Conscious of your sins ... ?

[blitzkreig]

This from a Systematic Theology by L.S. Chafer ...

If possessed with any degree of the knowledge of God and self-knowledge, we are aware that too often we are far from sinless in the eyes of God.

The consciousness of sinfulness at times in our lives has been the testimony of the most spiritual of believers of all generations, as they have been enabled to see the Person of God in contrast to themselves.

Job, the upright in heard, abhorred himself before God. Daniel, against whom no sin is recorded, said "My comeliness is turned in me into corruption."

Perhaps if you are feeling low ... it isn't necessarily a sign of any special failing ... but perhaps ... a sign of the knowledge you have ... of God.

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[Robbinson]

This from a Systematic Theology by L.S. Chafer ...

Perhaps if you are feeling low ... it isn't necessarily a sign of any special failing ... but perhaps ... a sign of the knowledge you have ... of God.

.

Yes - I agree with this (nice post).

Although I would add that knowledge of sin should be coupled with repentance (and I believe that when we have been touched by the Holy Spirit and have become new creatures in Christ, while we may fall into sin from time to time (as will happen, as we remain human), we will by nature repent and work to avoid sin).

Regards

[blitzkreig]

Although I would add that knowledge of sin should be coupled with repentance (and I believe that when we have been touched by the Holy Spirit and have become new creatures in Christ, while we may fall into sin from time to time (as will happen, as we remain human), we will by nature repent and work to avoid sin).

Regards

That is a common conception... but unfortunately it isn't our nature to repent and avoid sin ... even after we are saved it isn't our nature.

That old nature is still in there along with the new. Until we put off this body and be done with it all we are stuck with this dichotomy. Two natures.

That is what Romans 7 is all about ... Paul's struggle with the Adamic nature which is still in there causing trouble.

Now we are forgiven ... but our relationship with the Holy Spirit can be injured (the term is actually "grieved") and as a result we feel God at a distance and our walk is not what it should be.

That is what repentance (actually confession to God of our stupid sins) is for ... to "repair" the walk. We are saved all along ... literally adoped children of God ... but He can be keeping blessings back if our walk isn't what it should be.

But I disagree that this is in any way intuitive ... it is explained in Scripture but many Christians miss out on this good restorative news because they don't listen to God's Word ... they thing He is going to whisper it in their ear or something ...

[Robbinson]

That is a common conception... but unfortunately it isn't our nature to repent and avoid sin ... even after we are saved it isn't our nature.

That old nature is still in there along with the new. Until we put off this body and be done with it all we are stuck with this dichotomy. Two natures.

That is what Romans 7 is all about ... Paul's struggle with the Adamic nature which is still in there causing trouble.

Now we are forgiven ... but our relationship with the Holy Spirit can be injured (the term is actually "grieved") and as a result we feel God at a distance and our walk is not what it should be.

That is what repentance (actually confession to God of our stupid sins) is for ... to "repair" the walk. We are saved all along ... literally adoped children of God ... but He can be keeping blessings back if our walk isn't what it should be.

But I disagree that this is in any way intuitive ... it is explained in Scripture but many Christians miss out on this good restorative news because they don't listen to God's Word ... they thing He is going to whisper it in their ear or something ...

Thanks - I do believe we are in agreement here. This is what I meant by we fall into sin - but because we are saved, we have an urge to repent and make it right - but we can't help ourselves from slipping. This is exactly what Paul was talking about in the verse you quoted. If we are not in total agreement - we are pretty close. Stated another way, before we are saved, we sin and don't really, truely repent - it is not in our nature and we are not righteous in God's eyes. After we are saved, the Holy Spirit is within us. We still will sin and cannot be perfect (J. Wesley thought, I believe, this could be possible, but it is not), because we are still human - but we struggle against sin and repent - why?- because Christ is within us.

Regards

[hapimom98]

Thank you. This is comforting.

[blitzkreig]

I read an interesting quote the other day ... I wish I could lay my hands on it just now to give it verbatim ... but the jest of it was that few Christians truly understand the Holy Spirit's roll in Salvation ... but of those who do, it wouldn't be 1 in 100 of them, which truly understand the Holy Spirit's roll in Sanctification.

Not only is Salvation 100% on account of the initiative of God ... the completed work of Christ actually ... but so is Sanctification.

What ever burden you are in possession of ... you just have to leave it all at His feet and trust that He knows what He is doing.

Now "why" He chooses to drag some of us over the rocks of life and seemingly others get by with comparative ease I don't know.

But when I get there and if there are opportunities for questions ... I promise to bring it up.