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In Christ we have been justified on the basis of his perfect righteousness. He has also sanctified us - past tense. There is much confusion in Adventism over these terms and it goes right to the heart of the SDA 'perfection' theology. Rather than accepting Christ's perfection SDAism teaches that perfection in sinful flesh is a coordinated effort between two parties (them and God).Well then you are basically saying Justification and Sanctification are interlocked, one being part of the other, are you going that far.....
"Sin and live" theology is alive and well, but...
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
What's with this apparent huge lack of trust in God who lives in us? I am reading a definite doubt of faith in the Holy Spirit who is fully God! A complete denial of living by the Spirit and a focus of some on the flesh. Maybe it's an admission on their part of not having God living IN them.Remember before this in Romans 8 it says
"5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness."
A born-again Christian's position is not "in the flesh", but "in the Spirit". How does the Spirit dwell in you? Not by works according to Galatians. Is there a text or texts that reflect the departure of the Spirit each time we sin?
It isn't about sinning and living, but about living free from slavery to sin. We start at the point of victory because of what Jesus did for us. If there is a sin out there that is difficult for you to overcome then a change in a point of view is needed. You aren't climbing a mountain trying to conqueror that sin. Jesus did that for you. You are already at the top of the mountain free from the chains of sin so if a sinful desire confronts you it has no power. There is no sin that is too difficult to resist. Sin, from the point of victory, is powerless. We can submit and let sin have power over us, but that doesn't change our status of being on top of the mountain. Jesus put us there and keeps us there.
EGW says the same:Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin."
He who sins is of the devil...In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
...for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage
Sounds like: For if you live according to the flesh you will die
Jesus answered them, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin."
He who sins is of the devil...In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that ones slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
...for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage
Sounds like: For if you live according to the flesh you will die
EGW says the same:
But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
Let none deceive themselves with the belief that they can become holy while willfully violating one of God's requirements. The commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God.
One sin unrepented of is enough to close the gates of heaven against you. It was because man could not be saved with one stain of sin upon him, that Jesus came to die on Calvary's cross. Your only hope is to look to Christ and live. He came to save to the uttermost all who came unto him; and he is fully able to do all that he has undertaken to do for you. He will lift us up from the degradation into which we have fallen because of sin.
What's with this apparent huge lack of trust in God who lives in us? I am reading a definite doubt of faith in the Holy Spirit who is fully God! A complete denial of living by the Spirit and a focus of some on the flesh. Maybe it's an admission on their part of not having God living IN them.
Eila, great job of posting the truth in Scripture! I appreciate reading it every time. It's ALL about Jesus Christ!
In CHRIST alone...
Well many say Christ lives in them and they in Him, but that doesnt make it true, you actually have to accept Christ not just give lip service...
In you opinion, is this the way in which one accepts Christ?"In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning." (Signs of the Times, March 3, 1888).BFA
A BIG AMEN TO THAT EGW!!!!Belief makes all the difference. Obedience is within reach.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
A BIG AMEN TO THAT EGW!!!!Belief makes all the difference. Obedience is within reach.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
In you opinion, is this the way in which one accepts Christ?"In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning." (Signs of the Times, March 3, 1888).BFA
Well Reddog let put it this way when I go to bed at night I pray Lord forgive me of my sins I'm a human being and you know it and I know and forgive me and help me try not to sin as much tommorow and I love you Lord AMEN. and in the morning I pray Lord help me get through this day and give the opprotnity to tell someone about you today.
When I was an SDA I suffered from insomnia.
I would lay awake worrying if there was a sin I was ignorant of that I forgot to ask forgiveness for and afraid to fall asleep because if, according to EGW, there was even one unrepented of sin(and ignorance is no excuse) I would NOT be saved and would die the "second death".
Since I left SDAism and no longer believe this and have assurance of salvation I sleep like a baby. But most of the 14 years I was SDA I had insomnia driven by fear of falling alseep if I would die in my sleep with even one unrepented sin.
Shalom,
Lebesgue
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