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Joined: 2002/12/11 Posts: 39795 Canada
Online! | It pulls down the plumes of his pride! -watson | | [b]It pulls down the plumes of his pride![/b]
(Thomas Watson, "The Ten Commandments")
The true Christian cannot keep God's law perfectly. "There is certainly no righteous man on the earth who does good and never sins." Eccl. 7:20. There is in the best actions of a godly man--that which is damnable--if God should weigh him in the balance of justice. Alas! He cannot pray without wandering, nor believe without doubting. "For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it." Romans 7:18. Paul, though a saint of the first magnitude, was better at desiring than at performing.
The regenerate have a desire to obey God perfectly; but they lack strength; their obedience is weak and sickly. The mark they are to shoot at, is perfection of holiness. But though they take a right aim, and do what they can--they come short of the mark!
A Christian, while serving God, is like the rower who plies the oar, and rows hard--but is hindered, for a gust of wind carries him back again! So says Paul, "For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do." Romans 7:19. "I am driven back by temptation!"
God permits this inability in His people--to humble us. Man is a self-exalting creature; and if he has but anything of worth, he is ready to be puffed up! But when he comes to see his deficiencies and failings, and how far short he comes of that holiness and perfection which God requires--it pulls down the plumes of his pride, and lays them in the dust! He weeps over his inability! He blushes over his leprous spots! He says with Job, "I abhor myself in dust and ashes!"
God allows this inability be upon us--that we may have recourse to Christ--to obtain pardon for our defects, and to sprinkle our best duties with His blood. When a man sees that he owes perfect obedience to the law--but has nothing to pay, it makes him flee to Christ, to answer for him all the demands of the law, and set him free in the court of Divine justice.
_________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| 2007/9/15 9:42 | Profile |
| Re: It pulls down the plumes of his pride! -watson | | This is an excellent piece by Watson. One of the best that I've seen by him.
Those who know the verse - "should sin abound so that grace will more abound ? - God forbid!" - and combines that verse with what Watson has written above are free indeed.
What Great Love that God our Savior has for us. [b]For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with All the Fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto HIM be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.[/b] [Eph 3:14-21] |
| 2007/9/16 12:33 | | theopenlife Member
Joined: 2007/1/30 Posts: 926
| Re: | | Thanks, Greg, great article. |
| 2007/9/16 16:45 | Profile | myfirstLove Member
Joined: 2005/11/26 Posts: 496
| Re: It pulls down the plumes of his pride! -watson | | I'm a bit confused.
Where is the rest?
Rom. 7 is speaking of Paul's preconversion.
I agree a lot about much of calvisnist doctrine, but not when it comes to a continous struggle of sin. There's not this huge battle with sin because Christ conquered sin on the cross. Not saying that Christians are void of temptation. There will always be temptations, but with every temptation Christ has provided a way out.
I do understand what Brooks is saying. I do not have practicing sins, nor lust for this world, but not saying I'm perfect. I do find I come short. Thank God for exposing my pride (root of all sin) that is not practice, but does pop up here and there. Thank God I can come to Him and confess and He cleanses me from all filth (john1:9)where I am not living in condemnation.
I think Christians can focus too much on self and sin. I like to see teachings on victory and rest which I think a lot of Christians do not have because of faithlessness and being too focus on self and not Christ. _________________ Lisa
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| 2007/9/16 21:53 | Profile | crsschk Member
Joined: 2003/6/11 Posts: 9192 Santa Clara, CA
| Re: It pulls down the plumes of his pride | | Quote:
Rom. 7 is speaking of Paul's preconversion.
Ever wondered where this idea came from?
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another ...
Present tense, "I do ..." _________________ Mike Balog
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| 2007/9/16 23:57 | Profile | myfirstLove Member
Joined: 2005/11/26 Posts: 496
| Re: | | Hi Mike
You need to read all of rom 7.
Paul is speaking about the law and how it brought conviction to him/us realize he was in bondage to sin.
There is deliverance from this bondage. Continue on and read rom. 8 _________________ Lisa
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| 2007/9/17 10:20 | Profile |
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