Question 1
Some people emphasise a lot on resting in Gods grace and just being His child.

Others focus on discipleship and following Christ. Some people also separate these two. Is this possible and where in scripture does God say that Jesus Christ must be Lord and Saviour.

Question 2
We are holy in Christ, but there is also a practical holiness through the time we walk with Him. What is the balance in this. Cause on the one hand God says in ezekiel and jeremia that He gives us a new spirit, new life, he will take away our idols and will be our God. On the other hand is demands choices of us or not...? This is my question... what's the balance between that? And when is it a work out of the flesh when we want to please God and when a work of us cooperating with His Spirit. Or how does this work?

Please answer the questions with bible quotations in the right context and good explanation. Thank you brothers, seek Him, He's worth it.

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Dirk

Anyone?

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Dirk

I don't believe that Jesus can be your Savior without Him also being Lord. It seems clear that the gospel Jesus proclaimed to men was one of discipleship, a calling to follow Him in submissive obedience, the account of the rich young ruler (found in Matthew, Mark, & Luke's gospels) is a prime example.

There are some who think that idea makes salvation a matter of works. But the issue is really that the one who has true saving faith will produce fruit that attests to that faith, because he/she acknowledges Jesus Christ not only as Savior but also as Lord.

Some may argue that because a person continues to sin that must mean they haven't acknowledged Jesus as Lord, only as Savior. But the issue isn't if we sin or not, the issue is our attitude towards sin. The willful rejection of Jesus as Lord proves that that person doesn't have true saving faith even though they may profess faith.

It seems most references to repentance unto salvation in the Bible are in the context of repentance from sin so how do we turn to Jesus without turning away from sin and how do we turn away from sin without submitting ourselves to Jesus as Lord?

In Christ,

Ron

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Ron Halverson

1 John 1:1-10 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

We can walk in the light and be cleansed from sin.
How? If we agree with Dad and confess our sin He is faithful and Just, to forgive us our sin.

"Faithful"; God is faithful to Himself to forgive us our sins. Strong's Greek Dictionary
4103. pistos
Search for G4103 in KJVSL
pistoV pistos pis-tos'
from 3982; objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful:--believe(-ing, -r), faithful(-ly), sure, true.

Why? Because of Christ and the Cross.

"And Just"; Strong's Greek Dictionary
1342. dikaios
Search for G1342 in KJVSL
dikaioV dikaios dik'-ah-yos
from 1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):--just, meet, right(-eous).

This is our cleansing, because God the Father is true to the Son and His sacrifice is truly in Justice by God Faithful to forgive all sin, that is confessed. The faithfulness of God is the forgiveness not just my confession, For He has sent the Holy Spirit to convict me of all sin.

When my children come to me and admit what they did and want forgiveness no matter the discipline, I almost want to bless them for sinning. God our Father is the same, not the sin is good, but the Cross of Christ was so powerful, even unto the sin of the whole world, that in that confession we show the Christ in us, being born from above.

So if a man commits a sin and he knows he has done wrong and confesses his sin, that is a sin of a man, "God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin.

Now on God's part by the Christ in us we are taken out of this fleshly realm when John states that, "those that are born of God cannot commit sin", For His Seed remains in him, and the Seed is Jesus Christ rebirthed in us and He cannot sin.

So, God has taken care of our Spirit which is Christ and our flesh by the Cross and confession, to forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:12-14 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 2:28-29 And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 3:9-10 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and He cannot sin, because He is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if (((((any man))))) sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

This is the sins of the flesh that, "any man" commits, he does not sin against God, For Christ' Seed is in Him and Christ cannot sin, so If "any man" commits a sin, that sin is against himself and not God.

This is hard to get a hold of, but when we do, we understand How we can be born from above and sin not, yet in the flesh commit an "any man", sins of the flesh and God our Father truly forgive him in confession because of our Advocate and His Cross.

In Christ: Phillip

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Phillip

I am not sure I see a conflict in the original statements. Look at Titus 2:12-15. I once heard this statement, and have found it to be true in my own life. Once you get a true revelation of the love and grace of God that has been poured out toward you, you will begin to live holier on accident than you ever did on purpose before. Because I have experienced that grace and forgiveness of God through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I desire to do what pleases Him. I have given up my own life. I am now dead to sin, and to my own self will, and am alive in Him. I am not saying that I don't have to discipline myself and my flesh from time to time, but I can truly say that being totally submitted to Him in all things is a pleasure that gets sweeter every day. I never obey God just because I must. I am in relationship with Him and obey Him because He first loved me. Isn't that what the word says. We love Him because He first loved us, and again, If we love Him, we will keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grevious.

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Travis

Travis,

What a true statement. God from the beginning wanted son's and daughters that love Him the way He loves us. He has done it all, to give us that greatest desire of our hearts, to love Him the way He loves us. What sparkling clarity when we have this understanding in us by the Christ that is our life. Christ loves through us the way God wants to be loved. By the Holy Spirit and the life of Christ and the renewing of our minds to the mind of Christ we are learning to love His way.

What a blessing and Grace upon Grace, that we love one another and God by the Love of God in us by the life of Christ He has rebirthed in us. Praise to the Father.


In Christ: Phillip

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Phillip

Phillip, I think it was Watchman Nee that God used to give me a great revelation of this fact. When we can truly reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin and self and alive unto God, we forever cease to try to live a "Christian" life from our own effort or willpower. The life I now live I live BY THE FAITH OF Jesus Christ. Wow! We no longer live, but He lives in us. You are so right. We love not from our own love, but from the Love of God shed abroad in our hearts. We live, not from our own life, but from the life of God in us. We learn to live, not out of our own mind, but out of the mind of Christ given to us through His Holy Spirit dwelling in us (1 Corinthians 2). I hope this helps you answer your original question Dirk.

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Travis