Khristeeanos

Thanks for your comments! I've seen them change lives as well.

I have enjoyed Focus since the late 90's and I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks about them.

I once heard that 1 John 1:8-10 was suspected to be an early Christian "hymn" or "creed" of some sort and is inserted as a quote. Philippians 2:5-11 is another one and is often represented in the text as stylized. Can anyone speak to this?

These are all very great points and I greatly appreciate everyone taking the time to offer their views.

I'd like to resurrect this thread for anyone that didn't see it the first time around. Please give me your input.

I fully agree that we all still sin and war with the flesh. We always will on this side of life. No question about it. I do disagree that it doesn't matter that Paul didn't once call another Christian a sinner. I think the position I am taking up for this discussion is that while we still sin, that doesn't make us sinners. We have a new and good heart that is the place where God dwells and it teaches us how to say no to sin. Again, not that we can attain sinlessness, but that we are becoming more like Christ when we are with Christ learning to be more like Him.

But did Paul ever call Christians sinners?

Could it be in a different context though? Paul was in a unique position to snuff our the Church as it was gaining momentum. He hated Christians and attempted to murder them. He was present when (Phillip) was stoned to death. And he begins most of his letters by calling people saints and one of my favorite passages is Ephesians 4:20-24 where he gives instructions about how to become more holy because that is why we were created. I guess my main point here would be best asked instead of stated. Did Paul ever call other Christians sinners?

Maybe I should post this in Controversial topics ha ha. I am going to make a strong claim and I am not on a soapbox to prove anyone or their theology wrong. This is to gain clarification for what I am leaning towards believing and to test it against people who are engaged in Christian discussions about all manner of topics. So here it goes... I can only find one New Covenant reference where an argument can be made that Christians are identified by the term "sinner" or "sinners" and that is in 1st John 4. A large number of epistles start out by calling Christians "saints" but not sinners. Yes we still sin and we struggle with the flesh, but we have been made into new creations with the Spirit of God within us. We have a new source to draw our identity and desires from. In Romans 7 when Paul says he struggles with the flesh and sins pay special attention to the phrase he uses twice "It is no longer I that do it but sin living in me." which is opposite of saying "I am the sinner." When I say New Covenant I mean after the death of Jesus, not the majority of the Gospels. So what do you all think? Can a case be made for this or is this just total heresy in your eyes?

Perhaps I should have picked on favorite denominational doctrines so people would offer their thoughts.

I hope everyone here is doing well! I am putting together a list of songs that fit into many categories. Topics like Story, Friendship, Peace, Passion, Pain, etc. An example of Story would be: Big Daddy Weave - My Story Or under friendship Newsong - Sheltering Tree What are some that you can help me out with? THANKS SO MUCH!

Yikes. Thanks.

I was looking on ChristianAudio.com and they have the entire CEB available for free download on audio. I've not heard of this version. It said on the page it is a Methodist translation. Anyone have a copy? How does it stack against the other translations?

I remember years ago someone showing me a passage that may have indicated that Satan was the worship leader prior to his betrayal of God. Does anyone know what I'm talking about and where it is? I've looked through dictionaries and other areas with no luck. Thanks!

It seems like Jesus painted a very different picture of the Father than the OT prophets did. Or at least the people of Israel. Look at what they said when Moses came down from the mountain. They basically said "God scares us, you deal with Him." He is (not always, but frequently) painted as someone that is quickly angered by the sin of the people and rash in His decisions to punish them Jesus painted Father as loving and forgiving. When he was angry, it wasn't with the "sinners" or even the prideful (rich ruler) or seemingly arrogant (Nico), but with those that were limiting access to God and putting themselves as spiritually superior to others.