Can you explain what you think Paul is teaching by these verses?
I can but I don't want to write a long post.
What's most relevant is the understanding that our inability to perform the letter of the law without the Spirit is indicative of the weakness of the flesh and how we took God for granted and squandered what he gave us (see the prodigal son).
And this situation ultimately testifies unto God's Glory. For we know that Jesus taught that those who have been forgiven much love the Master more than those forgiven little. Now if you hear in your mind the suggestion that I'm saying we should sin so that God is glorified, don't believe it; that's not God talking, it is the slanderer. Devil = accuser/slanderer.
Romans 3:8
And not rather, (as we be
slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
He is a tricky person to understand there is even a warning about it 2 Peter 3:16 so it’s best not to take one verse without showing the entire context.
The sentiment of 2 Peter 3:16 is not a warning. It's saying Paul is sometimes hard to understand for those not well learned. We must understand that Paul is trying to articulate an epiphany, which isn't easy. And we should pray to God for understanding.
So you disagree that most mean we do not have to keep God’s commandments or you disagree that we don’t have to keep God’s commandments. I’m not sure exactly what you disagree with.
I disagree with ---> "
most believe it to mean we do not have to keep God's commandments" <--- This is your sentiment about most Christians.
Yes, it separates us from God Isa 59:2 and it comes from the other spirit, not from God 1 John 3:8 There is nothing good about sin.
Okay then, since "sin" carries a negative connotation by definition, then everyone who understands the Gospel comes to Christ knowing that sin is unrighteous. And this is why I DON'T believe most Christians believe it's okay to break God's commandments.
About the principalities and powers of darkness --->
Ephesians 2:2,3 ---> shows we all have walked in that spirit before coming to Christ.
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
When most people reject the Ten Commandments, they are rejecting God’s defintion of sin 1 John 3:4 James 2:10-12 Mat 5:19-30 Rom 7:7 and essentially establishing their own version of righteousness instead of allowing God to be God. Sadly, most people reject the Ten Commandments, they either believe they were edited or just the Old Covenant, but thats not what the Scriptures teach
I don't understand why you believe that. None of the scriptures you provided convey that people reject God's definition of sin. I don't believe that Christians reject the ten commandments; I think we reject the letter of the law as a means to attain righteousness. My definition of a Christian is one who follows after the Spirit of Christ.
I have never said that, however someone in Christ is not going to sin and be okay with it, it should be painful and one would want to go to Jesus and ask for His help in forgiving and forsaking our sins.
If you believe someone who is in Christ is not going to sin and be okay with it (as I do), then why are you saying elsewhere that most Christians are okay with it?
Anyway, this is what Jesus taught that your words bring to my mind: Luke 18:
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Are you saying it’s okay to steal if we are caring for the poor and weak with sincere love? I am having a hard time following what you are trying to say.
I'm saying that the Spiritual righteousness of God is far above not stealing. People led by the Spirit to care for the poor and the weak, don't need to be told not to steal. To rephrase, the ten commandments are basically speaking about how not to be unrighteous.
Moreover, if from the heart I forgive someone who steals from me, I say it's okay. But if I were to steal from someone else, it's not okay.
Yes, we have gone through this and thought we agreed, that the letter is when we are in violation of the law, the wages of sin is death, thats what the letter of the law states,
Of course the wages of sin is death, that is true. But when Paul is talking about following the letter of the law, I think he means to denote trying to do the letter of the law without the Spirit. Or in other words trying to do the deeds of the law through the flesh.
That's why Paul wrote this ---> Galatians 3
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
but if we are keeping the commandments through Christ there is no condemnation.
There's no condemnation in Christ period. He died for us knowing we can't keep the commandments due to the infirmity in the flesh.
Romans 8:34
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that
died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us.
Are we back to its okay to worship other gods, vain His holy name, break His holy Sabbath, steal, covet or break the least of these commandments? I am having a hard time following your point.
Objectively speaking, there's only one God. When the term gods are used, it means images created by the creature. My point is we don't need the letter of the law when we have the Spirit. Like I said earlier in this post ---> the Spiritual righteousness of God is far above not stealing. People led by the Spirit to care for the poor and the weak, don't need to be told not to steal. To rephrase, the ten commandments are basically speaking about how not to be unrighteous.
We are in the New Covenant, and its still a sin to break God’s law 1 John 3:4 James 2:10-12 Rom 7:7 and the wages of sin is still death Rom 6:23 but we have another option through the blood of Christ and through our faith, He writes His law in our hearts, right where sin begins Heb 8:10 the New Covenant is established on better promises Heb 8:6 what God will do, not based on what we will do like the Old Covenant Exo 19:8 through our love and faith in God, He is the one imputing His righteousness if we have a right relation and are abiding in Him. Those who abide in Him keep His commandments by our love John 15:10 and His power John 14:15-18 and follow in His footsteps 1 John 2:6 1 Peter 2:21-22
It's always been wrong to do wrong, even before the law was ever written. But sinfulness is a condition that denotes a spiritual depravity. Even religious authorities in Jerusalem, who knew the law, handed Jesus over to be crucified.
