Being a new creation in Christ means that you have been renewed. The old sinful person you once were has gone as a result of your being completely renewed through Christ. In fact, the word renew can be defined as "changing into something new and different, something better." That really sums up what renewal in Christ means in that we were remade into something better. For some of us, it may have been quite a struggle to remove the old sinful self and totally renovate our lives. It may continue to be a struggle, but know this: if you stay steadfast in your relationship with God, He will continually work in your life to renew you and rid yourself of the stains of sin that may continually plague you.
Colossians 3:1-17 KJV
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
"(where does scripture say it is an unfortunate truth that)
people who are well versed in scripture, (opening fact offered)
do not have much good to offer, (? I've never seen that in the bible. Where does it say this? Where does it say that people who are well versed in the bible do not have much good to offer?)
because they are unable to be humble and correctable themselves, (Where does it say that people who are well versed in scripture are unable to be humble or correctable themselves?)"
I guess we should address the question directly too. Where does it say this, and why has the person not noticed before ?
People can have all knowledge, and understand all mysteries, they can give their body to be burned, and without charity it profits them nothing at all.
Charity shows correctability, kindness, and humility, and the ones who do have all knowledge, do not have automatic access to charity, as this is the Love of God, love that has waxen cold now as foretold, and witnessed right here and now as all totally true, the false prophets, (teachers pretending to be of Christ) deceive many, and what you will see is, you see they have no love....
1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
We notice God is fair in all things. Himself although mighty, suffering the shame and death of the cross, having sincere respect to the lowly..
Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
That is the example of the Lord magnifying His word above His name, Psalms 138:2. He became worthy to redeem us to Himself. To receive the name above every name as His word comes true after being tried. (Christ the word was tried) John 1:1. We also try the false apostles and find them liars.... Revelation 2:2...
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
As for people who have suffered so greatly in this life, Christ suffered non stop, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief and understands everybody's pains. Isaiah 53:3. When God sends someone to testify His Gospel, like Paul, they need to be chastened by God to not be exalted by all their revelations, they will be in infirmities, and will understand all too well what it is to suffer. They are given understanding and sensitivity by God to have great kindness for all who suffer in this life, and if you notice someone preaching Christ with contention, Philippians 1:16, or without love and humility, you know they lost out somehow on the chastening. Hebrews 12:8...
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
There is a marked distinction between new birth, and a reclamation project. The new birth is not a reclamation project. It is an entirely new life, not made from past parts.
The mind however, carries over from the old self, and must be renewed.
God says to reckon, consider it to be so, that the old man has been crucified and dead. The positional truth is that the old man is dead, and not able to be obeyed. It is a future truth for the purposes of our time on earth according to the first birth. Yet, sometimes people live according to the dictates of the flesh, while a Christian. Paul admitted the same, admitting he was a slave to it.
God is not rehabbing the old man. He killed it on the cross before any of us were born, and started with new material. That is the new creation. As a practical truth, God made the payment, but has not disposed of the flesh yet. That He will do in the future.
Renew the mind. The new birth already occurred for anyone who has trusted/believed Christ. It is a particular event in time, not an ongoing birth. It happens instantaneously. The mind is to be continuously renewed by absorbing the Word of God. The living Word of God, which God honors, above His own name. We are to intake His holy Word by reading, speaking, hearing, writing, studying, praying through, and meditating upon His living Word.
God is not taking the old man and reconstructing or renewing him.
My actions are not to be compared to anyone else. The standard for me to meet is Christ likeness. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." It does not say, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of some other person. To compare Christians, is to ignore the lesson of 1 Corinthians 2, and such actions are evidence, according to what God says there, spiritual immaturity, and carnal living.
"Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father."
"Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, �Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.� 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, �God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?� 4 And those who stood by said, �Do you revile God�s high priest?� 5 Then Paul said, �I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, �You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.��" Take heed how you speak to an officer of the church.
"Unfortunately people who are well versed in scripture, do not have much good to offer, because they are unable to be humble and correctable themselves, so the new one in Christ can be more sincere, seen in who uses too many words as totally incorrect....."
You falsely asserted that a category of people are in a constant state of sin. The fact that a particular person may commit a sin is not proof that it is a truth that a whole group of people is sinning that sin continuously. What you said is not backed by anything said in the scripture.
"We notice God is fair in all things. Himself although mighty, suffering the shame and death of the cross, having sincere respect to the lowly.."
No, God is intentionally unfair to all. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Fair is us going to hell to pay for our sin. But instead of us getting fair, we get immeasurably better than fair. Every day that we wake up and we are not in hell, it's not fair. That's better than fair.
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."
Paul a slave to sin, or Paul too deep to understand for those who wrest the scriptures to their own destruction?
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
So Paul, speaking the word of God, asks, who shall deliver us from this body of this death ? Then in the very next verse answers. There is NOW, no condemnation to those who walk after the Spirit, and NOT, after the flesh. The law WAS weak in the flesh, but sin became condemned in the flesh, and NOW, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We previously were not delivered from that slavery to sin, but we became delivered, and anyone who teaches we still are slaves to sin, does not consider you cannot serve two masters..
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Our inward man is renewed every day, because we suffer and need to be refreshed. Also the spirit of our mind is renewed, as we learn to stop corrupt communications, and learn and speak righteousness instead...
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
"My actions are not to be compared to anyone else. The standard for me to meet is Christ likeness. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." It does not say, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of some other person."
Our actions are to be compared to everybody else, because the quote of all falling short of the glory of God, is there to see when people cease to continue to fall short of the glory of God, being glorified by God in behavior now..
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Moreover this is not comparing Christians, this is comparing people who consider they have right to judge others, and come short on their abilities. We can also rebuke an elder before 2 or 3 witnesses as we have here already...
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
God dwells not in temples made with hands, the officer of the church are angels..
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
"My actions are not to be compared to anyone else. The standard for me to meet is Christ likeness. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." It does not say, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of some other person."
Our actions are to be compared to everybody else, because the quote of all falling short of the glory of God, is there to see when people cease to continue to fall short of the glory of God, being glorified by God in behavior now..
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Moreover this is not comparing Christians, this is comparing people who consider they have right to judge others, and come short on their abilities. We can also rebuke an elder before 2 or 3 witnesses as we have here already...
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
God dwells not in temples made with hands, the officer of the church are angels..
The catagory of people that are in a constant state of sin is the whole world.
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
For people to teach that His word is exalted more than His name, and consider this to mean reading the word more, do not have simple understanding to know, the name of Christ was exalted above every name in Heaven and earth, that is the word exalted above His name, tried, tested and found worthy.
God is intentionally unfair to all, or, God is better than fair. Two choices there, and why we attempt to correct something and make less sense ourselves ? God advises us to watch out for instability, it's a real problem. I'm sure therefore, we can all agree, the wisdom from above is peaceable, gentle, easy to intreat others, full of mercy, without hypocrisy, as the people were seeking here and trying to tell a certain someone....
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Again I reiterate, this is a time for celebration of God's unfailing grace: Congratulations, Rand, on the journey you have embarked on and the experience with the living Jesus you now celebrate. This is your party, and I celebrate with you! Anyone that doesn't want to celebrate with you, can simply watch from the window. You're traveling with the best Companion one could ever hope for! I just wonder why it is that everyone cannot just celebrate with you your experience and transformation? Your experience is no doubt sending you on a marvelous journey, bringing worship and the scriptures to life for you as such experiences have done for so many. God will no doubt continue to do wonderful things in and through you to bless fellow believers and seekers alike. You're living proof that rebirth as Jesus described in John 3 still happens, and please don't let anyone ever rob you of the joy in which you now live! And yes, don't be afraid to share your story with those who will hear and be blessed by it. It is by this exchange of stories that our faith is reinforced. I see the Holy Spirit alive and working in my life, but now through your story, I see Him at work in yours as well, and both of us are blessed by this.
Father, I pray the blood of Christ, Sir, for the cleansing of this board, and beg Lord, that You would rebuke the lies of the demons who try to twist Your holy words Lord. I pray Lord You would expose the lies of the enemy for what they are, for the heresy that it is. I ask these things according to Your will and according to Your word Lord, asking in Christ's steady Father, as You have commanded, in His name, Amen.
MY LITTLE CHILDREN, these things I write to YOU, so that YOU MAY NOT SIN, ---->AND IF<---- ANYONE SINS ...
How is John suggesting we go out and sin with these words? Or me by quoting him? Good grief. How bizarre a reading of these words. And did not Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit say the same thing?
From a recent post:
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. ... For we are God�s fellow workers; you are God�s field, you are God�s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one�s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one�s work, of what sort it is. If anyone�s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone�s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." 1 Corinthians 3
Paul goes on to chastise the Corinthians with even more severe language in Chapter 5. "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner�not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore �put away from yourselves the evil person.�"
Is anyone fool enough to call these words of God a lie, and say Christians do not sin, when the who passage is a rebuke of Christians living in sin? And who will dare say that quoting God is an approval of sin? That is outrageous.
You are in open sin before the Lord by denying the plain words of Romans 7:25. It is without question that the ecclesia is to judge sin among the body, and to remove it from the presence of the body, by disassociation. It is without question that Christians can live in sin. If it were not possible, there would be no church discipline, nor any need for church discipline. You pick off individual verses, or small groups of verses, rather then giving the full context of the verses, and you twist them together, to make points that are false and contradictory to the entire body of scripture. Peter didn't say it was impossible to understand Paul, he said Paul wrote things hard to understand.
"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation�as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are
----->some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures<-----.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
You reject the learned in the scriptures, and count yourself a hero for disrespecting the scriptures; and one of the very scriptures you use to prove your case exposes the lie you foster upon those who read these pages. You are unlearned, untaught, and unstable, and you twist God's word to your own destruction. God gave us the Holy Bible to feed upon, so that we can grow, as it says in 1 Peter 2.
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5
You casually dismiss what God honors. The Lord rebuke you. Your teachings are false. I leave you to the discipline of the Lord.
