LoveGodsWord said:
↑ If you do not know the answer to my questions just say so and I will answer it myself. What is your understanding of
Acts of the Apostles 17:30-31 and
James 4:17 (these scriptures are directly relevant to your question).
You also stated this earlier... {I am teaching against the Gospel - Your quote paraphrased}
To which I responded asking you another question by saying. No you have it mixed up. The "
true gospel" is what I am teaching for as shown in the scriptures in this OP
here linked. It is the "
another gospel" that I am teaching against as shown through the scriptures
here linked. What is it in these scriptures shared here that you disagree with?
Your response here...
Paul is telling the men of Athens that God is not made by man, and therefore cannot be dictated by man. In the past man has 'created' gods to worship and worshiped them according to the way they saw fit. Paul tells them they need to repent(turn from their way of thinking) and turn toward the truth. He goes on to tell them that God will judge the world in righteousness by Christ. Making sure that people understand there is a judgment after death, God raised Jesus to show that death is not final until judgment takes place. James states that whoever knows to do the right thing and does not do it, is sinning. Essentially, sin is not only missing the mark - sin is when you don't even try to hit the mark. As the proverbial saying goes, choosing not to choose is a choice in itself. So, will you now choose to answer my question?
Do you keep the law perfectly?
Kind of but not quite I asked you if you know the meaning of Acts of the Apostles 17:30-31 and James 4:17 because they are scriptures that are directly relevant to your question which was "
Do you keep the law perfectly? There was no hidden intent in my questions to you. They were only asked to help the discussion. So what do the scriptures say and teach?
Acts of the Apostles 17:30-31 [30], AND THE TIMES OF THIS IGNORANCE GOD WINKED AT; BUT NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN EVERY WHERE TO REPENT: [31], Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
James 4:17, Therefore TO HIM THAT KNOWS TO DO GOOD, AND DOES IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN.
The general meaning of these scriptures are the same. They teach us about sanctification which I believe the bible teaches is the work of a lifetime and mean that when we are babes in Christ God only holds us accountable to what we know not what we do not know hence in James we read "
to him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin" and in Paul "
In times of ignorance God winks at" the "
But now" is when we have been given a knowledge of the truth of Gods' Word "
commands all men everywhere to repent" - That is when God gives us a knowledge of the truth of His Word he calls us to believe and follow what it says as we continue to grow in the knowledge of Gods' Word *John 8:31-36. That is when we receive a knowledge of the truth of Gods' Word we are no longer in ignorance and are now accountable for believing and following Gods' Word or rejecting God's Word in order to continue in sin. If we choose to reject Gods' Word when he gives us a knowledge of the truth and continue in sin, Paul goes on to say in Hebrews 10:26-31 we will be accountable to God in the judgement if we do not repent and turn back to him in repentance and forgiveness.
Now how does all this relate to your question - ""
Do you keep the law perfectly?"
According to the scriptures, when we first come to Jesus we do not know much much about His Word and we are called new born babes in Christ *
1 Peter 2:1-2;
1 Corinthians 3:1;
Isaiah 28:9. As we learn more about God through His Word and continue to believe and follow it we grow in the knowledge of God's grace and the knowledge of His truth as we continue to learn of him *
John 8:31-36;
2 Peter 3:17-18;
2 Peter 1:1-8;
Matthew 11:28-29.
God only holds us accountable to what we know in His Word not what we do not know and in times of ignorance when we do not know any better God winks at until he gives us a knowledge of the truth of His Word at which time he expects us to believe and follow it *
Acts of the Apostles 17:30-31 and
James 4:17. Some call this growing in God's grace and the knowledge of His Word, sanctification which is a work of a lifetime *
Romans 6:19-22;
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7.
According to the new testament scriptures sin is defined directly as breaking anyone of God's 10 commandments in
Romans 7:7;
James 2:10-11 and
1 John 3:4 or not believing and following God's Word in
Romans 14:23. It is not God's will that we sin according to John in
1 John 2:1 but if any man does sin we have an advocate with the father in Jesus and if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness *
1 John 1:9.
As Christians we may fall many times in temptation and have to weep at the feet of Jesus as we learn how to follow him
Proverbs 24:16;
Proverbs 28:13. We will also be tempted away from God *
James 1:12-15 which is the trying of our faith and only those who remain faithful through the gift of God's dear son will receive everlasting life in the end *
James 1:12
..................
Do you keep the law perfectly?
No! Only Jesus kept God's law perfectly. We are to grow in grace and the knowledge of His Word however to be more like him everyday. As God reveals the truth of His Word to us he expects us to change our ways as we seek him by faith to walk in His Spirit by believing and following His promises *Galatians 5:16.
Am I perfect in Christ?
Absolutely! Those who have repented from their sins they know about and confessed their sins to God in sorrow for sin according to the scriptures have been cleansed from all unrighteousness (moral wrong doing) *
1 John 1:9 by the blood of Gods' dear son *
Romans 7:14 and God looks on me a repentant sinner and sees Jesus sacrifice for my sins
1 Peter 2:24;
Isaiah 53:1-12 and by His blood makes me perfect in Him as we believe and follow His Word. This said everyday is a new day of growing in Christ, learning to be more and more like him as we seek Him who loved us and washed us in His own blood to be more and more like him.
How do I know if I know God?
1 John 2:3-4 [3], And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4], He that saith, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 3:4, [4] Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. [5], And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.[6], Whoever stays in him sins not:
whoever sins has not seen him, neither known
Matthew 7:21-23 [21] Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.[22], Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? [23], And then will I profess to them,
I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
1 John 5:2-3 [2],
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. [3], For this is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Hope this is helpful
God bless
