Having trouble living the Christian life? Here’s why.

[PATrobas]

Reminders – Strength in Weakness

            In our zeal to put on a show and to “act Christian,” (that is, to do the best we can in our own efforts,) we have become as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. They prided themselves in believing they were following the letter of the Law of Moses, while covertly living the opposite. Along with the chief priests, elders, and scribes, they enforced rules and laws on others that they themselves couldn’t keep. When Jesus came along, these leaders rejected both Him and what He said because He exposed their hypocrisy. Jesus broke the establishment mold of religion and religious actions which upset all the religious leadership. They either had to relinquish their offices of prestige and submit to the authority of the living Word of God, or kill Him and usurp His authority. They chose the latter and accomplished neither. He rose from the dead and is now Lord of all.

            Jesus tells us to do things that are impossible to do unless He does them in us. Yet we ignore that truth and try to fool both Him and those around us by showing off and pretending we are in the center of His will. When Jesus said we are to  love our enemies and bless them who curse us, He included Himself in those requirements. Did He love and bless them who crucified Him? Yes. Do we do the same in our daily walk? Can we control ourselves to the point of  loving, blessing, and praying for the drug-crazed pervert who is spitting, cursing, and physically assaulting us and our family as we try to walk the streets of New York or San Francisco? Don’t answer so quickly. Really imagine yourself in that situation. Will you still love them after the assault? You see, it is hard enough to treat our cranky neighbor nice and say we love him, but if confronted with someone who hates us and shows that hatred, it becomes impossible to love them as Jesus said to do unless He does it in us.

            Final Thoughts: The Bible says that none of us can keep the law in order to be saved. Why then, once we are saved do we think we can keep the law to maintain that salvation? ^{Philippians 1:6} Paul said it this way to the churches of Galatia, “[Did you receive] the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?” ^{Galatians 3:2-3} In other words, did you become born again by keeping the law or by faith when obeying the Gospel? Since it was by faith, why do you still try to be holy by your own efforts? We couldn’t save ourselves to begin with and now we can’t maintain it. Jesus wants us to be honest with both Him and others by admitting our failure and weaknesses in the flesh and telling Him we just can’t do it. It is then that He says “I know. But I did and I can.” It is why He said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” ^{2 Corinthians 12:9} Let’s honestly confess our weaknesses so that His strength is manifested in us and we do those things which are impossible to do in the flesh. ^{2 Corinthians 4:7}

[Neighbor]

Hi,Sorry but right out of the chute I have an objection to the narrative.  Commentaries that start with we think  this, and we do that, are seldom if ever correct. There simply is no we think to be had. Each individual thinks and acts individually. In this case I suspect very few individuals can be successfully pinned with the accusations the presentation makes against a non existent collective we.

In over 40 years of reasonably close association with many hundreds of Christians I do not think I have ever met one that was trying to act Christian, nor fool me, nor themself, nor Jesus. 

 

[PATrobas]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

Hi,Sorry but right out of the chute I have an objection to the narrative.  Commentaries that start with we think  this, and we do that, are seldom if ever correct. There simply is no we think to be had. Each individual thinks and acts individually. In this case I suspect very few individuals can be successfully pinned with the accusations the presentation makes against a non existent collective we.

In over 40 years of reasonably close association with many hundreds of Christians I do not think I have ever met one that was trying to act Christian, nor fool me, nor themself, nor Jesus. 

 

If the shoe doesn’t fit, there should be no reason for defense. I see the “Christian show” every Sunday. If you haven’t seen it in 40 years, I’d like to meet where you do.

The problem is that most Christians I have encountered think that they are obeying Jesus’ words, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:” when they aren’t, due to that little word “all.” When I bring that up to them, the usual response is, “Well I try to.” Or “Well I want to.” Jesus didn’t say to try to or to want to, He said thou shalt. Either you are doing it, or you aren’t, and I say “we” aren’t, and we should admit it. That was the point of my OP. Or perhaps you missed my point.

[Neighbor]

30 minutes ago, PATrobas said:

Or perhaps you missed my point.

Not at all, I disagree with the "point"!  But yes I have certainly have cherished the gift of association with so many  Christians over some forty years at various locales and different local church bodies, each with the most awesome individuals that simply do as they are led to be doing by the Holy Spirit of God. They do so quietly without seeking fame nor glory for themselves, instead being about the business of our common Lord God and savior Jesus. 

I find knowing them to be such an awesome privilege that God has graced me with though to this very day. I find no fault in any  that needs "my" correcting tongue. Instead I have been enabled often to get to notice the result of their quietly done works of the faith of Jesus.

[PATrobas]

9 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Not at all, I disagree with the "point"!  But yes I have certainly have cherished the gift of association with so many  Christians over some forty years at various locales and different local church bodies, each with the most awesome individuals that simply do as they are led to be doing by the Holy Spirit of God. They do so quietly without seeking fame nor glory for themselves, instead being about the business of our common Lord God and savior Jesus. 

I find knowing them to be such an awesome privilege that God has graced me with though to this very day. I find no fault in any  that needs "my" correcting tongue. Instead I have been enabled often to get to notice the result of their quietly done works of the faith of Jesus.

I rejoice that you have been so blessed. My experience has been different. I suppose I should have written this from the first person perspective, singling out me rather than we. I find myself falling far short of Jesus' words and should have left everyone else out of it. But what I have learned about myself is that I have a battle between my flesh and my new man in the spirit. My flesh wants to sin and my new man doesn't. I know the right answers, "Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." The problem arises after I have sinned because I have chosen to obey my flesh. But rather than lower God's standard, I chose to confess my sin by calling it what God calls it and move on to fight the next battle (i.e. to walk in the spirit.) I don't believe you, or me, or anyone else walks in sinless perfection (There I go again making "me", "we", but is it not true nevertheless?) I'd like to know why you don't agree with my "point" which again is, "Let’s honestly confess our weaknesses so that His strength is manifested in us and we do those things which are impossible to do in the flesh. ^{2 Corinthians 4:7"}

^{Perhaps I'm not getting your point?}

^Blessings.

[DeighAnn]

1 hour ago, PATrobas said:

I rejoice that you have been so blessed. My experience has been different. I suppose I should have written this from the first person perspective, singling out me rather than we. I find myself falling far short of Jesus' words and should have left everyone else out of it. But what I have learned about myself is that I have a battle between my flesh and my new man in the spirit. My flesh wants to sin and my new man doesn't. I know the right answers, "Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." The problem arises after I have sinned because I have chosen to obey my flesh. But rather than lower God's standard, I chose to confess my sin by calling it what God calls it and move on to fight the next battle (i.e. to walk in the spirit.) I don't believe you, or me, or anyone else walks in sinless perfection (There I go again making "me", "we", but is it not true nevertheless?) I'd like to know why you don't agree with my "point" which again is, "Let’s honestly confess our weaknesses so that His strength is manifested in us and we do those things which are impossible to do in the flesh. ^{2 Corinthians 4:7"}

^{Perhaps I'm not getting your point?}

^Blessings.

Then you need to RE THINK what you are thinking.  I walk in sinless perfection almost all the time.  The question is why don't you?  

You know under the Law, they didn't have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them.  TO GET their sins forgiven, they had to take their best animal to the temple, confess their sins, slit the animals throat etc.   And even then the blood of the animal never made them feel fully clean.   Walk  away from the temple and how long before you sin again and how long till you get back with another animal.  THOSE PEOPLE COULDN'T WALK IN SINLESS PERFECTION hardly ever.  

Let's compare with TODAY and what the WORK of Jesus provided us.  How long does it take you to repent?  How far are your knees from the ground?  How long does it take to confess you sin and ask forgiveness?  Do you not realize that the MOMENT that happens, you are WALKING IN SINLESS PERFECTION, and will be until the next time you sin?   NOT walking Holy ONLY HAPPENS if that is YOUR CHOICE.  

Here is GODS TRUTH.   As a child on the MILK it is a WORK ALMOST every day sometimes in the beginning every hour and we'll leave it there we all get the point.  BUT when you ABIDE in the words of GOD, it gets easier.  Instead of watching TV GO GET SOME OF GODS WISDOM.  Start in the OLD TEST because there are REALLY entertaining stories there and start reading the Psalms.  If you are like me, most of it won't make sense for a while.  Start at Genesis and read it on through Precept on precept....don't even worry about understanding anything, just KNOW you are following GODS WAY.  I promise, one day, hopefully a lot quicker for you, GOD will put it in order.   So, get it on audio, even when you aren't specifically listening to it, still have it on. Make it  your background music.  I used to fall asleep to the audio bible.  GUARANTEE life is much easier that way.  

And get over that whole WORKS thing.  No Christian today has to worry about works because none of them were ever UNDER THE LAW so they wouldn't know how to KEEP salvation by works anyway and by the time they are working they have already been saved.  That whole works thing is just to support a doctrine of man and those things get in the way of Truth all the time.  The only thing that follows us are our works.   Do you know who doesn't want us to look on them as the best things in the world?   WORKS are like money,  GOOD WORKS are like money in the bank that never go away.  

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 KJV

"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:20 KJV


"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." Revelation 14:13 KJV


That's me

Edited September 30, 2023 by DeighAnn

[PATrobas]

12 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

Then you need to RE THINK what you are thinking.  I walk in sinless perfection almost all the time.  The question is why don't you?  

The Pharisees thought they were walking with God. Jesus showed them otherwise. Walking perfectly is not the same as walking in fellowship with Him. Our position in Christ is perfect and our "new man" cannot sin. However, our experience has not yet caught up with our position and won't until our flesh is in the grave. Consider this:

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. :11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. :12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess :13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. :14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? :10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Psalm 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: :24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Philip 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: :5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; :6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. :7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. :8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, :9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

1Cor 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Blessings.

 

[DeighAnn]

39 minutes ago, PATrobas said:

The Pharisees thought they were walking with God. Jesus showed them otherwise. Walking perfectly is not the same as walking in fellowship with Him. Our position in Christ is perfect and our "new man" cannot sin. However, our experience has not yet caught up with our position and won't until our flesh is in the grave. Consider this:

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. :11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. :12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess :13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. :14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? :10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Psalm 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: :24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Philip 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: :5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; :6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. :7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. :8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, :9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

1Cor 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Blessings.

 

What are you when all your sins have been forgiven?



"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48 KJV



"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:4 KJV



"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." Psalms 101:2 KJV



"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 KJV



"That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:17 KJV



Let's start with these



















 

Edited September 30, 2023 by DeighAnn

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, DeighAnn said:

What are you when all your sins have been forgiven?

In remission.

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for

the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off,

and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

1 John 1:

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death,

he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.

There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 

17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

What is unrighteousness?

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Romans 14:

22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn

himself in what he approves. 

23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith;

for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Edited September 30, 2023 by Mr. M

[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, Mr. M said:

In remission.

Excellent!