I was talking to a friend about gaining victory over sin in ones life, and as much as i have come to understand it someone please correct me here if i am wrong; are we to stop sinning before Christ comes, every evil thought, every bad habit, etc..... he did not see that this was possible. And a lot of the times i here the argument when i made a statement to someone about the problems i have in my life are not in line with Gods Will and Law this person and many others just say well....... we all have problems.Brother and sisters excuse me if i sound mean but i have gotten tired of hearing that i believe when a person makes that statement he or she is making an excuse by looking at another person to justify sin or bad habits in there lives, and i feel It has come down to even amongst us Christians that we need to stop looking at one another and Look to Jesus who ( knew NO SIN!!!).Will someone people here help me with a better understanding of victory over sin before Christ comes? Thank You A Cruce Salus!!!
I would not miss being present at these early morning meetings; for here I meet my Saviour, and am strengthened and refreshed. Since I first took my seat in the cars to come on this journey East, I have enjoyed sweet peace in God. My soul has feasted on the love of Christ. While on the cars, I have been almost constantly sending up silent prayers to God, and my communion with him has been sweet. As I have read the Holy Scriptures, the gems of truth have shone with such lustre, and the beauty and harmony of truth has so impressed me, that I could not forbear praising God. At times, in contemplating heavenly things, my heart has been filled with a rapturous joy and love that is very precious, but that no words can describe. I love Jesus, I love his law; I want to be like Jesus, that I may reflect his image perfectly. I want to lie low at the foot of the cross, that I may be nothing, and Christ may be all in all. (RH, April 29, 1884,Article Title: Are We in the Faith?-By Mrs. E. G. White.-)
I really need to get out more, because here I was thinking that people in this neck of the woods were the only ones who formulated that argument, since Jamaicans are known - for the most part - to be rebellious by nature. In agreeing wholeheartedly with all that has been said before, I need to ask: If an individual says that it is not possible to obtain victory over sin now, isn't it the same as saying that Jesus is not able to keep us from sinning? Since 1 Cor. 10:13 says that He even goes as far as to provide a way of escape from every temptation, wouldn't they really be saying that HIS Word cannot be trusted?Sounds like a very dangerous position to take, doesn't it?
Oh yes, I'm one that believes that we can have the victory now. The bible says it.... in many ways and in many places. Here is one example:Jesus said, "Go and sin no more." to Mary M. and to the man at the pool of Bethesda.
. If we do not believe He can do it than it is highly unlikely that we will strive and conquer because we have lowered the bar.
Yes, we must overcome all sin in our lives! I, too, am tired of hearing the opposite in church, so after recently reading Psalm 29:2 ("Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." ) I did a study on "beauty of holiness". I have not had time to get all the quotes neatly subtitled, and it is 29 or 30 pages long (a little larger font than normal), but if you want it I will send it to you...just PM me your e-mail address. The following quotes are some I pulled from the document that fit your question. "The gospel of Christ has been dishonored by being handled with sin-stained hands." - Loma Linda Messages, p 102-3"God can only be honored when we who profess to believe in Him are conformed to His image. We are to represent to the world the beauty of holiness, and we shall never enter the gates of the city of God until we perfect a Christlike character. If we, with trust in God, strive for sanctification, we shall receive it. Then as witnesses for Christ, we are to make known what the grace of God has wrought in us." -Sermons and Talks Vol 1, p 302"Obedience to the precious word of God brings the beauty of holiness. That word, whether in the New Testament or in the Old, can not be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. It ever maintains its high and holy standard, saying, "This do, and thou shalt live." All human beings need a standard, and this standard is plainly revealed in God's word, which is the expression of his will. This word reveals to man his defects of character, and the hopelessness of his condition unless he returns to his loyalty. Through faith in Christ all excellence may be reached. The word of God requires obedience to his law, presenting the character of Christ in contrast to the character of men." - RH, 10/17/99"As Christ's representatives, we are to bear to the world a far higher representation of what the beauty of holiness is. What is holiness?--It is wholeness to God. Our words, our actions, the manner of spirit manifested, is the outward and visible manifestation of what is within, and testifies as to whether we have on the robe of Christ's righteousness, woven in the loom of heaven, or are clothed with our own natural citizen's dress. We are to give evidence to the world in our outward acts as to what is the influence of the truth upon our hearts. The world observes our lives, hears our words, watches and measures our characters by these outward signs, and estimates the truth we profess to believe, according to that which we reveal as having been accomplished by it for us". - RH, 7/18/93My Email is M4a1hammer4@yahoo.com
Will someone ... here help me with a better understanding of victory over sin before Christ comes?
Perhaps this text my add some thought Rom. 7:14-8:1Sin is much more complicated (I think) then we often perceive. "Sin" is "self" it is the "seed" of my existence. It is not limited to "what I do."When I (you) become a new creature "in Christ"...I take on Someone else's existence = "Christ's" ...as I learn to "live His life" and leave "my existence"....God "separates me (you)" from sin...IE.... Rom 7:14-8:1For our feeble minds, this is somewhat complicated..but.for God...it is His gift to us.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John
Deborah, your comments remind me of this verse in Romans 8:9 where Paul says:This seems a pretty important aspect of Paul's understanding of salvation. What did Paul mean by this?How did one become "in the Spirit", to have the "Spirit of God dwell in you"? In Acts 19:1-6 Luke depicts an event in which those whom Paul baptized were granted the Holy Ghost. Did the Spirit of God come through baptism? Is the Holy Ghost in Acts 19 synonymous with the Spirit of God in Romans 8?
But my question is,"What is sin?" The breaking of the 10 commandments? Is failing to show active and Christlike 'fruits of the Spirit" sin? Is the omission of helping a neighbor in need sin? Do we recognize exactly what sin is? Is feeling frustration with the man who stalls me in traffic sin? Can a human experience perfection when righteous anger is felt? And can righteous anger ever be identified and justified?