You are my brethren

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

All they are doing is acknowledging that they have some degree of same gender attraction. They might be delivered from this in the water of baptism. Yet, others might be delivered from it some time later. And still others might struggle with it their whole life long. We are human. We are broken. We aren't glorified in immortal sinless bodies yet. The flesh is still very much alive. And it cries out for things that are repugnant to our spirit sometimes.

I'd not go that far. Yes, they may not fully understand their new identity in Christ. They need to be mentored spiritually and have their minds renewed through the washing of the Word of God. We all come to Christ with mistaken notions and ideas. In time, the Word of God cleanses the mind and assists us with putting on the mind of Christ. We all start from somewhere... and for most... it's a very broken and error ridden place. Sometimes it takes time to discover who we really are in Christ.

Yes... but God accepts the most tender and often weak efforts in repentance. Sometimes it's like a "flicker" in their souls and God takes it and runs with it. It takes sincerity of intention. New born babes are born and crawl, then stumble, fall, fall again, fall again, fall again, until they learn to walk. Then, they learn to run. And then before you know it... their off running the race like champions. But if we kick them because they are just crawling. Or because they have misconceptions. Or if they stumble and fall... their blood is on our hands. I've seen people "repent" and God give them the Holy Ghost... and they still struggle with sin for a season. We make God so tough and tyranical. God wants to save them more than they want to be saved. He truly knows what awaits them.

Holiness isn't hardness. True Holiness is loving and tender. Patient and slow to anger.

What we believe is immaterial. God fills people with His Spirit upon their sincerity and brokenness. They aren't perfect. They get up and must be taught the way. Their misunderstandings corrected. Sometimes... this takes time, even after they are born again.

I remember what it was like being a new convert and knowing next to nothing. Let's not forget what it was like when we were born again. Most of us weren't a 100th of the "theologians" we claim to be now. LOL

I appreciate your well-written response.

I may have misread the statement or misinterpreted what was meant by "identified." It's semantics, I know, but important IMO. Just re-read your original statement that I responded to, and I may be wrong.

If by "identified," you mean past tense, pre-conversion, then I completely read it wrong. "Such were some of you, but you're washed..." I agree that a person could be identified once as a __________ (insert whatever sin you wish), then experience conversion. And even after conversion, they likely will still have temptations and struggles against it.

If by "identified" you mean ongoing pre- and post-conversion, this is what I would question. Repentance is not just asking forgiveness for past mistakes; it's a change of mind that occurs with an individual. You ask forgiveness and decide to change what you were. How you identify yourself should change after repentance. No longer are you the sinner you were; you should neither identify yourself nor be identified by the past sin. Nor can the HG fill an individual whose sins have not been remitted.

Again, perhaps I'm arguing semantics, because I do agree with your response.