Quote:
Originally Posted by corvet786c
I just sometimes get scared because if Jesus is saying that to the churches back then, how much more is he saying it today to us. The apostolic church as a whole.
So should I not get scared when I sin because of grace and forgiveness. What about people apostolics who have certain addictions still??
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First, ever ask yourself why you are scared? Or why your sin troubles you when the sins of so many others don't bother them?
Here's your answer...
Jesus died on the cross as your propitiation. He took upon Himself ALL your sins and received in Himself ALL of God's anger and wrath towards those sins. So when you appropriate Christ's atoning work to your life in faith and receive the Holy Ghost, Christ exchanges your old nature for a new nature. Now you have the every same divine nature of Jesus indwelling you. Your dead sinful Spirit is now regenerated, and living, where you were once dead in your sins. You are a... NEW CREATURE.
But there's a problem. Your soul (mind) still thinks according to the fleshly paradigms of that old nature of yours that was nailed to the cross. This is "the flesh", the "carnal mind". This is what you're battling with. It takes "reprograming", or being "renewed" by the washing of the Word of God. That's why you study the Bible and listen to Biblical teaching. To renew your mind. As you appropriate truths of Scripture to your life you begin taking on the "mind of Christ". As you take on the mind of Christ, your soul (mind) is now becoming more congruent with your regenerated spirit. You're being conformed into the very image of Jesus Christ.
Now, does having this new nature in you (the Spirit of Christ) mean you'll never sin? NO. Sometimes you'll act out of accordance to this new nature. But here's the issue... you'll have a gnawing conviction about what you've done because sin is alien to your nature child of God. The very fact that you fear displeasing your Father, and you are grieved by your sin, shows that you have this indwelling nature. Yes, you are SAVED.
Remember, God doesn't throw you out the moment you sin, saint of God. There is grace. The sinning Christian will begin by quenching the Spirit's convicting. Eventually the Spirit becomes grieved, and will convict even more, this is when God often sends chastising cirumstances our way to get our attention. Though these situations often hurt, this is an act of love. If one quenches conviction from the Spirit, they are doing this to spite the Spirit of God's efforts to pull them back home. This is where God gives one over to their own desires and they backslide. At this point, they do not feel fearful or guilty of their sin and rebellion, they are "living it up". They feel "free". But they are actually back in bondage to sin.
Child of God, if you fear having displeased your Father, and your sin troubles you greatly. That's the Holy Spirit in you, your new nature, convicting you. It's not a "condemnation", it's a loving "conviction", as from a Father. Simply fall on your knees concerning the Sin and "repent". Repent is from the Greek word "metanoia". It's a compound word made of two words. These are "meta" and "noia". The first, "meta", means "to change". The second is "noia", meaning, "the way one thinks". Fall on your knees and admit to God it is a sin, confessing that His Word is right about what you're doing. Surrender and admit that in yourself you have no power over this sin and pray that Jesus Himself live His overcoming life out through you.
Don't start your day trying to be a good little Christian or Apostolic. Start your day focused on being Jesus... by allowing Him to live His life through you.
If you "get this", REJOICE. This is a revelation only God can give. Some will read my post and just "not get it". They will go back to their little religious list (their true savior) and mock the idea of Jesus living His life through the believer. They will think that their religious actions can measure up and demand that others do the same. They are in need of a revelation of God's ultimate purpose for their lives and God's desire regarding the end result of their salvation.
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