Why I am 7th Day Adventist, and not of any other faith...

[Harry3142]

I prefer being a Christian.

 

[from scratch]

Romans 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ....6 But now, by dying to what once bound us (the law, in Christ), we have been released from the law..."

The law cannot touch us because of our position in Christ. Clearly though, the law hasn't been abolished. Our humanity died its demands in Christ. Therefore it was our sinful life that died in Christ Jesus when He was crucified. See Romans 6:6/7:4. The law is satisfied, not abolished. The believer is dead as far as the justice of the law is concerned and yet alive "in Christ Jesus" before God's law in heaven. We are perfect in Christ.

Now, let's read the rest of Romans 7:6

"so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."

Do you know what that means? The new way of the Spirit refers to the NC. The old way of written code refers to the OC, which is "obey & live", "disobey & die".

What does the Spirit do as we learn to let Him lead? Doesn't He write the principle of God's law, love, in our hearts? Yes. So please the law of God hasn't been made void. The believer is not under it because no one is living Christ life and thus all stand condemned. To be condemned means death...the 2nd death. So Christ has delivered us from under the curse, but not so we could enjoy sin.

What law are we speaking about?

Again, Romans 7:7

For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."

From what law does it state "Do not covet"? Right, the moral law.

So while the believer is not under the law the law is being written in His heart so that he will not condone and practice sin as a lifestyle.

You're trying to say the new way is only defined by the old way. That's not what the prophets said.

 

[from scratch]

Why I'll never be an SDA: I have all my cognitive faculties.

 

[from scratch]

What do I mean?

Let's say someone with homosexual tendencies becomes a Christian. Would you tell him that he has been delivered from under the law so he can enjoy sex with other men?

Why do you folks pursue this type of logic?

 

[from scratch]

Well, there are different SDA within the church. There's evangelical...there's historic, there's traditional, etc. My point is there is plenty of disagreement in the SDA denomination.

Even so in the Sunday keeping churches there's disagreement. It's better to hash these things out then name call, right? I mean when I came here about half a year ago I was very hard on the Pope. Do you know what that does? It makes Catholics reject everything I say....

Do I disagree with Catholics? Yes. But then I disagree with most Christian churches. Keep in mind I attended an SDA church from 1988 to 1997. I left because I felt I was unwelcome....I felt like they were trapped into a subtle form of legalism. I couldn't deal with the self-righteous spirit there and so I quit.

As a Christian one doesn't practice sin. Any Christian with integrity does as they say. The SDA don't as I've shown many times here in the last 3 years.

 

[Setyoufree]

You're trying to say the new way is only defined by the old way. That's not what the prophets said.

No, you are confused.

Tell me, is the Holy Spirit going to bring you into harmony with God's law or is He going to lead you contrary to it?

Is the HS going to lead you to homosexual sex?

Is the HS going to lead you adultery, or murder, or fornication? Is the HS going to lead you to steal, bow down to idols, etc, etc????

Let's see what Paul states:

Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

What does called to liberty mean? See Gal 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

You see the law and its requirements are a yoke of bondage. Why? Because none are living Christ's life of complete selflessness that fulfilled God's law. It is therefore impossible to be saved by the requirements of the law. To make such an effort is a yoke of bondage.

Let's continue:

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Now turn to Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

So Paul upholds the law as a mirror for Christians living under grace. No, we aren't under law, but yet the Spirit will lead us to be more like Christ. I didn't say we become Christ...but more like Him even though we fall short of His righteousness.

Back to Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

The Spirit can override our nature if we "walk in the Spirit".

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

If the Spirit is leading that means you are born again and under the banner of justification by faith. You are not under law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication (sex outside marriage), uncleanness (sodomy, etc), lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[Setyoufree]

The SDA don't...

Don't what?

Look, I got a bad taste in my mouth from he SDA church....But I have a feeling I would have the same bad taste in other denominations. Legalism is everywhere. It's in call churches....So when you bad mouth SDA you are pointing the finger at yourself too.....Some of your doctrines attack the gospel and are therefore legalistic.

 

[Setyoufree]

Why do you folks pursue this type of logic?

Try answering the question....

 

[Nanopants]

What do I mean?

Let's say someone with homosexual tendencies becomes a Christian. Would you tell him that he has been delivered from under the law so he can enjoy sex with other men?

They're not in any different boat than anyone else in need of salvation, so I would tell him the same that I tell everyone: "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved," since a salvation apart from the power of God is no salvation at all.

But if talk about freedom from the written law is inspiring curiosities and imaginations about what is being said, when it is not being said, as if to find some fault against the speaker, is this the same as believing on the Lord? Let me put this another way. If one cannot even fathom right behavior apart from the dictation of a written law, and the threat of its absence seems to inspire an imagination of license to do evil, then is there anything "lawful" in that person? I.e. where is his conscience? Has it been lost? Is it missing?

 

[Setyoufree]

Can you answer the question???

 

[Nanopants]

Can you answer the question???

I answered the question. Do you want me to repeat myself?

 

[Setyoufree]

I answered the question. Do you want me to repeat myself?

No, you babbled.

 

[Nanopants]

No, you babbled.

Is there something you're confused about?

 

[Setyoufree]

What do I mean?

Let's say someone with homosexual tendencies becomes a Christian. Would you tell him that he has been delivered from under the law so he can enjoy sex with other men?

I am trying to define a cherished sin...a practiced sin.

Before I do this I need the above question answered.

Let me change it....Would the Holy Spirit (who is God) lead a man with homosexual tendencies to enjoy sex with another man?

The answer is no!

What then is a "practiced sin"?

Does it mean a repeated sin?

No.

Does it mean a sin of repetition?

No.

Does it mean a besetting sin?

No.

Then what?

 

[Setyoufree]

What then is a "practiced sin"?

Does it mean a repeated sin?

No.

Does it mean a sin of repetition?

No.

Does it mean a besetting sin?

No.

Then what?

Clue: 1 John 1:8

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"

That's the issue.....

If, in this example, I have homosexual tendencies after accepting Christ (because I still have my nature) and fall into this sin, is that practicing sin

No! Falling into sin is not a practiced sin. We all repeat besetting sins. The issue is what do we do after we sin and the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin???

Using this example, do we say

1] That's not sin. You made me this way, God.

or

2] I knowledge my sin and my need of Christ's righteousness?

If I say it's not sin then I am practicing sin. I am living this sin as a legitimate lifestyle. In fact I might even brag of this and call evil, good.

If it's not sin then I don't need Christ. I am being self-righteous.

 

[Nanopants]

Tbh, I think it's better for homosexual people to be honest with themselves, fully acknowledging what is in themselves, than to hide from it with an outward show of obedience to rules and expectations of others, and never receiving the cure that everyone needs. As David said:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. -Ps 139:23,24

And if someone seeks God with an honest heart, though they find themselves as homosexuals, Samaritans, thieves, prostitutes, or among any of the groups that many in the church seem to love railing on these days, do you think God will turn away that person as if it's more important that he or she falls in line and does what is agreeable to the crowd?

 

[Setyoufree]

So that brings us full circle to 1 John 1:8-10

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Anyone claiming perfection of the flesh is deceived and Christ is not in him/her. He is unconverted. He is a Pharisee - a legalist!

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

No matter what your sin, if you confess your sin (acknowledge your sin to God) you stand clean before God in Christ Jesus.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

But if after committing a known sin you deny that it is sin, you make God a liar.

 

[Setyoufree]

Tbh, I think it's better for homosexual people to be honest with themselves, fully acknowledging what is in themselves, than to hide from it with an outward show of obedience to rules and expectations of others, and never receiving the cure that everyone needs.

Of course....

And if someone seeks God with an honest heart, though they find themselves as homosexuals,...., do you think God will turn away that person?

No, of course not....

 

[Nanopants]

So that brings us full circle to 1 John 1:8-10


Anyone claiming perfection of the flesh is deceived and Christ is not in him/her. He is unconverted. He is a Pharisee - a legalist!



No matter what your sin, if you confess your sin (acknowledge your sin to God) you stand clean before God in Christ Jesus.

But if after committing a known sin you deny that it is sin, you make God a liar.

Alright, you tell me, what do you think I should confess?

 

[Setyoufree]

Alright, you tell me, what do you think I should confess?

This isn't about you or me....I used homosexuality as one sin among many. It is defining what it means to "practice sin" when Paul said, "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."