Which is why Jesus says truly truly I say unto you unless a man is born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
Q1. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE THAT IS LIVING IN THE CARNAL MIND AND SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN BORN AGAIN TO WALK IN GOD'S SPIRIT?
Romans 8:1-4 [1], There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2], For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. [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: [4],
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 6:1-2 [1], What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2], God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:6-7 [6], Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin. [7],
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Romans 6:11-18 [11],
Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. [12],
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13],
Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. [14],
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. [15],
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. [16],
Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? [17], But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. [18],
Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:20-23 [20], For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. [21], What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? f
or the end of those things is death. [22],
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. [23],
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 3:9-10
Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [10],
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
Galatians 5:16 [16], This I say then,
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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ANSWER: According to the scripture those who are born of God to walk in God's Spirit do not practice sin (breaking Gods law) *1 John 3:4 and do not practice fulfilling the lusts of the flesh *Galatians 5:16. They are dead to sin (disobedience to Gods' Word) and live a new life in the Spirit of God to walk in God's Word *Romans 6:1-2. They consider their old man of sin dead to sin that they should not serve sin and become from from sin *Romans 6:6-18. The fruit of sin is death *Romans 6:21 but the fruit of holiness and obedience to Gods' Word is everlasting life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Sin (breaking God's law - 1 John 3:4) therefore is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil *1 John 3:10.
Q2. HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE REALLY KNOW GOD OR DO NOT KNOW GOD?
1 John 2:3-4 [3], And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4],
He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 3:6, Whoever abides in him sins not:
whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
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.
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ANSWER: Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him *1 John 2:3-4. Whosoever sins (habitual unrepentant) has not seen him and neither knows him *1 John 3:6. Only those who do the will of Gods' Word enter into the kingdom of heaven *Matthew 7:21. Those who claim to know God while practicing sin do not know God according to Matthew 7:23.
I do not follow a doctrine that saves ourselves. I believe and follow God's Word and Gods' Word not my words say we are saved by grace through faith and not of ourselves it is a gift of God and not of works lest any man should boast *
Ephesians 2:8-9. As posted earlier, obedience to God's words are not how we are saved it is the FRUIT of genuine faith of one that is already been given Gods promise of salvation and the fruit of God's work in us *
Philippians 2:13 as we believe and follow his word *
John 10:26-27. If our faith has no fruit it is dead *
James 2:18-20; 26 and our tree will be cast down and thrown into the fire *
Matthew 3:10; 7:19-20; 13:49-50;
Hebrews 10:26-27. Therefore we do not abolish God's law through faith like some people teach but God's law is established in the heart by faith that works by love *
Romans 3:31;
1 John 5:3-4;
Romans 13:8-10. According to the scriptures, sin (breaking God' commandments and not believing and following God's Word) is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil *
1 John 3:6-10;
1 John 2:3-4;
Revelation 12:17;
Revelation 14:12;
Revelation 22:14. At the second coming Christs reward is with him *
Revelation 22:12.
According to the scriptures no one receives God's Grace if they do not believe and follow God's Word (see
John 3:16-21;
Hebrews 10:26-31) and the scriptures teach that no one knows God by not believing his Word and doing what God's Word says according to John in
1 John 2:3-4; Matthew 7:21 and
James 2:17-26. So to say we have God's Spirit while not following what God's Word says according to the scriptures is not telling the truth as those who know God according to the scriptures follow God's Word. This is also demonstrated in the very Words of Jesus when he says in
John 10:26-27 those who hear and follow His Voice (the Word) are His Sheep and those who are not His sheep are those who do not hear (believe) His Word and do not follow. We should be careful what we claim here if it is not supported by scripture as it is God's Word that must bear witness to our words if they are true or not. To say and claim that God's salvation is for all men who do not believe and follow God's Word is against the scriptures and the very words of God (see
Matthew 22:14;
Matthew 7:13-15;
Matthew 7:21-23 Hebrews 10:26:28;
Hebrews 6:4-8;
2 Peter 2:6;
2 Peter 3:5-7; etc etc..) and is a teaching that is not biblical designed to lead all who follow it away from God and His Word. For me only God's Word is true and we should believe and follow it according to
Romans 3:4 and
Acts of the Apostles 5:29.
We are indeed in the new covenant now. However those in the old covenant were saved the same way that we are (except the process is different) and that is by faith (see Hebrews 11:1-40).
I am sorry Joe but I assume no such thing and this only shows you are not reading my posts and the scriptures shared with you. Your not telling the truth when you say man does not have "free will" and your not telling the truth when you scripture does not say man does not have free will when especially when you have been directly shown scripture that shows man has free will to choose to believe or not believe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as shown from the scriptures to you in
post # 88 linked;
post # 43 linked and
post # 66 linked. What is true is that you have not provided a single scripture for the unbiblical teaching that man has no free will. We are not robots God gives all men a measure of faith *Romans 12:3 to choose to believe and follow God's Word or not believe and follow God's Word. These are Gods' Words not mine but it seems you do not believe them. Sorry Joe it seems like God's Word disagrees with you here.
Hope this is helpful.
