reader,
Your topic encouraged me to address the eternally, most critical subject of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" Colossians 1:27 (His presence in the heart and mind brings the evidence of a life that looks just like Jesus; we are following His example.).
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Here are some additional thoughts on the subject...
Jesus gives at least two illustrations where 'sin' was not an issue in the fact that individuals were rejected, apparently from eternal life. The reason was that Jesus did not, in the English translations, know them even though they did great deeds in His Name, or had the Holy Spirit and purity.
I do not see the evangelical church in the U.S. believing in the death of Christ as enabling anyone to be delivered from the nature of selfishness and disobedience, the sin nature..
I find most modern 'Christians' to believe in some type of 'faith' cover-up, where the Father does not really see you any more, as the sinner you continue to be, because of your belief and confession of Jesus Christ; you are considered to be 'saved' (have eternal life in heaven).
Most Americans, I believe, still consider themselves to be 'Christians' for one reason or another, without any need for repentance, any life-style changes or "separation from the world"; whatever that may mean to each individual.
Sin originated in Heaven. Satan was the first to lead a rebellion against the Father. Since the failure of Adam, sin has been and will be in the world, until this world, as we know it, is destroyed by fire.
Salvation is both now and an eternal rescue and deliverance from the powerful sin nature. It requires repentance, death to the self life and flesh. It can only be accomplished and maintained by obedience to the Spirit of Christ that actually comes to live within the human body, directing and empowering a Christ-like life.
With the Spirit of Christ truly living within, totally surrendered to and in control; the flesh totally crucified, repentance will become a thing of the past life,
If the flesh is spiritual dead and the Spirit of Christ is totally alive, the seeds of the world and temptation to selfishness and disobedience have no soil to grow in.
How can one disobey when their life's ambition has become selflessly hearing and walking with the Good Shepherd, doing the good that He puts in your way and shows how you to do?
If Satan can get and individual to stop feeding on the blood and body of Christ grafted into the vine, anyone definitely could be spiritually weakened to the point of disobedience.
My experience is that the instance I miss the Spirit's direction I want to know why. If the Spirit points out some area of my life that needs to change, I want to get right with it.
King Saul had the Holy Spirit taken from him because of disobedience. David pleaded with God to not take His Spirit from him because of his mess-up. (Why did he mess up? Because he was on the roof of his house when he should have been in the field of battle leading his troops. Leisure and pleasures can lead to failures.)
The double minded individual (the two spirited person) with one part of the mind under divine influences and the other under the influence of this world, will definitely have need of repentance and forgiveness. The question then is, "Have they really been delivered or rescued (saved) when they chose to go back to the mud hole to play? Only God knows the motives of the heart and mind.
Here is how John sees it... "...everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him." John 3:3-6
The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast?”
“Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it." Genesis 4:6-7
Because of Calvary we can now have a Deliverer, who has been here and temped in all ways, as we are, but without a slip, to live withing us, helping us to care the load He sets before us.
Without Him I can do nothing, With Him why should I accept a deception of bondage to fail.
Tim