Hi Gina,
Good thread by the way, this has been a subject I’ve been interested in for many years, but never received a satisfactory answer, Ray had shed much light on this subject for me when he had done his free will paper which was huge for me, personally I believe that is the beginning of all understanding.
I’m always plagued with sin, attractions to the carnal mind, I’ve read scriptures that lead me to believe that if I sin I am not saved or converted but still in the flesh.
It seems to be the consensus of those belonging to this forum who in my opinion are much further down the road in the things of God than I am and whom I consider myself not even in the same ball park that say God’s elect do sin.
These days I take comfort in what Paul said when he said because he agrees with the law of God
that when he sinned it was no longer him that sinned but sin that was in him. ( This is not a direct quote ) but renders the same meaning.
I hate it when I sin but I do sin and I cannot deny that or I would be a liar if I did so, I would like not to sin, it bothers me when I do but I am powerless to do anything about it.
I personally find in some areas that needed work I have seen progress in those areas but in others not so much, at times I just tell myself Jesus will get you there He will take these things away from you, I just need to keep trusting in Him.
These same members of this forum who I had made mention of also say that God’s elect won’t know they are God’s elect until the resurrection or if Christ should return while yet they still have life in them.
I don’t know if I’m one of God’s elect by the amount I sin or the lack of sin in my life, personally I feel that one sin is one to many.
One thing is certain to me when it comes to sin and me and that is I know when God causes me not to sin I’ll be found dabbling in sin as much as I hate sin.