Bible Study Sins of the Believer

[Kidron]

Mat 5:1-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."

."

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Its the very fact that Jesus fulfilled the law ....that abolishes it,... and thereby releases us (believers)(born again) from the eternal penalty of the law.
We are "no longer under the law, but under GRACE".
And because we are released we are therefore pardoned by Jesus's sacrifice.
In all this we find Jesus's words...."it is Finished (or Accomplished"), that were spoken from where it was accomplished on our behalf.
And in THIS, God now has the means to justify us and thereby impute Jesus's very own righteousness into our account, into us, upon us.
And this is why no Christian needs anything else to save them or to redeem them, or to forgive or pardon them.
As all has been accomplished by Jesus, on our behalf, on the Cross, and God extends this gift of righteousness for free, to any and all that would come and believe the Gospel that i just explained, or that Paul explains in 2nd Corin 15:3,4.......or here.....Romans 3:21-28

 

[Drew]

The day a believer comes to comprehend, believe, and accept, that tho he "sins", his/her sins are no longer held against them based on Christ taking them and paying for them ALL, ...past , present, future.... Is when that Christian's spiritual insight has entered them into the Joy of their Salvation.... and they will no longer be vexed with the religious slavery of trying to keep themselves "saved" by a lifestyle of works.
It is on THAT day that their Christian walk becomes a living water of joy to them and no longer a weary burden of self effort.
Romans 4:8

This is only part of a more complex picture: Paul is clear in Romans 2:6-7 - God will look at our "good works" as the criterion by which eternal life is awarded:

6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. [Romans 2:6-7, NIV]

And he is also equally clear here that the believer does indeed have "work" to do:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. [Romans 8:12-13, NIV]

Now people like me who point out these disturbing texts (disturbing to those who thinks works don't matter) will often be misrepresented as:

1. Denying the necessity of having our sins cleansed;
2. Denying grace;
3. Supporting the notion that we "earn" our salvation.

All these characterizations are manifestly false:

Re item 1: To agree with what Paul says in the two texts I post is entirely consistent with the notion that our sins needed to be "washed in the blood". If you need me to provide more details, I will;
Re item 2: It is only through grace that we are even enabled to good works, so there is no denial of grace;
Re item 3: Per the Romans 8 text - I do not even need to argue the point as Paul makes it for me - it is the Spirit that is the engine that generates good works.

 

[smaller]

It is not just man that Law is directed to. Satan is also moved into adverse actions by the Word, law inclusive, as shown in Mark 4:15. This is the adverse operative and adverse operator "in" man, stealing Word for example, or bringing various lusts in adverse fashions to the Laws of God. This principle is laid out by Paul in Romans 7.

Is Satan a sinner? Of course. 1 John 3:8 explicitly states the devil is a sinner. We also know from 1 Tim. 1:9, that the law is for sinners, of which Satan and devils are. They are also the "lawless" and "the wicked," Satan even being termed "the wicked one."

The dynamic of God Works two ways. It is for and behalf of man, and because of the adverse construct of Satan to Gods Words, Satan resists Gods Words. It is on this basis, that Gods Word is properly divided. This is also why Paul upheld or established the law, as a proof of resistance and condemnation, to Satan and his workings that are attempted to be performed in believers, and this attempt is always successful on Satan's part, in the flesh, in the form of adverse lusts or evil thoughts inserted by same, again shown by Paul in Romans 7. Paul concluded that evil was present with him by this exercise in vs. 21, and is so by the direct result of indwelling sin moving in adverse reactions to the law. He termed that indwelling sin "no longer I" twice in that chapter. Paul was not evil, BUT the flesh is subject to the adverse reactions of the tempter in the flesh, through the avenue of temptations and Word theft from the heart, or at least the attempts of obfuscation and twisting of same.

Jesus said that evil thoughts defile us. I doubt any believer would honestly answer that they don't have any. And this essentially proves "our needs" for Grace and Mercy from God in Christ. Being lawful does not stop the resistance of the tempter to insert lust or evil thoughts, and in fact these can and often do get worse in believers, as we are also his enemy, and he continually seeks to regain his hold over our flesh. We are to reign above and over this adverse working and this adversarial party in our flesh.

 

[Drew]

Humor me on this a moment, but in Christ how do we having His new nature do that which is against His nature? We also have a carnal, or old nature that fights us throughout our spiritual walk. Read the fight Paul spoke of in Romans chapter seven

I am rather puzzled that so many people think the person in Romans 7 is a Christian since I think it is clear that he is not. And, yes, I am aware that Paul wrote Romans 7 as a believer and that he does use the present tense. I am prepared to show Biblically why this does not justify concluding that the Romans 7 "I" is a believer. That he cannot be a believer is rather clear from the transition to chapter 8:

1. In Romans 7, we have the "I" described a person basically unable to do good and a prisoner to the law of sin and death. A Christian unable to do good?
2. In Romans 8, where we clearly have a person who indeed is a Christian, that person is described as set free from that same law of sin and death.
3. How, then, can the person in Romans 7 be a Christian?

It is an unfortunate accident of history that the chapter division is where it is. People will read Romans 7, think it describes the experience of a believer, without realizing that Romans 8 undermines that possibility.

I would advise readers to watch out for a very interesting and unusual theology you may be exposed to when Chapter 7 is on the table: one where the human person is characterized as a schizophrenic combination of a hopelessly fallen "flesh" and a "saved" Spirit. This position has a lot of problems, not least a clearly overly pessimistic view of the power of the Holy Spirit to rescue us from slavery to a sin nature.

 

[Jim Parker]

QUOTE Its the very fact that Jesus fulfilled the law ....that abolishes it,... and thereby releases us (believers)(born again) from the eternal penalty of the law. QUOTE

The words "destroy" and "fulfill" have totally different meanings. You are attempting to assign them the same meaning. Since that is completely illogical, any conclusions drawn from that false equating of the two words will also be totally illogical.

Destroy: καταλύω katalyō - Strongs g2647 : to overthrow i.e. render vain, deprive of success, bring to naught
Fulfill: πληρόω plēroō - Strongs g4137 : to make complete in every particular, to render perfect

QUOTE We are "no longer under the law, but under GRACE". QUOTE

Absolutely. But the law was never a means to salvation. Faith, and faith's inseparable companion, faithfulness, (for faith without works is dead and cannot save) have always been the only path of salvation. No one could be saved by keeping the Law because the Law was not given to provide salvation; it was given to make man aware of sin.

The Law of Moses was a covenant, in fact, a treaty, between God and Israel with stipulations as to the duties of Israel and of God. God performed His duties perfectly under the terms of the covenant: He blessed Israel when they kept the Law and cursed them when they did not.

But, there is no provision for eternal life in the Law of Moses. Anyone who perfectly kept the law still died and would have stayed dead eternally if God had not destroyed the power of death by Jesus' death and resurrection so that eternal life was made possible to every person who would believe. (And the word "believe" includes the understanding that the believer ACTS like he believes. Otherwise, the word has a meaning more like "agreement" and God has no need of our agreement.)

QUOTE And because we are released we are therefore pardoned by Jesus's sacrifice. QUOTE

People are pardoned when they have violated a law. When they are pardoned, they do not pay the penalty for violating the law

Death is not a penalty for sin or of the law. The result of sin is described as a "wage" not a penalty. When we sin it results in our death. God does not kill us or condemn us to death because of our sin. Death is the logical consequence of sin because sin separates us from the only source of life: God. That's not a punishment or a penalty from which we can be pardoned. It's what happens when we are not connected to the only source of life.

When a believer is baptized, he is joined with Christ in His death and raised to new life (born again) in Christ. The death, which is the wage of sin, is experienced by the believer in baptism and, because he is raised to new life in Christ, death can no longer hold him, he will be raised to eternal life in Christ Jesus.

QUOTE In all this we find Jesus's words...."it is Finished (or Accomplished"), that were spoken from where it was accomplished on our behalf. QUOTE

The death, which is the consequence of sin, was accomplished, by Christ, for all mankind. And, as Jesus rose again to new life, so will all those who believe and are baptized also rise again to new life in Christ Jesus. (RO 6:2-4) Because Jesus dies as a man, but without sin, His death is efficacious to all mankind. And because He rose from the grave as a man, never to die again, that resurrection is efficacious to all mankind as well.

Jesus didn't "pay our fine" for committing the crime of sinning. He conquered death and destroyed the power it have over mankind because of our sin. Jesus was victorious over the power that would have held all mankind, all who bear the Image of God, and has freed the captivs of death and the grave.

QUOTE And in THIS, God now has the means to justify us and thereby impute Jesus's very own righteousness into our account, into us, upon us. QUOTE

It has nothing to do with imputing "Jesus's very own righteousness into our account." We don't have a "righteousness account" in the "Bank of God." The imputation (application) of righteousness (the divine energy by which God saves) has been imputed to all who believe and had been imputed in response to belief since the beginning, way before the cross.

QUOTE And this is why no Christian needs anything else to save them or to redeem them, or to forgive or pardon them. QUOTE

Your Faith without works will not save you.

QUOTE As all has been accomplished by Jesus, on our behalf, on the Cross, and God extends this gift of righteousness for free, to any and all that would come and believe the Gospel that i just explained, or that Paul explains in 2nd Corin 15:3,4.......or here.....Romans 3:21-28 QUOTE

What has been accomplished in Christ is the destruction of the power of death.

1Co 15:54-57 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who are in Christ need not fear death because Christ, by His death and resurrection, is victorious over death.

Where you spend eternity, however, is totally up to you.

Rom 2:6-10 (God) "will render to each one according to his deeds” (Ps 62:12; Prov 24:12): eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

(That's salvation by faith PLUS works, by the way. Paul and James are on the same page.)

my 2 kopecks
jim

 

[Kidron]

QUOTE
Absolutely. But the law was never a means to salvation. Faith, and faith's inseparable companion, faithfulness,

People are pardoned when they have violated a law.
When a believer is baptized, he is joined with Christ in His death and raised to new life (born again) in Christ.
Jesus didn't "pay our fine" for committing the crime of sinning.


jim

-

"""Absolutely. But the law was never a means to salvation. Faith, and faith's inseparable companion, faithfulness,"""


the law was given as a moral code, a searchlight that defines our lifestyle and nature, but most importantly, it was given to show you your sins, and in doing this, your need for forgiveness.
The law shows us our natural Adamic state, as compared with God's holiness.




""""People are pardoned when they have violated a law. """""""


In the world, people are pardoned by men, but in eternity we are forgiven of our sins by GOD based on Christ's finished work and our Faith.
In the world someone signs a paper for your pardon, and it costs you nothing, whereas to gain the pardon for your eternity, Jesus had to sign the paper in His own blood.



"""""""When a believer is baptized, he is joined with Christ in His death and raised to new life (born again) in Christ.""""""""


I noticed that you forgot to include the Gospel or any suggestion that Jesus has anything to do with it.
I dont think this is a typo, i think its a theological/denominational issue.
I think you actually believe that water has the power to pardon sins, and "wash them away" like magic.
if that is true, then Jesus didnt need to bleed., Jim
Of course you'll come NOW and add...."well, of course the Cross is a Part of ........
But i would have you know that if a person has never heard the gospel, and has only been W-baptised, then that person is as lost as lost could be.
There IS no salvation of the soul, without the Gospel and the Blood atonement.
So, you can talk about water all you like, and i'll talk about the Cross and the Blood and the Faith that God accepts.
No prob.


"""""""Jesus didn't "pay our fine" for committing the crime of sinning."""""""

No, he pardoned us for the fact that our nature is to be sinners.
WE are "born that way".
This is why we as Christians are BORN AGAIN, as the first birth was Adamically twisted needed complete Spiritual "new birth" Assistance that cant be generated in the water or performed by our works.



K


[/QUOTE]

 

[Eugene]

I am rather puzzled that so many people think the person in Romans 7 is a Christian since I think it is clear that he is not. And, yes, I am aware that Paul wrote Romans 7 as a believer and that he does use the present tense. I am prepared to show Biblically why this does not justify concluding that the Romans 7 "I" is a believer. That he cannot be a believer is rather clear from the transition to chapter 8:

1. In Romans 7, we have the "I" described a person basically unable to do good and a prisoner to the law of sin and death. A Christian unable to do good?
2. In Romans 8, where we clearly have a person who indeed is a Christian, that person is described as set free from that same law of sin and death.
3. How, then, can the person in Romans 7 be a Christian?

It is an unfortunate accident of history that the chapter division is where it is. People will read Romans 7, think it describes the experience of a believer, without realizing that Romans 8 undermines that possibility.

I would advise readers to watch out for a very interesting and unusual theology you may be exposed to when Chapter 7 is on the table: one where the human person is characterized as a schizophrenic combination of a hopelessly fallen "flesh" and a "saved" Spirit. This position has a lot of problems, not least a clearly overly pessimistic view of the power of the Holy Spirit to rescue us from slavery to a sin nature.

I've got to admit I have never heard that theory before. Drew, you mention chapter divisions, and it is true that original writings of scripture had none to my understanding, but even with them the word "Therefore" directly connects all said in Romans Chapter Seven to Romans 8:1. If Paul is a Christian in Romans Chapter eight, he was one in Romans Chapter Seven.
Rom 8:1 NASV - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
My thoughts

 

[Kidron]

And he is also equally clear here that the believer does indeed have "work" to do:

.

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Yes, absolutely.
Paul said to "present your body a living sacrifice".
But Paul, to clarify that works cant save and do not save and are not counted towards salvation said this..

"to him that WORKETH NOT but BELIEVETH on HIM who Justifies the UNGODLY , his FAITH IS COUNTED ( accepted) for >Righteousness<'.

Do you see that God is justifying the UNGODLY?......so, that is before they ever begin to do "good works" after their salvation.
The UNGODLY are INSTANTLY redeemed, and that is why they are never required to do more to be saved., as you cant become more justified by works, then you already are based on RIGHTEOUSNESS being given to you.
You cant by your good deeds add anything to the Finished work of Jesus on the Cross.
So, no works for righteousness.
its a free gift.
"Belief" (faith) is what is accept on your behalf by God, to save you.
Keep in mind always that God does the saving, not US.
This is why works, which we do, cant save, cant redeem, and that is because, "To him that WORKETH NOT, but BELIEVETH on GOD who JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY , our FAITH is ACCEPTED-Counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS".

You believe the gospel, you receive Christ in your heart by faith, and God then GIVES YOU the RIGHTEOUSNESS necessary to be SAVED for ETERNITY.

 

[Jim Parker]

the law was given as a moral code, a searchlight that defines our lifestyle and nature, but most importantly, it was given to show you your sins, and in doing this, your need for forgiveness.
The law shows us our natural Adamic state, as compared with God's holiness.

Right. Rom 3:20 For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

In the world, people are pardoned by men, but in eternity we are forgiven of our sins by GOD based on Christ's finished work and our Faith.
In the world someone signs a paper for your pardon, and it costs you nothing, whereas to gain the pardon for your eternity, Jesus had to sign the paper in His own blood.

From the beginning, and way before Jesus' cross, God has always forgiven the sin of a person who repented. That's why David could say "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." ( Psa 32:1)
and, "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psa 51:17)

I noticed that you forgot to include the Gospel or any suggestion that Jesus has anything to do with it. I dont think this is a typo, i think its a theological/denominational issue. /

We're TALKING about the Gospel. I guess you didn't notice that.

]I think you actually believe that water has the power to pardon sins, and "wash them away" like magic.

I don't know anyone who believes anything like that and can't imagine how you would come to such a conclusion. Jesus commanded that every believer be baptized.

Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Also, Peter said; "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Act 2:38)

if that is true, then Jesus didnt need to bleed., Jim

It's not true. It's nonsense. I didn't suggest anything like that.

There IS no salvation of the soul, without the Gospel and the Blood atonement.

Right. No argument from me.

No, he pardoned us for the fact that our nature is to be sinners.
WE are "born that way".

We are not "pardoned" for being born with an Adamic nature. We are not responsible for having an Adamic nature any more than the man who was born blind was responsible for being blind and needed to be "pardoned" for being born that way.

We are "pardoned" for the sinful things we willfully do.

This is why we as Christians are BORN AGAIN, as the first birth was Adamically twisted needed complete Spiritual "new birth" Assistance that cant be generated in the water or performed by our works.

That is incorrect.

Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

In baptism we die with Christ and are raised to new life in Christ. Being raised to new life is being born again of water.

Paul continues his discourse on baptism: Rom 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.

In baptism our Adamic nature is crucified with Christ and destroyed. Then we are raised to new life and can say, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal 2:20)

I think a "hallelujah!" is in order.

iakov

 

[Kidron]

God has always forgiven the sin of a person who repented. That's why David could say "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." ( Psa 32:1)

The scripture you quoted is found also in Romans 4:8.
Paul uses it to describe the blessedness of a man whom God will never judge in eternity for their sin.
This "saved from judgement" condition of the justified<> born again person, is based on the simple but everlasting fact that God will not hold both Christ on the Cross, and a believer in Eternity accountable.
The reason is, a believer's sins have already been judged when Christ died for them.

 

[Jim Parker]

The scripture you quoted is found also in Romans 4:8.
Paul uses it to describe the blessedness of a man whom God will never judge in eternity for their sin.
This "saved from judgement" condition of the justified<> born again person, is based on the simple but everlasting fact that God will not hold both Christ on the Cross, and a believer in Eternity accountable.
The reason is, a believer's sins have already been judged when Christ died for them.

Believers are not saved "from judgment" but are saved from the second death. Everyone will be judged. The righteous will be judged as "blessed" and rewarded with the inheritance of the kingdom of God. The unrighteous will by judged as "wicked" and will be sent to hell. Judgement is the pronouncement of ones condition and the rewarding of blessing for the righteous and the imposition of hell for the unrighteous.

God does not judge sins; He judges people. He will judge (declare) them to be either His or not His.

The point of the verse I quoted is that God forgives the sins of the contrite person who repents. He has always done that. But, even though He has always forgiven sin, the issue of death (the wages of sin) was not dealt with until the cross and the resurrection. From that point forward, no human being would be held captive by physical death; all will rise immortal and imperishable (indestructible) whether they were saints or sinners. Where they will spend eternity is up to them. God will give " eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath." (Ro 2:7-8)

So, a believer's sins were not judged when Christ died for us. What was accomplished by the cross was Christ's victory over the power of sin to hold mankind captive in the grave forever. Which is why Paul says,
"... when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Co 15:54-57

By His death, Jesus fulfilled the consequence of sin, which is death, for all mankind. And by His resurrection, He destroyed the power of death to hold any of mankind in the grave. Therefore, the physical death we all die because we all have sinned, can no longer keep us down.

And today we can choose our eternal abode; the kingdom of God or the lake of fire. God will give " eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath." (Ro 2:7-8)

the way it looks from here......

iakov

 

[Kidron]

God does not judge sins; He judges people. He will judge (declare) them to be either His or not His.

God absolutely judges sin when we are judged.
And believers are declared to be his on the EARTH.
You dont go to heaven to find out if you are saved.
You are saved here, and this determines where you end up after you die.
This is why 1st John 5:11-13 tells you that you can KNOW right NOW, TODAY, IF you have eternal life, or not.
You dont have to wait till you die, to find this out.

Jesus died for the "sins" of the sinners.
He paid for Sins, on the Cross.
He was judged for the sins of the world and the result is that "people" are esteemed to be righteous, if they believe.

◄ 1 John 2:2 ►

"""""Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.""""

 

[Jim Parker]

God absolutely judges sin when we are judged.

God judges the person.

And believers are declared to be his on the EARTH.

Right

You dont go to heaven to find out if you are saved.

Of course not. You will know when Jesus pronounces His judgment on the day of judgment. (Mat 25)

You are saved here, and this determines where you end up after you die.

No argument from me.

This is why 1st John 5:11-13 tells you that you can KNOW right NOW, TODAY, IF you have eternal life, or not. You dont have to wait till you die, to find this out.

Paul didn't know that. He wasn't sure until he was condemned to a martyr's death.

1Jo 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.


COL1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight —IF YOU CONTINUE IN YOUR FAITH, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

HEB 3:14 WE HAVE COME TO SHARE IN CHRIST IF WE HOLD FIRMLY TILL THE END THE CONFIDENCE WE HAD AT FIRST.

(1) Jesus died for the "sins" of the sinners.
(2) He paid for Sins, on the Cross.
(3) He was judged for the sins of the world and the result is that "people" are esteemed to be righteous, if they believe.

(1) OK
(2) There was no "bill" or "fine" to pay. Death is the consequence of sin. It is not a debt or a bill. Death is what happens when you separate yourself from God by sinning. So, technically, Jesus didn't "pay" for our sins on the cross. Instead, on the cross, He died our deaths, the deaths that are the wages of our sins.
Jesus died the death that was the consequence of every persons' sins. Then He rose from death to life and by that resurrection destroyed death's power to hold mankind.
(3) Jesus was sinless. God did not judge God.

Did Jesus judge Himself? “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, (Jn 5:22)

http://biblehub.com/1_john/2-1.htm

1 John 2:2 ► "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Propitiation is not the same as a payment.

In Romans and Hebrews the word translated "propitiation" is the Greek word; "ἱλαστήριον". (hilastērion)
The word refers to the cover of the ark of the covenant; the "mercy seat." The two times the word appears in John's letters, it is; "ἱλασμός" (hilasmos) which is the root noun of λαστήριον.

John the Baptist identified Jesus as the "lamb who takes away the sins of the world." Jesus' self sacrifice, His giving Himself over to death for the death that was due to all mankind, was the act of mercy by which He triumphed over justice.

Jesus' death and resurrection were acts of mercy by which He destroyed the power of death. The devil deceived all mankind causing us all to sin and, by sinning, to die. Jesus freed us from death by destroying the work of the evil one.

my 2 kopecks
iakov

 

[Mike]

I'm happy to see this on point, because I was afraid it was starting to veer off on to the "salvation by works/faith" road. While it's related to this discussion, it wasn't the way I was hoping this would go. Thank you all for sharing.

Often, I end my posts with "be blessed". These two words mean a lot to me, and I'm saying it to myself as much as I am to others. It is to say, live your day with the intimate awareness that you are blessed. Exhale your guilt & shame Satan might have intruded with, and inhale the freedom of the Lord's unending Love.

I've known believers my whole life who couldn't live as ones who were blessed, and that is tragic. I have seasons where I misplace this awareness. The scripture I quoted in the second chapter of 1 John speaks in surround sound to me at times like these.

Be blessed.

 

[smaller]

We often forget that God in Christ saves sinners. And that no one makes themselves sinless. The Love of God in Christ will not be hindered by sin. It is as nothing to Him. It was all taken from our account on the cross. Yet we all still have to deal with it regardless.

Love never fails. We often fail, especially when we forget that Love never fails.