Struggling With Sin

[cuja1]

It would be great if you were asking out of genuine love for me. Can you honestly say that your core motives are pure towards me?

Look. Can I be candid with you? We both know that you do not like what I share, and boy, can I understand that. It is amazing good news, but unfortunately, some hard things go with it. I get that you do not agree, but it seems increasingly that you have somehow turned this, or at least gave it your best shot, to make this more about me personally, and not at all discussing what I share. I am not angry. I understand that what I share can be upsetting for it is controversial and currently rarely ever taught. But here is what you don't get about me. Despite how you 'hear' and then interpret what I share, my motives, towards you, towards the church, are loving ones. I know that may be hard to believe but let me explain.

I have been, for many of those 38 years of Romans 7 living, a very angry man, and I suspect maybe a little close to how you currently view me. I truly do try to soften the hard things I am asked to share, but at some point, one cannot spin it any other way than unpleasant for the flesh to hear. I promise. I do not thrive on the confrontation my posts seem to generate. I do not share what God puts on my heart with anger, nor in judgement, nor to chase people from Christ with legalism. I simply am sharing an amazing truth that promises to transform us into the image of Christ in this life. I am not talking sinless perfectionism. That sounds restrictive to me too. I am talking perfectly kept and totally transformed by it being no more I that live, but Christ who now lives in me.

There is a problem however. In order to put on this amazing new nature, we must agree to offer up the old US, and therein is the issue.

I so want to put aside that feeling that seems hovering between us. Whether we agree or not, we are brother and sister in Christ. Loving those who do not agree with us is a true test of the love we possess, amen?

I worry that somethings I come across like a stern old testament type, If you got to know me beyond my words, in truth I have been one of those guys who always wanted everyone to like me. You just could not tell from watching me. LOL. My flesh was BAD flesh. So agreeing to share what God asked me to share comes with a built-in price..... people will not like what I share. I can accept that. Heck, I expect it! I simply ask in the love of our Lord that we keep our discussions on what I share, and not with me. Is that fair?

Blessings,

Gids

If I may jump in for a minute. You say for 38 years you operated in certain way. A way that didn't work for you and wasn't what God wanted. Now you are doing what you believe is what God wants. But think back. Maybe God did something in you that caused a change. Maybe God changed something in you that made you change the course that you had been taking the last 38 years of your life. Is that possible?

If it took God 38 years to make that change in you, is it not possible that God may be doing stuff in other people's lives that may take awhile as well. Maybe 38 years maybe 1 month, maybe 40 years. Is that a possibility?

 

[Gideons300]

If I may jump in for a minute. You say for 38 years you operated in certain way. A way that didn't work for you and wasn't what God wanted. Now you are doing what you believe is what God wants. But think back. Maybe God did something in you that caused a change. Maybe God changed something in you that made you change the course that you had been taking the last 38 years of your life. Is that possible?

If it took God 38 years to make that change in you, is it not possible that God may be doing stuff in other people's lives that may take awhile as well. Maybe 38 years maybe 1 month, maybe 40 years. Is that a possibility?

The change God has brought about in me took but a short time to go into effect. The change continues. I have not 'arrived' LOL. And I do understand what you are saying. But when He met me seven years ago, and showed me what I share here, He also asked me to share it, and I have. I can make no one accept what I share as truth. I can just share it. Each who hears it must decide for themselves whether it holds merit, but that decision should be made based upon clear scriptural backing.

I pray that God blesses what I share, even though I know He is working with a very limited 'tool' . I understand what you saying, and yes, there is growth in godliness, just not growth towards it. At what point must a man or woman look at their life and say "I am not becoming more Christ-like every day. The fruits of the Spirit elude my grasp and it grieves my heart that I so poorly represent my Christ after so long a time"? When do we get to the point where we say "Something is wrong here. I am missing something, and it is important"?

What we missing? The power of godliness that sets us free indeed. Christ in us with us dead. Christ is about to awaken us to who we are. Like Lazarus, we to have been raised from the dead, but we are still wrapped in our grave clothes and cannot yet walk as newly born men.

Blessings brother,

Gideon

 

[ToBeLoved]

It would be great if you were asking out of genuine love for me. Can you honestly say that your core motives are pure towards me?

Look. Can I be candid with you? We both know that you do not like what I share, and boy, can I understand that. It is amazing good news, but unfortunately, some hard things go with it. I get that you do not agree, but it seems increasingly that you have somehow turned this, or at least gave it your best shot, to make this more about me personally, and not at all discussing what I share. I am not angry. I understand that what I share can be upsetting for it is controversial and currently rarely ever taught. But here is what you don't get about me. Despite how you 'hear' and then interpret what I share, my motives, towards you, towards the church, are loving ones. I know that may be hard to believe but let me explain.

I have been, for many of those 38 years of Romans 7 living, a very angry man, and I suspect maybe a little close to how you currently view me. I truly do try to soften the hard things I am asked to share, but at some point, one cannot spin it any other way than unpleasant for the flesh to hear. I promise. I do not thrive on the confrontation my posts seem to generate. I do not share what God puts on my heart with anger, nor in judgement, nor to chase people from Christ with legalism. I simply am sharing an amazing truth that promises to transform us into the image of Christ in this life. I am not talking sinless perfectionism. That sounds restrictive to me too. I am talking perfectly kept and totally transformed by it being no more I that live, but Christ who now lives in me.

There is a problem however. In order to put on this amazing new nature, we must agree to offer up the old US, and therein is the issue.

I so want to put aside that feeling that seems hovering between us. Whether we agree or not, we are brother and sister in Christ. Loving those who do not agree with us is a true test of the love we possess, amen?

I worry that somethings I come across like a stern old testament type, If you got to know me beyond my words, in truth I have been one of those guys who always wanted everyone to like me. You just could not tell from watching me. LOL. My flesh was BAD flesh. So agreeing to share what God asked me to share comes with a built-in price..... people will not like what I share. I can accept that. Heck, I expect it! I simply ask in the love of our Lord that we keep our discussions on what I share, and not with me. Is that fair?

Blessings,

Gids

What I do know is that there are many wonderful Christians doing the will of God. What I do know is that there are many Christians around the world suffering and taking up their cross, doing the will of God. What I do know is that people are risking death to do the will of God and spread the message of the gospel.

As long as you use phrases like the church is dead and none of us are living and doing the will of God, we will always be at conflict with our beliefs. If these sentiments are expressed in a thread than I will probably not change my mind about sticking up for God's Own Children.

 

[Gideons300]

What I do know is that there are many wonderful Christians doing the will of God. What I do know is that there are many Christians around the world suffering and taking up their cross, doing the will of God. What I do know is that people are risking death to do the will of God and spread the message of the gospel.

As long as you use phrases like the church is dead and none of us are living and doing the will of God, we will always be at conflict with our beliefs. If these sentiments are expressed in a thread than I will probably not change my mind about sticking up for God's Own Children.

Sister, I have no problem with you expressing your feelings concerning what I share. As I said before, if someone else was sharing what I have been sharing, and it was new to me, I would most likely be first in line to disagree. That is not the issue of which I speak. All I am asking is that when you respond, please be considerate to keep your answers directed at what I share, and why you disagree, and not try to make the attacks personal. Thanks.

Blessings,

Gids

 

[Xalith]

I'll briefly cover things people have said in the thread and add my own thoughts:

1). Being tempted is not a sin -- giving in to it, is.
2). Every Christian will sin in their lives. It is our response to such sin is what sets us apart from the unbelievers and false Christians.
3). When we sin, we are to repent, ask for forgiveness, and try not to do it again (though for strong habits, we might fail multiple times, but each time, we try to go further, we try not to do it, and we repent when we fail).
4). We are to hate our sin, and the fact that we still sometimes fall to temptation.
5). We are to yearn to be sinless, even though it is impossible until we get to Heaven. We want to be sinless, but we recognize that we can't achieve that yet, but we still try to have as little sin in our lives as possible.
6). Forgiving others = He Forgives Us! Let's not forget this fact! If someone does wrong against you, and you forgive them with nary a thought against it, so shall He forgive whatever it is you've done with the flick of His fingers. But if you refuse to forgive others... you might find Him doing the same to you. This fact is included in the Lord's Prayer after all.. "Forgive us of our sins as we forgive those that sin against us" (some translations use "transgressions", others use "Debts" but the same concept applies).
7). Temptation does not come solely from the enemy. That's a misconception. Don't believe me? Go to the latter chapters of the book of Revelation. Men still designed evil in their hearts even before Satan was released, and as soon as Satan was released, they all out revolted against Israel (with Jesus on the throne!) the moment they were able to. In fact, go read Psalm 2. Psalm 2 seems like it is a dialogue between the members of the Trinity about this very thing. Man is corrupt with sin, and even without the enemy, his heart conspires to do evil. When we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit and we are reborn, but yet we're still living in our corrupt, fleshly shell and it still desires evil things, especially of a sexual nature.

 

[ToBeLoved]

It would be great if you were asking out of genuine love for me. Can you honestly say that your core motives are pure towards me?

Blessings,

Gids

I am just curious as to their statement of belief, that's all. What type of church teaches that the 'church' and 'Christians' in Jesus Christ are not good enough? That's a terrible message to preach, especially in these last days that are only bound to get harder for people of faith.

 

[ToBeLoved]

Sister, I have no problem with you expressing your feelings concerning what I share. As I said before, if someone else was sharing what I have been sharing, and it was new to me, I would most likely be first in line to disagree. That is not the issue of which I speak. All I am asking is that when you respond, please be considerate to keep your answers directed at what I share, and why you disagree, and not try to make the attacks personal. Thanks.

Blessings,

Gids

I think that you take some of my comments to be personal when they are not. What you say does have an impact on others who read it, that is my concern. It really has nothing to do with you as a person.

I can see where this is going though and instead of being reported to the mod's, I'll leave this thread.

 

[ToBeLoved]

What do you mean by this?
Are you saying temptation is sin?

Don't expect to get an answer. You will be dragged into another conversation every time. lol

 

[cedric1200]

Thank you for your encouragements.