John said those who go on sinning are of the devil.

Yanni depp

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Children of the devil. So, one is saved. Or thinks they are. Backslides and starts sinning. Habitually. Reads this passage. And thinks ok, I will stop sinning and only do righteousness so I'm not of the devil anymore. But wouldn't that fall under a righteousness by works? All you can do is pray then, at that point, right. Or what?
 

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Children of the devil. So, one is saved. Or thinks they are. Backslides and starts sinning. Habitually. Reads this passage. And thinks ok, I will stop sinning and only do righteousness so I'm not of the devil anymore. But wouldn't that fall under a righteousness by works? All you can do is pray then, at that point, right. Or what?
A genuinely converted Christian will not back into sin because he will have a new heart and spirit, and the Holy Spirit will be living in him to keep him on the path of righteousness and free from error.

There are many who go through the motions of a Christian profession and put on the Christian badge, but all they have is religion and follow the outward rules but their hearts are unchanged; and when problems arise and persecution comes, they fall away. They fall away because they were not fully converted to Christ in the first place.
 
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Yanni depp

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A genuinely converted Christian will not back into sin because he will have a new heart and spirit, and the Holy Spirit will be living in him to keep him on the path of righteousness and free from error.

There are many who go through the motions of a Christian profession and put on the Christian badge, but all they have is religion and follow the outward rules but their hearts are unchanged; and when problems arise and persecution comes, they fall away. They fall away because they were not fully converted to Christ in the first place.
Agreed. So all one could do at that point is pray, right?
 
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Yanni depp

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A genuinely converted Christian will not back into sin because he will have a new heart and spirit, and the Holy Spirit will be living in him to keep him on the path of righteousness and free from error.

There are many who go through the motions of a Christian profession and put on the Christian badge, but all they have is religion and follow the outward rules but their hearts are unchanged; and when problems arise and persecution comes, they fall away. They fall away because they were not fully converted to Christ in the first place.

I mean, we have James 1:22-25
And I think if a person was struggling, Wouldn't faith be exercised in focusing and practicing encouraging scripture instead of dwelling on more condemning verses and believing all to be lost?

Edit. Im not saying ignore scripture, but to get through really hard times....
 
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Agreed. So all one could do at that point is pray, right?
The Bible gives us many promises about salvation and how to receive it. True justifying faith involves a total trust in the person of Christ and the promises He has given us. This total trust of faith is the work of the Holy Spirit and if we don't have it, we must seek God with all our hearts to give it to us. The promise is that if we seek God with all our heart, then we will find Him.
 
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I mean, we have James 1:22-25
And I think if a person was struggling, Wouldn't faith be exercised in focusing and practicing encouraging scripture instead of dwelling on more condemning verses and believing all to be lost?

Edit. Im not saying ignore scripture, but to get through really hard times....
We need to base our faith on Scriptures in their proper contexts. The condemning Scriptures are for unconverted unbelievers who will not come to Christ. Paul is quite clear in Romans 8 that there is no condemnation for those in Christ because we have passed from death to life in Christ, and that the Spirit of life in Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death.
 
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JIMINZ

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Children of the devil. So, one is saved. Or thinks they are. Backslides and starts sinning. Habitually. Reads this passage. And thinks ok, I will stop sinning and only do righteousness so I'm not of the devil anymore. But wouldn't that fall under a righteousness by works? All you can do is pray then, at that point, right. Or what?

I can only answer by asking.

Is this a Hypothetical or is it you?
Once that is determined, then there are other things to be understood first.
 
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Oldmantook

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Children of the devil. So, one is saved. Or thinks they are. Backslides and starts sinning. Habitually. Reads this passage. And thinks ok, I will stop sinning and only do righteousness so I'm not of the devil anymore. But wouldn't that fall under a righteousness by works? All you can do is pray then, at that point, right. Or what?
Believers are created to do good works (Eph 2:10) which is the result of being saved; not the cause of being saved. Believers are to repent, turn from sin and obey God (Heb 5:9). Obedience to God is never referred to either in the OT or NT as "works righteousness." Our own works done in the flesh never saved us, but after conversion our works done unto obedience to the Spirit demonstrate that we are saved.
 
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Christians have the first resurrection, and are judged by Christ at the judgement seat of Christ and do not have to fear the second death. They are also judged by their works, yet are not in danger of eternal death, that judgement has to do with eternal rewards, not all Christians experience the same level in resurrection, some will have a better resurrection.

The remaining dead are raised at the second resurrection to be judged before God by their deeds.
Since Christ said those who believe in Him have passed from death into eternal life, then they are not in danger of eternal death in the lake of fire at the white throne judgement with God where those people are judged by their deeds according to what they did which was all written down in the books..

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

John here mentions these faithful Christians who loved not their lives till death, who died in faith. Just because we who died not being martyred but were faithful to the end of our lives are not specifically mentioned, does not mean we have no part in the first resurrection, because the only other one, is the ressurection of all the dead who had no faith and did not believe in Christ.
 
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Gregory95

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What about those who had a evil heart like a national socialist then accepted Christ now where hate was is now love they fall on occasion because their flesh is truly wicked but their heart yurns for Christ and they hate the evil



A genuinely converted Christian will not back into sin because he will have a new heart and spirit, and the Holy Spirit will be living in him to keep him on the path of righteousness and free from error.

There are many who go through the motions of a Christian profession and put on the Christian badge, but all they have is religion and follow the outward rules but their hearts are unchanged; and when problems arise and persecution comes, they fall away. They fall away because they were not fully converted to Christ in the first place.
 
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sdowney717

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What about those who had a evil heart like a national socialist then accepted Christ now where hate was is now love they fall on occasion because their flesh is truly wicked but their heart yurns for Christ and they hate the evil

John 5 may help you understand that Christ gives life to whom He wills, and those who believe
in Him he says most assuredly have passed from death into eternal life.
AND Christ will not leave you as an orphan child, The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you and discipline you in your walk with Him to do what is right.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
 
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Yanni depp

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I can only answer by asking.

Is this a Hypothetical or is it you?
Once that is determined, then there are other things to be understood first.
I thought being overly specific of the circumstances in my posts gave it away, so thanks for not assuming anything, but yes I am going through a difficult time.
 
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Lost4words

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We truly need God. For we are weak. We are flesh. We are very prone to fail/fall, again and again.

God is always there with open arms. We have to do our bit. Trust and have faith in God.

After every fall, get up and turn to God.

God bless
 
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What about those who had a evil heart like a national socialist then accepted Christ now where hate was is now love they fall on occasion because their flesh is truly wicked but their heart yurns for Christ and they hate the evil
They are like King Asa of Israel who is described as not doing everything that was right in the sight of God because the high places of illegal worship were not taken away, but his heart was right before the Lord.
 
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