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stop sinning or something worse will happen to you
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: markn902 on October 08, 2011, 07:43:54 PM ---How do we now if we have crossed the line now?
--- End quote ---
That's the thing, you don't. When sin is reigning in you, your mind is not on the things of God. When you are on the path to destruction, the last thing on your mind is 'when have I crossed the line.'
Remember Ray's last conference when he made that point on 'as a man thinks, so he is' [Ps 23:7]. Even if you mess up on a daily basis (and we all do), there's always something that brings our thoughts to God. That's God drawing us to Him...because if He didn't bring our attention to Him, nothing else would. It doesn't mean you're perfect or better than someone else, but it does mean God is drawing you to Him and that is how He keeps us from falling [Jude v24].
Hope this helps,
Marques
DougE6:
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
We must judge ourselves, as the scriptures tell us. This judging, can reap rewards, as it shows us plainly our deep failings and as we seek Him and beg Him for change...He changes us. And it can help us from becoming hypocrites! Just speaking from my life, I truly WANT to, I Want to please God, to stop sinning, to tear down idols as he shows them; and yet still fail, but it doesn't stop my striving. But I can say, that as the years and time goes on, I can see the work He is doing in me. I do see progress! Even through a dark glass, I think I can see the reasons for some of the most difficult and challenging things God has called me to live through. That at times seemed inscrutable and so hard. I judge my heart, most every day. Specially if I fail Him in some manner. Ouch goes my conscience. I ask God to purify my heart and my motives. I ask God to show me the beam in my eye so I can cast it out, so I can have a clear conscience before Him. I DO NOT WANT TO BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD. I long to be righteous. to be good, to attain, to be with Him, somehow, to the resurrection of the righteous. Paul said it so much better than my clumsy words...
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Too me, those two verses are the goal of my faith. Why oh why would i want to spend any time with any sinful wordly thoughts and desires?
Kat:
Hi patmokgoko,
--- Quote ---Is it possible that I can stop sinning (all by myself)
--- End quote ---
Here are a few emails that helps explain this dilemma of, stop sinning.
http://bible-truths.com/email11.htm#stop ----------------------------------
[Ray Replies]
Unfortunately, there is not a magic bullet that will instantly clean us of all sin and bad habits. Even the physical analogies of this spiritual washing, purging, and cleaning of our carnality, indicate that time is required. It takes time to wash clothing, it takes time to purify gold and silver in a furnace, etc.
The penalty of sin issue can be settled in your heart and mind the instant you come to realize that Jesus PAID IN FULL the penalty for your sins and all the sin of the world. However, paying the penalty for sin does not instantly PURGE AND WASH US CLEAN OF SIN. The penalty is paid, but the condition lingers.
The more you SEE your sins and shortcomings, the more you will DESIRE to rid yourself of these things. We are crucified WITH CHRIST, yet we live, but the life we live is one of OVERCOMING THE SINS FOR WHICH WE AND CHRIST DIED FOR.
We have been HAND-PICKED by God to be in His kingdom. Now we must go through the training course that He has set before us. Jesus said that He overcame THE WORLD. We too are to overcome THE WORLD. It's a HUGE task, that requires the power of SPIRIT to accomplish.
Don't become discouraged in well-doing. You will triumph in Christ if you have His spirit working in you. God will even give you the DESIRE to want to do right and be right.
This life is a life of SPIRITUAL WARFARE. There will be many battles before the final victory. So we must endure and we must overcome. For those whom God has chosen, this will be accomplished!
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php?topic=2465.0 ----------------------
Yours is a common frustration. Many write me with similar struggles
with the flesh after coming into a knowledge of the Truth. I did the
same. I left my First Love and went back into the world, all the while
knowing that I couldn't conquor my flesh. I was so happy for what I
'preceived to be "greasy grace." Thank God for grace, because I knew
I wasn't going to be saved without it.
I still believe that that part of it is true (about saved by grace only), but
I also know that it is possible when God gets ready, to conquor your
major sins so that sin no longer "reigns over you." You will not be totally
perfect and mature, but you will not be giving into every pull of the flesh,
for sexual gratification, lust for money, power, good looks, eternal youth,
perfect health, interesting job, travel and excitement, etc., etc., etc. You
will learn to enjoy the simple pleasure of life like, breathing, sleeping,
walking, talking to your wife, eating a pizza, and going to bed early on a
Saturday night.
God will make you really WANT to stop sinning, long before you will
ACTUALLY stop sinning. It's part of the struggle; part of the good
fight of faith; part of overcoming the flesh. Don't become discouraged, as
God WILL SEE YOUR THROUGH!
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php?topic=5854.0 --------
No Believer is "perfect" and totally free from sin while he is still in this flesh. One needs to repent of their sins and be led by God's Holy Spirit into a life where one is no longer reigned over by sin. It doesn't mean that we are perfect and sinless. Even the Apostle John near the end of his ministry plainly stated:
1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jo 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
v
There are many Scriptures which speak of how we are to come out of sin, and stop sinning, even though we never achieve total perfection while we are in the flesh:
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
God be with you,
Ray
patmokgoko:
If there is no magic bullet that will instantly clean us of all sin and bad habits........why would Jesus command the man to stop sinning-Jesus should know better.
If Jesus paid in full why should He ask of this man to stop sinning, "i have paid the price, yours is just to stop sinning".My confussion is that while I see "stop sinning" as a process, it is like Jesus wants the man to stop now.While I see it as Jesus who is able to stop us from sinning, now He is demanding that we do on our own.Jesus knows that we are not perfect and He is the One to perfect us demands "stop sinning and be perfect".When Jesus knows fully well that "the good that i want to do i dont do" I can't wait to sin because I am too weak not to sin.
I hope and pray that someone sees my frustration, I sometimes comfort myself that this "stop sinning" is relative.
Please help!
JohnMichael:
--- Quote from: patmokgoko on October 10, 2011, 03:37:26 AM ---If there is no magic bullet that will instantly clean us of all sin and bad habits........why would Jesus command the man to stop sinning-Jesus should know better.
If Jesus paid in full why should He ask of this man to stop sinning, "i have paid the price, yours is just to stop sinning".My confussion is that while I see "stop sinning" as a process, it is like Jesus wants the man to stop now.While I see it as Jesus who is able to stop us from sinning, now He is demanding that we do on our own.Jesus knows that we are not perfect and He is the One to perfect us demands "stop sinning and be perfect".When Jesus knows fully well that "the good that i want to do i dont do" I can't wait to sin because I am too weak not to sin.
I hope and pray that someone sees my frustration, I sometimes comfort myself that this "stop sinning" is relative.
Please help!
--- End quote ---
Bingo! It is the desire to stop sinning, and the attempts to resist that are under the "stop sinning" commandment. It is the relative. The absolute being that we cannot stop sinning - only Christ working in us can stop us from sinning. There is a balance achieved. It's in how you view the sin. God is the one who removes the sin, BUT man must not try to use the Sovereignty of God to justify sin, so as God gives man the ability and desire, the man will strive to resist.
I hope that helps. In Him,
John
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