To overcome the world, We must overcome the greatest battle and overcome self; die already, wretched being that I am. Put on Christ and LIVE. Amen
Rightly said.
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To all my Brothers & Sisters in Christ Jesus.
I have refrained from posting on this thread until now. It was this sentence that all can relate to posted by our sister that convicted me through the Holy Spirit and has moved me to do so. Maybe, even this young man can relate to our sisters words and be so moved. Whether he be believer or not.
The struggle of the sin nature of man is not limited to just we who call Christ Lord and Savior. The difference is how aware are we of "sin" in ourselves! WE believers have the Holy Spirit who will convict us coupled with our knowledge of the Word of God to help us grow in being Holy and Pure in His sight. What does the unbeliever have to convict them? Yet, both have choices to make. Believe and adhere or don't and continue to sin.
The Word of God is two edged Sword. It cuts both ways. It convicts us as "perpetrators" and "accusers". We in a way are balancing ourselves on the sharp edge of a sword. We stand there now. God has allowed this young person (?) to present to us a subject to contemplate on that can be so divisive to this Christian Community and the Body of Christ. So, here we stand balancing on the edge of this sword, and what I'm starting to see to me in many of these postings are brothers & sisters in Christ Jesus attempting to push each other off!
It's as if we are looking at "sin/evil" and being asked is it possible that there be any rightness to/in it?
Surely when placed as a question the answer must be a resounding "NO". Yet....of cause there was going to be a "Yet"
Can we not separate this "sinful nature of man" from the "spiritual nature of God" that resides in us? My answer must be "YES". I'm not saying easily done. Oh, so difficult to do, but keeping mind that our God is actually doing His work in us to this very end! How can we not attempt to also help others in this regard?
This does not mean to accept "sin". For surely God does not accept nor condone it in any way shape or form. He disposes of it, forgets it to never be remembered for those who love Him, and to those who don't. He burns it, destroying it to finality.
He helps the believer to grow out from its bondage to His Glory and leaves those who don't believe to continue to be chained to it until the day it is finally eradicated from existence to His Glory.
All to His Glory! For even in Sin it will be to His Glory for He will be found to be Just, Righteous, Holy. Attributes that we have a tendency to exclude from our consideration, because our focus desires to be solely on His Love. Any wonder we need Eternal Life to know Him?
Shower this person in love, compassion, as some have done here, but also, be firm in correction, guidance as others have also done. Just don't use each other's position as reason to jump upon this person or each other as vultures do upon a carcass.
For ultimately each of us should have a desire that this person continue to grow in Him, if he is a believer and lay aside all deceit/error.
However, if he is not yet able to call Jesus Christ, Lord, God, Savior. We hope and pray that he might one day do so and come to know that there is, even in having this dream (pretense or not), no impediment to him coming to the foot of the Cross!
With the Love of Jesus Christ my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
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