Sin Free?

[Cornelius]

]God has always spoken to me through books and at that time one fell into my hands "The Royal Invitation" by Francis Ridley Havergal. In it she told me that if we are still sinning we are not 'in the ark' or in Christ … I tell you I was greatly disturbed but still I did not find it in myself to consecrate myself fully so I followed this good lady's advice and asked God to do it for me as I was willing but not able.

I went to sleep that night and when I awoke I knew that God had done the thing. I was in a new creation. There are no words to describe this. I knew that my sin nature had been put in a death position and that for the first time in my life I loved God with all my heart soul and mind and could walk without sinning. I had thought that I had the new nature before but it was nothing like this. Everything was brand new. Everything from my past was totally healed and my heart was new. Obedience was easy and no evil thoughts came into my mind. I was pure and totally clean inside and knew that I pleased God at last. I sang praises to God all the day long. If we have the new nature then we do not sin because it is a NEW nature. And God keeps us from falling as it says in Jude. I was a new person and the former shyness went and I had a boldness I could not believe. I would speak to all and anyone about Christ and my words would knock them for six. I was also given the ability to heal by laying on my hands, something I had not believed before that. I was living the life of an apostle.

But it is possible to fall from this state and after a year and a half I did so and I have not regained it yet. I think that this time is one of being put on the shelf after experiencing the first fruits and I have been tempted like no time before.

]

Two years ago , I went through one month where I had this experience too. God showed me that it is indeed possible. HE takes it away from us. It was a month where I did not even think about sin.I walked in totally victory on top of it, it was really under my feet. I believe God gives this to us, to encourage us that it can indeed happen. After this time, I had to learn what faith means. Now I walk in this "by faith"...agreeing with the Word that it has indeed been done at the cross already, although like Paul says" Not that I have already attained...........yet I speak to those who are perfect ......I too now speak and walk by faith.

It is possible to walk without sin in THIS life. But there is a door we must go through: Its called faith and it is manifested by the confession of our mouth. Agree with God and you will get it. Disagree with Him and you will not.

Stick to your confession of faith, because a double minded man will receive nothing.

 

[Cornelius]

Act 9:13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Act 9:14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.

I was thinking how ridiculous it is what some denominations teach about "saints" that they are declared such after their death. It goes against all Scripture and denies the work of the cross.

As we can see above it would be ludicrous to believe that only the sinless saints were persecuted and that Ananias told them to leave the "sinners who believed" alone and not to do evil to them that is laughable.

Equally ridiculous would be to assume that when Paul wrote to the saints, that all the "sinners-saved-by-grace" were asked to leave for a while , until the saints have heard their letter That is stupid .

2Co 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:
2Co 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

So would all the sinners please leave the building, because there is only grace and peace to the saints. For the sinners , there will be tea and biscuits served in the voyeur, while the saints hear what Paul has to say to them. Please keep the noise levels down, because the saints have important things to hear.


1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, So then did the saints have their own churches and the "sinners-saved-by-grace" their own, LOL

The doctrines of men............. :yes

 

[Cornelius]

Encouragement :

Look at it like this : A baby Christian who walks in the knowledge which he has (even though its very little) is considered perfect by God , when he or she walks faithfully in what they know.They are walking "in the light" In the light, really just means "in the knowledge". So a more mature person who does not walk in his or her knowledge of the truth is not seen as perfect by God, because they are lacking and not walking in the light.

Here is a picture that God gives us to understand this. The path we as righteous people are again likened to "light" The longer we walk, the more light we get, the more responsibility we have to walk in that light. Just like the sun comes up slowly, we increase in knowledge...........until the time where there are no shadows ...until the perfect day.

Pro 4:18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

GRACE is provided through God's mercy to enable us to walk this road. All the time, we are covered by the blood , so we are seen as perfect (even if we are not) . Our "light/knowledge" grows, and so our path progress , the more we become, the less we sin, the more we overcome.............till the perfect day.

But we cannot start this walk, if we do not confess the reality first that is HAS been done at the cross, SO that we can walk this walk.Christ has to walk this in us, or we will faith. He walks this, when , through prayer, we ask Him to do so.

C

 

[Cornelius]

Perfection is simply walking faithfully in the knowledge that you have up to today.

Was Noah really perfect? No of course not, but he faithfuly walked in all the knowledge he had and God called him perfect.

Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.

The same with Job. We see later in the history of Job that he was far from perfect, yet up to that moment Job was blissfully unaware of his sins and shortcomings. Yet God called him perfect. Why ? He walked in the light he had

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.

Are you walking in all the light you have? Then you too are perfect in the eyes of God. Are you willingly ignoring some truth and resisting it? You are not walking in the light and you are not seen as perfect .

 

[Mysteryman]

It is part of Christ prayer that we would be perfect in one with Him.

John 17
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

We are clothed with the same glory Christ was clothed with. We are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that kept Christ from sin, and Jesus was just as human as we are if christ could remain sinless so can we as Jesus Himself said ''even greater things that He will wee do''. Is there anything greater than remaining perfectly obedient to the Father?

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.


Either you believe God's word is true and that He can perfect us, causing us to walk totally sin free, or you should just toss out your bibles. Why read something you cant accept as truth anyway?

Hi Watchman

Where you are confused, is within your belief that your flesh can be perfected . The Word specifically tells us that we are not perfected in the flesh. We are only perfected in the Spirit. And this is the crux of everyone, except a certain few, who believe this untruth.

God chose us in Christ from before the foundations of the earth, to be holy and without blame in Christ in love. Only In Christ are we perfect. And it was nothing that we did ! God did this already ! So I am already perfected in Christ. I do not have to attain it. I already have it !

Now God asks us to walk in righteousness. But we will never walk 100 % in righteousness. Its a great goal to walk in 100 % righteousness. But be not deceived, this is an unatainable goal !

Remember, the Word is true , and every man a liar. So , when the Word states, that every man sins , and falls short of the glory of God << This is what God says ! But recently on this thread, I hear people calling God a liar, just by their comments, which go totally against what God has told us.

Not one person so far on this thread, has said that they want to sin, nor have they said that they are okay with allowing sin in their lives. Not one ! Yet we see people making references suggesting this. When is it going to stop ?

We all know that sin is wrong. No one needs to remind us of that ! We also know we are not suppose to sin, because sin is unrighteousness. But the question is, > do you live in a reality world ? Or in a fantasy world ?

Everyone is going to sin from time to time. I don't care who you are !! If you say I am wrong, then take it up with God. And I will be standing right there by your side when you ask him .

The truth is, is that we need to stop living in a fantasy world. People sin ! It is not what is best. It is something we all need to work on. Those who are stronger in the faith , are to help those who are weaker in the faith. It is the way in which God has set up His Word. So many of you think that you can do this on your own , because you have Christ in you. You feel it is between you and God only ! Well, think again ! Your brother or sister in Christ is there to help also. In fact, most of the time, God will send a brother or sister to help anogther in need ! Especially when one is struggling with sin ! It is called "council". If you put the burden of sin upon the individual brother or sister in Christ, and tell them to start walking with God, because God can perfect you, so that you will never sin. YOu who do such a thing are walking in sin ! Because that is not the council of God !

Even in the OT, God gave King David a prophet just for him, and his name was Nathan.

The apostles were not to go out on their own. Peter brought John with him. Paul had Barnabas, then Apollos.

We are to build one another up , not tear one another apart, as we have been doing within this thread !

Even the Apostle Paul had to go and correct the apostle Peter , because he was to be blamed for not walking by the epistle of Christ.

Please show me one other than Christ who walked perfectly in the flesh !! ? It is not attainable people ! Set your eyes on the goal, but don't walk foolishly with your eyes closed !

IN Christ - MM

 

[watchman F]

It is part of Christ prayer that we would be perfect in one with Him.

John 17
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

We are clothed with the same glory Christ was clothed with. We are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that kept Christ from sin, and Jesus was just as human as we are if christ could remain sinless so can we as Jesus Himself said ''even greater things that He will wee do''. Is there anything greater than remaining perfectly obedient to the Father?

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.


Either you believe God's word is true and that He can perfect us, causing us to walk totally sin free, or you should just toss out your bibles. Why read something you cant accept as truth anyway?

Hi Watchman

Where you are confused, is within your belief that your flesh can be perfected . The Word specifically tells us that we are not perfected in the flesh. We are only perfected in the Spirit.

I think it is you who is confused. I never said ''flesh'' can be perfect. However flesh can be dead, and if we continuously walk in the spirit rather than in the flesh we can live perfected, sinless, holy lives before our God for the world to see, and for them to know that He has loved us, and sent Christ to redeem us.


I have read through this thread and seen you claim that we who believe God can perfect us are taring down. When in actuality it is you who tares down. I say to you and to all God can do what He has promised to do in our lives, He can redeem us from the bondage of sin, and your response is ''NOT IN THIS LIFE''. Now you consider who is building up, and who is taring down?

 

[Cornelius]

I never said ''flesh'' can be perfect. However flesh can be dead,

A very quotable sentence

 

[DarcyLu]

He is faithful to supply us with occassions to sin.

do you have scriptue for this?

Well, since nothing happens to us but what God allows, that seems evident.
I really doubt I need to find a scripture for this one.
Any time God gives us a command, He gives us an occasion to sin...does He not?
We obey, or we sin. See what I mean?

Did God offer Abraham an occasion to sin when He told him to offer his son, Isaac?
Does God offer me an occasion to sin when he allows me to post on this board?
If He didn't want me to be tempted, He would make sure my computer broke down.
Either that, or he is building up my patience...which is what I, for one, need.[/quote]

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

 

[DarcyLu]

Act 9:13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Act 9:14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.

I was thinking how ridiculous it is what some denominations teach about "saints" that they are declared such after their death. It goes against all Scripture and denies the work of the cross.

As we can see above it would be ludicrous to believe that only the sinless saints were persecuted and that Ananias told them to leave the "sinners who believed" alone and not to do evil to them that is laughable.

Equally ridiculous would be to assume that when Paul wrote to the saints, that all the "sinners-saved-by-grace" were asked to leave for a while , until the saints have heard their letter That is stupid .

2Co 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:
2Co 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

So would all the sinners please leave the building, because there is only grace and peace to the saints. For the sinners , there will be tea and biscuits served in the voyeur, while the saints hear what Paul has to say to them. Please keep the noise levels down, because the saints have important things to hear.


1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, So then did the saints have their own churches and the "sinners-saved-by-grace" their own, LOL

The doctrines of men............. :yes

good points, C!

 

[Mysteryman]

Quote Watchman: "I think it is you who is confused. I never said ''flesh'' can be perfect. However flesh can be dead, and if we continuously walk in the spirit rather than in the flesh we can live perfected, sinless, holy lives before our God for the world to see, and for them to know that He has loved us, and sent Christ to redeem us.


I have read through this thread and seen you claim that we who believe God can perfect us are taring down. When in actuality it is you who tares down. I say to you and to all God can do what He has promised to do in our lives, He can redeem us from the bondage of sin, and your response is ''NOT IN THIS LIFE''. Now you consider who is building up, and who is taring down?"

Hi all

Where you have fallen short of knowledge and understanding Watchman, and others, is when you think that "we can be redeemed from the bondage of son. It is not that we can be, it is that we have been !

You need to put this in the past tense, not the present tense !

We "have" been redeemed, we have been justified, we have been set free from the bondage of sin, we have been sanctified, we have been set free from the bondage of death. < All past tense !

You are trying to attain that which has already been attained ! < This is where you and others are falling short within your knowledge and understanding.

You believe that "we can" defeat sin, when sin has already been defeated ! Which means that you and others have not accepted this truth .

If you feel that you can attain , then you can boast that you have attained . Yet, in Ephesians 2:5 - 18 we know that nothing was done of ourselves ! We have no right to boast by that which you can claim that you have attained. We are to walk in good works. But we could not attain this on our own. We need to walk in the Spirit in order to perform good works.

I am not righteous of myself, and I never could be. This is why God has told us, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

What you and others are trying to say, is that we can attain if we walk in the Spirit. < But this is not true ! We have attained,now we need to continue our walk in righteousness. If we fall, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who will restore us when we ask for forgiveness. The truth is, you will fall into sin once in a while. We are to consider our body as dead, yet while the body lives, we wareth between the Spirit and the flesh. We can only please God when we walk in the Spirit. But God has reminded us that this will not happen all of the time. Evey man falls short !

This thread was based upon defeating sin, and the individual who has Christ in them can defeat sin. < This is an untruth ! If you walk in the Spirit you then are walking in righteousness. Yet, every man will fall short of walking in perfect righteousness.

I thank God, that I have been made righteous, even though I myself am not righteous. We did not deserve God's righteousness, but because God is all love. HE loved us, and chose us in Christ, and he has already made me righteous in Christ. Not of myself, lest any man should boast !

Bless - IN Christ - MM

 

[DarcyLu]

Quote Watchman: "I think it is you who is confused. I never said ''flesh'' can be perfect. However flesh can be dead, and if we continuously walk in the spirit rather than in the flesh we can live perfected, sinless, holy lives before our God for the world to see, and for them to know that He has loved us, and sent Christ to redeem us.


I have read through this thread and seen you claim that we who believe God can perfect us are taring down. When in actuality it is you who tares down. I say to you and to all God can do what He has promised to do in our lives, He can redeem us from the bondage of sin, and your response is ''NOT IN THIS LIFE''. Now you consider who is building up, and who is taring down?"

Hi all

Where you have fallen short of knowledge and understanding Watchman, and others, is when you think that "we can be redeemed from the bondage of son. It is not that we can be, it is that we have been !

You need to put this in the past tense, not the present tense !

We "have" been redeemed, we have been justified, we have been set free from the bondage of sin, we have been sanctified, we have been set free from the bondage of death. < All past tense !

You are trying to attain that which has already been attained ! < This is where you and others are falling short within your knowledge and understanding.

You believe that "we can" defeat sin, when sin has already been defeated ! Which means that you and others have not accepted this truth .

If you feel that you can attain , then you can boast that you have attained . Yet, in Ephesians 2:5 - 18 we know that nothing was done of ourselves ! We have no right to boast by that which you can claim that you have attained. We are to walk in good works. But we could not attain this on our own. We need to walk in the Spirit in order to perform good works.

I am not righteous of myself, and I never could be. This is why God has told us, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

What you and others are trying to say, is that we can attain if we walk in the Spirit. < But this is not true ! We have attained,now we need to continue our walk in righteousness. If we fall, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who will restore us when we ask for forgiveness. The truth is, you will fall into sin once in a while. We are to consider our body as dead, yet while the body lives, we wareth between the Spirit and the flesh. We can only please God when we walk in the Spirit. But God has reminded us that this will not happen all of the time. Evey man falls short !

This thread was based upon defeating sin, and the individual who has Christ in them can defeat sin. < This is an untruth ! If you walk in the Spirit you then are walking in righteousness. Yet, every man will fall short of walking in perfect righteousness.

I thank God, that I have been made righteous, even though I myself am not righteous. We did not deserve God's righteousness, but because God is all love. HE loved us, and chose us in Christ, and he has already made me righteous in Christ. Not of myself, lest any man should boast !

Bless - IN Christ - MM

MM, - yes, it is defeated, Jesus said it is finished, now all we have to do is walk in that truth, press on forward to - perfection! AMEN! He is a faithful Father and He has promised He will help us, He has given us a way out of sin, we can do all things in Christ who strenghtens us. Jesus did not say "it is finished" BUT - no, He said it is finished - all of it, it's done.

now we, with faith, as without faith, we can not please God, we can walk in the "It is finished". What an awesome, amazing salvation we have!

 

[RichardBurger]

I do not believe that God makes sinful flesh perfect; He makes our spirit perfect. Is there a difference? Yes there is.

No one can claim that he/she is perfect in the flesh.
Galatians 3:2-3
2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
NKJV

Even Paul would disagree with the idea that we can become perfect in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
NKJV

Romans 7:15-25
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
NKJV

Paul never says he can stop sinning. He also thanks God that that those who are in Jesus have their sins removed, covered, in other words they are not accounted to those in Christ.

 

[Mysteryman]

I do not believe that God makes sinful flesh perfect; He makes our spirit perfect. Is there a difference? Yes there is.

No one can claim that he/she is perfect in the flesh.
Galatians 3:2-3
2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
NKJV

Even Paul would disagree with the idea that we can become perfect in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
NKJV

Romans 7:15-25
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
NKJV

Paul never says he can stop sinning. He also thanks God that that those who are in Jesus have their sins removed, covered, in other words they are not accounted to those in Christ.

Hi Richard

You are absolutely 100 % correct !

IN Christ - MM

 

[glorydaz]

Well, since nothing happens to us but what God allows, that seems evident.
I really doubt I need to find a scripture for this one.
Any time God gives us a command, He gives us an occasion to sin...does He not?
We obey, or we sin. See what I mean?

Did God offer Abraham an occasion to sin when He told him to offer his son, Isaac?
Does God offer me an occasion to sin when he allows me to post on this board?
If He didn't want me to be tempted, He would make sure my computer broke down.
Either that, or he is building up my patience...which is what I, for one, need.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

Nice verse but it has nothing to do with what I posted.
God isn't tempting us when He asks us to obey Him.
Simply by asking obedience, He is providing us with the occasion to disobey.
Disobedience equals sins. It's a testing, and God does test us.

 

[ProphetMark]

I do not believe that God makes sinful flesh perfect; He makes our spirit perfect.


Paul never says he can stop sinning.

But that's the whole point. He makes our spirit perfect. So we can stop sinning. What Paul says is that our flesh is dead. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5 v 16).
You seem to be contradicting yourself.

 

[glorydaz]

MM, - yes, it is defeated, Jesus said it is finished, now all we have to do is walk in that truth, press on forward to - perfection! AMEN! He is a faithful Father and He has promised He will help us, He has given us a way out of sin, we can do all things in Christ who strenghtens us. Jesus did not say "it is finished" BUT - no, He said it is finished - all of it, it's done.

now we, with faith, as without faith, we can not please God, we can walk in the "It is finished". What an awesome, amazing salvation we have!

Positionally we are perfect in Christ Jesus. It is not yet manifest what we shall be.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

When this corruptible puts on incorruption we shall be like Him.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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.

 

[DarcyLu]

Well, since nothing happens to us but what God allows, that seems evident.
I really doubt I need to find a scripture for this one.
Any time God gives us a command, He gives us an occasion to sin...does He not?
We obey, or we sin. See what I mean?

Did God offer Abraham an occasion to sin when He told him to offer his son, Isaac?
Does God offer me an occasion to sin when he allows me to post on this board?
If He didn't want me to be tempted, He would make sure my computer broke down.
Either that, or he is building up my patience...which is what I, for one, need.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

Nice verse but it has nothing to do with what I posted.
God isn't tempting us when He asks us to obey Him.
Simply by asking obedience, He is providing us with the occasion to disobey.
Disobedience equals sins. It's a testing, and God does test us.

hi glory,
when you first posed the question about "God giving us occasions to sin", i misunderstood and thought you were meaning God tempts us, which we know He does not.
yes, God does test us and Praise Him because His tests are like an open book test, He gives us everything we need to flee through the door and say "no" to sin! He has promised us this in His Word and God can not lie, so we must believe that what His Word says is true. AMEN!

 

[DarcyLu]

I do not believe that God makes sinful flesh perfect; He makes our spirit perfect.


Paul never says he can stop sinning.

But that's the whole point. He makes our spirit perfect. So we can stop sinning. What Paul says is that our flesh is dead. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5 v 16).
You seem to be contradicting yourself.

hi Mark,
i was thinking the same thing, the thread keeps coming back to the topic of flesh, when the Word tells us we are to be dead to the flesh and alive in Christ.

 

[Mysteryman]

I do not believe that God makes sinful flesh perfect; He makes our spirit perfect.


Paul never says he can stop sinning.

But that's the whole point. He makes our spirit perfect. So we can stop sinning. What Paul says is that our flesh is dead. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5 v 16).
You seem to be contradicting yourself.

Hi

This seems to be the same mistake everyone makes. We are to "consider" our flesh as being dead. If our flesh is dead, then we are dead, and we go to the grave.

WE are indeed suppose to walk in the Spirit. But our flesh is not dead yet !

 

[glorydaz]

Nice verse but it has nothing to do with what I posted.
God isn't tempting us when He asks us to obey Him.
Simply by asking obedience, He is providing us with the occasion to disobey.
Disobedience equals sins. It's a testing, and God does test us.

hi glory,
when you first posed the question about "God giving us occasions to sin", i misunderstood and thought you were meaning God tempts us, which we know He does not.
yes, God does test us and Praise Him because His tests are like an open book test, He gives us everything we need to flee through the door and say "no" to sin! He has promised us this in His Word and God can not lie, so we must believe that what His Word says is true. AMEN!

Yes, we can say no to sin. But the Word does not tell us we will always say no to sin.
Sin includes more than sins of the flesh. We can and do fall short.
To claim man doesn't fall short of the glory of God is prideful.
There are lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Testings and trial are a part of our life...we will ever have occasions to sin, and we will fall short many times before this life is over.

It seems many think of "perfect" as being sin-free. We are "blameless" because Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us. I see from the Word that perfect is being "complete". We are complete in Christ when we take on the righteousness of Christ. We must stand on the promises of God...not as we interpret them, but as they are. We must take the whole Word of God in order to rightly discern it.