Quote:
Originally Posted by NewbieMisfits
I can't tell you how much that does help. 
"People often invent their own forms of religion by which they imagine they will please God and 'discipline' themselves. But such things are attempts by the flesh, and although they appear to be wise, they do not succeed in truly mortifying the flesh. that can only be done through the Holy Ghost:"
So this quote is to say that: After repentance, my flesh will at times still have the desire to sin, but my mind/soul/spirit will automatically fight it, mentally & physically? And that it will not be until the filling of the Holy Ghost that these battles will cease?
You see, my understanding/misunderstanding is that one cannot truly repent until after they have put aside all the sins of the flesh. (Kinda like you can't truly repent if you still smoke, or if you still hold hatred or grudges, and so on)
This, as I've heard testimony (not Apostolic) where one told me about their repentance/salvation, but then continue to knowingly sin (maybe due to lack of power of in fighting it but regardless) and when witnessing both, this testimony and then sin, I try not to judge... but I do. |
One cannot 'repent' without actually repenting. Continuing to sin means one has not repented of whatever it is one is continung to do.
The flesh will always be adverse to the Spirit. Every man when he is tempted is drawn away by his own lusts, etc. If your CHOICE (your heart) is right with God, then you will choose not to surrender to the desires of the flesh but instead you will choose to surrender to the desires of the Spirit.
When one is filled with the spirit, it does not mean 'the battle is over'. Rather, the battle has just truly begun. Being filled with the spirit does not mean one is not tempted, or is beyond temptation. It means one is filled with God's spirit as opposed to the spirit of disobedience. Sometimes it will be a sore trial. Sometimes you may fall (though you do not HAVE to fall...), but you repent (ie stop sinning, confess to God, get back on track with following the Lord).
By staying in the Spirit the temptations of the flesh lose their power to DEMAND you obey them, one is able to put to death ('mortify') the deeds of the body, ie one is able to NOT SIN.
Do not confuse temptation to sin, with sin itself. Temptation becomes sin when you yield to it. It begins in the heart, the heart yields to a desire for something unlawful, and thus the will submits itself to the law of sin rather than the law of righteousness.
You will not 'automatically' fight anything, you must choose whose side you are on - God's, or sin's. If you choose God, then when sin tempts you the choice has already been made and you need only stand on your choice - you submit to righteousness.
You really need to read Romans chapter 6, your answers are found there.