I am 54 and have finally come to the realization that...

[EvolvingChristian]

...if I am going to truly follow Jesus Christ, I need to copy him in everything that I do and say. However, it's not easy, at least not for me. Many years of bad habits and lifestyle are hard to change. That's why I picked the username "EvolvingChristian".

I feel that, however, I am starting to get there. I hope I make it and I hope that we ALL make it!

 

[humble soul]

...if I am going to truly follow Jesus Christ, I need to copy him in everything that I do and say. However, it's not easy, at least not for me. Many years of bad habits and lifestyle are hard to change. That's why I picked the username "EvolvingChristian".

I feel that, however, I am starting to get there. I hope I make it and I hope that we ALL make it!

I like the name Evolving Christian. It describes all of us really.
None of us are better or worse than you. So feel right at home here.

 

[EvolvingChristian]

Thank you.

 

[Hopeful]

...if I am going to truly follow Jesus Christ, I need to copy him in everything that I do and say. However, it's not easy, at least not for me. Many years of bad habits and lifestyle are hard to change. That's why I picked the username "EvolvingChristian".

I feel that, however, I am starting to get there. I hope I make it and I hope that we ALL make it!

Always remember this verse on your journey..."There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13)
And this one..."Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" (2 Peter 1:10)

 

[Christ_empowered]

welcome to CFnet, EvolvingChristian . I like your chosen screen name. I don't have much in the way of advice and/or counsel, just...I admire your determination to fight good fight.

 

[JLB]

...if I am going to truly follow Jesus Christ, I need to copy him in everything that I do and say. However, it's not easy, at least not for me. Many years of bad habits and lifestyle are hard to change. That's why I picked the username "EvolvingChristian".

I feel that, however, I am starting to get there. I hope I make it and I hope that we ALL make it!

Great topic.

Welcome to the community.



The Lord calls this evolving; Transformation.


I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

• do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

God desires all of us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, much like a catapillar is transformed into a butterfly.


You have a good mindset, for this work.



Blessings to you.




JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

Our perfection is in Christ who perfects us daily. Our flesh is weak and in the flesh is the sin nature we are all born with (thank you Adam). But, when you read Galatians 5:16-26 we are to be walking in the Spirit as we crucify the things of the flesh.

Romans 7:7-25 Paul, even after his conversion struggled with sin.

Ephesians 4:13 none of us are yet in the fullness of Christ as none of us are yet perfect, complete, full-grown and completely mature in the Lord. Our Spiritual inner man is perfect as that is where the Holy Spirit dwells, but yet in this fleshly body we all have a sin nature that can not be controlled. This verse does not teach that we will stop sinning and that is why Jesus is our mediator before the Father in whom forgives us of our sins when we confess them.

Colossians 1:28 and 4:12 Paul wants to present every man perfect in Christ, but none of us will be completely mature or full grown in the knowledge of the Lord until this mortal puts on immortality and this corruptibe will have put on inncorruptibe when Christ returns and we are then changed in order to be caught up to Him in the air.

No matter how hard we try not to sin, we will fall short at times. Paul rebuked Peter for the sin of favoritism in Galatians 2:11-13. Even after Paul's conversion he called himself the chief of sinners and spoke of Jesus Christ longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting, 1 Timothy 1:15, 16.

Peter, James, John and Paul all admitted they were imperfect so how could anyone claim they are perfect. Perfection will not come until the transition of 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. When we stand at the judgement seat of Christ were our works will be judged and rewards will be given is when our redemption will be complete for we are only sealed y the Holy Spirit until that day, 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; Ephesians 4:30.

We are only sealed by the Holy Spirit, but not yet saved as there is much we will have to endure until the end when Christ returns, Matthew 24:13.

Telling people that if you are a Christian then you are perfect without sin is a false teaching from the lies of Satan and will cause many to fall away as they feel they would never be worthy to be called a child of God. God is not going to discipline those who are not His own, but to His own He will send the Holy Spirit to convict us when we do sin and grace calls us to repent of our sin as we walk by faith looking for the day of our redemption.

 

[EvolvingChristian]

Wow for_his_glory ! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!

 

[GodsGrace]

Hi EvolvingChristian
Looks like JLB and for_his_glory stole my thunder !

I was going to quote

Romans 12:1-8
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Look at what it says and don't ever be discouraged.
It says to present ourselves as a living sacrifice...this is our spiritual worship for God. It is what we are called to do.
It says that we are not to be conformed to this world...to its habits or customs, but to be different from the rest.
If we're not different, how would anyone know we are Christian? Different how? In doing for God what we are called to do.
God gave to every person, which is a part of His Body, a different function. We should carry on that function as God would want us to.

Some will have the function of some type of service, some for teaching, we should show mercy and kindness...our function
might just be to be cheerful with others and smile and make their day better.

Jesus said to be perfect...this means to be complete in our ways in pleasing God.
And when we fail, and fail we will, we ask forgiveness and then carry on.

We are all on a journey,,,we are all evolving.

 

[EvolvingChristian]

Hi EvolvingChristian
Looks like JLB and for_his_glory stole my thunder !

I was going to quote

Romans 12:1-8
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Look at what it says and don't ever be discouraged.
It says to present ourselves as a living sacrifice...this is our spiritual worship for God. It is what we are called to do.
It says that we are not to be conformed to this world...to its habits or customs, but to be different from the rest.
If we're not different, how would anyone know we are Christian? Different how? In doing for God what we are called to do.
God gave to every person, which is a part of His Body, a different function. We should carry on that function as God would want us to.

Some will have the function of some type of service, some for teaching, we should show mercy and kindness...our function
might just be to be cheerful with others and smile and make their day better.

Jesus said to be perfect...this means to be complete in our ways in pleasing God.
And when we fail, and fail we will, we ask forgiveness and then carry on.

We are all on a journey,,,we are all evolving.

Thank you!