Rules provide no help in avoiding evil desires

[MissBrattified]

Michael the Disciple, I agree with your post, and I also partially agree with Baron's idealistic statement.

We would all like to believe that having a relationship with God would be all any person would need to lead them down the right path. However, God has added some structure to the church for good reason.

I think we have all witnessed the extremes people can go do when they have no checks or balances. They may follow the Word of God with all their hearts, or, that is, their understanding of it, which may be completely whacko! Some of the craziest Christians are the ones who have set themselves up with zero accountability to Christian elders or peers.

I agree that we should be led by our relationship with God, led by the Spirit, and when we do so, we will avoid immorality. I also agree that since Jesus made righteousness a heart issue rather than just a "lifestyle" issue, the rules of men do nothing to assist us in that area. However, the rules/commandments of God ARE beneficial, and anyone who loves God will keep His commandments. If we walk after the Spirit, we have no need to hold ourselves to the law of Moses, because we will naturally avoid the fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Show me someone who is immoral or carnally minded, and I will show you someone who is NOT walking after the Spirit.

The interesting part is, the results are the generally the same--righteousness, morality, purity. The motivation, however, is different, and following the Spirit actually demands more of us, not less. It requires having a pure mind--not just a pure body. Something ONLY the Spirit can work in us. Walking after the Spirit will lead us to obey God's laws and beyond. It will help us bring our thoughts into captivity and live a truly victorious life.

Those who put up a list of rules and try to remember them all and try to check them off and obey every one of them perfectly will struggle[unnecessarily]. Those who spend time with God every day and center their lives around Him and His purpose will have an easier time with everything, including obeying God's laws.

What's that old, overused cliche? If you live for God easy, it's hard; if you live for God hard, it's easy. It's trite, but it's true.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I haven't read all of the posts in this thread.But if one has a walk with The Lord and follows the leading of The Holy Ghost,they will have boundary lines in their life that The word of God commands,and the grace of GOD teaches Biblical Holiness.

However church rules do not put a new nature in someone or cause one to be cleansed from sin.The Pharisees had rules aplenty and followed them to the letter,yet The Lord condemned them for omitting the weighter matters of the law ,and they failed to recognize their Messiah.
Rules cannot do the work of the Holy Ghost in one's life.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I haven't read all of the posts in this thread.But if one has a walk with The Lord and follows the leading of The Holy Ghost,they will have boundary lines in their life that The word of God commands,and the grace of GOD teaches Biblical Holiness.

However church rules do not put a new nature in someone or cause one to be cleansed from sin.The Pharisees had rules aplenty and followed them to the letter,yet The Lord condemned them for omitting the weighter matters of the law ,and they failed to recognize their Messiah.
Rules cannot do the work of the Holy Ghost in one's life.

Follow the leading of the Holy Ghost?!!!

First prayer, then follow the leading of the Holy Ghost?

With teaching like that someone may actually spiritually mature.

[Scott Hutchinson]

My understanding is lead by the SPIRIT are the sons of God is what the bible teaches.
The Holy Ghost won't lead a person contrary to the scriptures.