actually make plans to sin even though sometimes admittingly I want to do things my way and not God's way
don't we all there are sins of omission and commision . we crucify the old nature Galatians 2:20 to go farther i would have to go into sanctification
1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 King James Version (KJV)
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

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.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.



read the above link i tried get a diagram but was unable
 
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. don't we all there are sins of omission and commision . we crucify the old nature Galatians 2:20 to go farther i would have to go into sanctification
1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 King James Version (KJV)
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

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.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.



read the above link i tried get a diagram but was unable






Umm,.. I started reading this but I have real trouble with reading comprehension sometimes so I'm a little confused on how the soul and spirit are two different things. On a side note I am not proud of the fact that I often want to do things my way and not God's way by any means. :nonono
 
sometimes so I'm a little confused on how the soul and spirit are two different things. it is confusing ..i am getting ready for church if someone else dos not explain it i will when i get back
On a side note I am not proud of the fact that I often want to do things my way and not God's way by any means
trust me your not alone .i struggle my self .. we are our worst enemy
 
Of course I never actually make plans to sin even though sometimes admittingly I want to do things my way and not God's way but I still don't get it. If somebody farms for a living that makes them a farmer, if they teach they're a teacher, preach preacher, etc. So how is it that a true believe in Christ who sins is not a sinner?

Farmer, teacher, preacher etc. is their occupation. Is sin an occupation? We all want to do things we know are wrong as that is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit, Romans 8:6-9. When we give into the flesh then we are walking in disobedience to God. This battle will last until Christ returns. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

God has forgiven our sins past, present and future, but only if we humble ourselves before Him and confess them for then they are forgiven. There really is no excuse before God for anyone to sin, but by God's grace we are forgiven and loved.
 
Umm,.. I started reading this but I have real trouble with reading comprehension sometimes so I'm a little confused on how the soul and spirit are two different things. On a side note I am not proud of the fact that I often want to do things my way and not God's way by any means. :nonono

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ecc 12:7 then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The soul which makes up the conscious part of ones being is that of thought, action and emotion. The spiritual nature of man regarded as immortal and separable from the body/flesh at death and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state.

Without the spirit/breath from God our soul would not be alive as spirit and soul are connected, Genesis 2:7. When we physically die our soul, as the breath, goes back to God who gave it.
 
our spirit man/woman communicates hears God . our soulish man is where our emotions come from ( Our mind, emotion, and will make up our soul, which is our personality, who we are within. } our body is the physical part of us so we are made up of 3 parts pretty wild/crazy yeah but interesting .keep reading you will understand
 
our spirit man/woman communicates hears God . our soulish man is where our emotions come from ( Our mind, emotion, and will make up our soul, which is our personality, who we are within. } our body is the physical part of us so we are made up of 3 parts pretty wild/crazy yeah but interesting .keep reading you will understand





Okay but tomorrow when I have more brain power as it's very late right now and I only popped on here for a few moments.
 
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