MormonFriend said:
So by this imperfect example, it demonstrates what I understand the Bible to teach about our own regeneration process and how the Holy Ghost will sanctify us after we repent and turn from sin. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell within if we are still chasing sinful pursuits. When we cease those pursuits by replacing in our efforts to follow Jesus, then we have purified ourselves through faith in Christ.
On that, I have to inquire why you say it? I get a different message from the Bible. We cannot debate on this thread, so I just want to know why Christians would believe this. Let me repeat and apply what I said before. Without Jesus we cannot do anything as related to such.
The question of sinful flesh and Spirit led life is addressed by Paul. He says that sin dwells in the flesh and that when he sins, it is the sin that dwells in his flesh, but no longer his spiritual self that is regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
The battle between our natural desire (the flesh) and the Spirit remains with us until the day we are like Him when we see Him.
Galatians 5:17 (LIV) For we naturally love to do evil things that the Holy Spirit tells us not to do; and the good things we want to do when the Holy Spirit has His way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures.
Gal 5:17 (AV) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
In the end, we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony - nothing else. Our works are always like filthy rags compared to the work that God has done through His Son, and we must be careful to not see ourselves as saved by our good works. We do the works because we are saved in the first place - not visa versa or saved because of our works. If that were so, then we would be worshipping ourselves - looking at an image of ourselves doing the good works instead of the cross. We are Holy and acceptable to God through the once and for all work of Christ and grace given through Him - not of our own works lest any man boast.
Paul also goes on to tell that works should be part of every Christians life in the book of James, but never that works would precede the work of God in us through Christ's work and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus even gives us examples of people pleading in argument to Him at the judgment and saying "didn't I cast out demons in your name" and other works they had supposedly done for Him only to hear that He had never known them. We love Him because He first loved us, and even if we gave all our money to the poor and our bodies to be burnt for others - without love, they are meaningless.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1 Corinthians 13:3 and if I give away to feed others all my goods, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.
MormonFriend said:
So by this imperfect example, it demonstrates what I understand the Bible to teach about our own regeneration process and how the Holy Ghost will sanctify us after we repent and turn from sin. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell within if we are still chasing sinful pursuits. When we cease those pursuits by replacing in our efforts to follow Jesus, then we have purified ourselves through faith in Christ.
Saying that God does His work "after" you repent and turn from sin says that you have been the source of goodness to choose God while the scriptures say that He has chosen you and that repentance is another gift of God. It is God that draws a man to the Father.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;