All verses below are from the NKJV.
“… everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
(1 John 2:29)
“… whoever does NOT practice righteousness is NOT of God …”
(1 John 3:10)
“He who practices righteousness is righteous,
just as He is righteous.” (1 John 3:7)
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil
are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness
is NOT of God, NOR is he who does NOT love his brother.”
(1 John 3:10)
“… whoever fears Him and works righteousness
is accepted by Him.” (Acts 10:35)
“… (slaves) of obedience leading to righteousness”
(Romans 6:16)
“… slaves of righteousness for holiness.” (Romans 6:19)
God does NOT practice righteousness for BACs.
BACs must do the practicing of righteousness for themselves.
From the verses above, do we agree?
God only invites into heaven …
those who have a standing of righteousness before Him,
those whom He considers righteous.
I agree that we need to live holy as a part of salvation (after we are saved by God's grace), brother. But I do not agree with the Modern Translations use of the word “practice righteousness” in 1 John 3:7. I believe 1 John 3:7 in the KJB is more accurate. It says:
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth [not practices] righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7).
Doeth or Does righteousness is different than practices righteousness.
Rick who does lots of walking all day is not the same as...
Rick who practices lot of walking all day.
We would assume in the last sentence that Rick has a problem in walking sometimes so he needs to practice in walking in order to be like the other Rick who simply “
does lots of walking all day.”
Jesus says, "sin no more" to two people (
John 5:14) (
John 8:11). John says "sin not" (
1 John 2:1). If I told you to stop doing something, would you take that to mean that you simply meant that I was referring to how you should not practice such a thing? Surely not. Jesus would say, "Stop practicing sin." But that is not what Jesus said. Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (
John 8:24). How many times do you think you need to sin to be a slave to sin? It only takes one time. How many times did it take Adam and Eve to fall into spiritual death? Did they need to keep eating of the wrong tree to spiritually fall and send all of mankind into sin? Surely not. Eve bought into the lie of the serpent that she could break God's command and still be in right walk with God. The same lie of the devil is being pushed today.
#1.
Numbers 35:16-18 says it only takes one act of murder to be a murderer; And
Leviticus 20:10 says it only takes one act of adultery to be an adulterer.
#2. Jesus Himself regarded just looking at a woman once as an act of adultery (
Matthew 5:28).
#3. John says, "No murderer has eternal life abiding in them." (
1 John 3:15).
#4.
Proverbs 6:32 says "Whosoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul."
#5. Jesus Himself says that just looking at a woman in lust (Which is adultery) is potential for a person to be cast bodily in hell fire (See
Matthew 5:28-30).
#6. David needed to confess of his sin in order to be forgiven (See
Psalms 51).
#7.
1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
#8.
Revelation 21:8 says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Murderers and whoremongers will be cast into the lake of fire. All liars will be cast into the lake of fire. ALL liars, and not just some. NO murderer has eternal life abiding in them (
1 John 3:15).
Ananias and Sapphira were instantly killed and condemned by God for lying to the Spirit. This was just a one time sin. So it's not just practicing sin only that will condemn a believer. It only takes one sin to bring about condemnation or death. Believers need to confess sin and they need to battle against serious sin (mortal sin) so as to overcome it in this life. For it will determine our allegiance to who we really love in the end. For no man can serve two masters.