Sure I am. What I see is a Saint saying he struggles with doing what he considers right; as I see it, it's a basic struggle between the flesh and the spirit, which at that time Paul was not fully spirit yet...he was still man. He follows it up with Romans 8:1....but , of course, you say one can only be in the Christ if he has only participated in a ritual that requires man's participation and, I do not.
- I think you avoid my point. I never said that Acts was not a work of God but you have and, thus far, avoided a basic truth that I posed to you: Though the entire Bible is the work of God, he has continually and consistently gave us new covenants to live under. I am sure, you wouldn't disagree, The New Covenant supersedes the Old Covenant.....the New Covenant supersedes the : Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic covenants.
- What does the New Covenant mean:
We see that God promises to "make a new covenant," "not like" the old one, not like the covenant "they broke, though I was their husband." In this new covenant, "I will put my law within them, I will write on their hearts. And I will be their God and they shall be my people" (
Jer 31:3
The new covenant comes through the death of Jesus Christ.
It's in the Bible, Luke 22:20, NIV. "In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you."
The new covenant means we can go directly to God through Christ.
It's in the Bible, Hebrews 7:22, NIV. "Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant."
There is forgiveness of sins only through the new covenant.
It's in the Bible, Hebrews 9:14-15, NIV. "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ , who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
- In that vain and, though it truly compliments what has come before, wouldn't you say that God's word is exactly in the order that he intended...the New supersedes the Old. I know what you will say..."Acts is part of the new" but, I am sure you will agree that Revelations supersedes Acts and therefore Paul's teachings would supersede Luke's? Not that Luke's was / is not very important but, in that since, Paul, the author of Ephesians ,writes from the perspective of union with Christ, who is the head of the true church. So, AGAIN,here is a point that I posed..... how do you reconcile your belief with Ephesians 2:8-9? In that light and for salvation, God excludes"works" of man....why, since man's physical involvement is crucial to water baptism, much less, total immersion....why is this "act" of man so vital to his salvation.
Yes, the Holy Spirit, reveals all mysteries...like Colossians 1:26, the mystery that has been kept hid den for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people.
I am a Lord's People and without him in me, I would not even know or have a chance to understand this verse. I see it as one of my "first fruits" of God in me.....and he can get inside one like myself, in or out of the water!
, I'm sure to be an effective psychologist requires one to be accurate and truthful!...Whew!!!!
