Originally Posted by Filthy

There are many times, I'd like to throttle my eldest and shove her out the door. However, I have a hard time defining a senario where by I'd say that's it. Depart from me!!!! She may take her self from me. But, who on this earth who has love that is imperfect would shut the door on her when she came back?

Many times my child has wandered. Many times my child has accused me of things I didn't do. When she comes to me in a contrite manner, I am always there to receive. When she doesn't I am able to forgive.

The thing that comes to me about this is the size or amount of our sin is of no consequence. What matters is not our past sin but our present belief in Jesus’ power to forgive, as Jesus died for the worst of sinners. And if we would not shut a door on someone, how much less would our amazing Father in heaven do so to us? Jesus takes great pleasure in loving us when we feel unlovable. His love is perfect, and as such feelings don't enter into it for Him. He doesn't look at us and say things like, "how could you do that to me?!", He just says, "come home, and I will forgive you and show you how much I love you".

Scripture tells us that the more someone is forgiven, the more grateful he will be. This statement is very obvious to someone who has back-slidden or fallen away to whatever degree. All Christians know God is love and mercy and all of that, but when a prodigal son comes home, and heaven is rejoicing as the Lord runs out to him and embraces him, that's when we really experience - not just surmise - how stunning and enormous God's love is for us!

During my trip back. Alot has happened to me. As I stated before, I stopped drinking on a dime. Almost immediately, the thirst for beer dried up. I have no place for the music that I used to listen to. I have a deep compassion for people that during my wandering I never had.

Amen, God changes hearts with the greatest of ease and has no hesitation to do so. I'm glad you've "come home", brother, and I thank our amazing Redeemer for His grace towards you and all of us!!

I see the above items as my fruits. They may not be as exciting as what others have.

God is excited about us, and that's all that matters.

If I am nothing more than a tare, I need to quit.
Tares are not wheat and wheat are not tares.
Otherwise my testimony is going to hurt others chances of being touched by the Creator of the Universe. What a shame that would be if I kept quiet about things while others like me accept that there is not point in coming back.

One of Satan's many huge lies that he wants us to believe, is that we are unworthy of Christ's forgiveness, therefore we should not seek it. But it's not our unworthiness that matters, but Christ's trustworthiness.

Originally Posted by Filthy

Hebrews can make a person want to throw the bilbe in the trash and give up. No matter what my past condition was, I am in it full bore now. I believe God has also given us other guides as to who He is byHIS creation.

He gave us marriage, and children which model His Kingdom in a sense. There are many times, I'd like to throttle my eldest and shove her out the door. However, I have a hard time defining a senario where by I'd say that's it. Depart from me!!!! She may take her self from me. But, who on this earth who has love that is imperfect would shut the door on her when she came back? I am watching her walking a fine line and saying be careful you don't know where these choices are going to take you.

Many times my child has wandered. Many times my child has accused me of things I didn't do. When she comes to me in a contrite manner, I am always there to receive. When she doesn't I am able to forgive. Even when I have given her the tools to avoid circumstances that will cause problems.

If my other child, who gives me no grief, starts counseling her that her position with me is futile, I would not stand for that.

He has also used my wife to bring me back. I married a foreign woman who was not a Christian. God made a move on her that is nothing short of miraculous. If my position is futile, then HE has done this for her, and is rubbing my nose in it.

We have all sinned since our first profession of the faith. Some by human standards have sinned much worse. However, don't we learn that position is wrong by the Sermon on the Mount. Dirty Sinners, are Dirty Sinners.

I am just saddened that we make up terms that aren't documented in His word, then use those terms to discourage.

During my trip back. Alot has happened to me. As I stated before, I stopped drinking on a dime. Almost immediately, the thirst for beer dried up. I have no place for the music that I used to listen to. I have a deep compassion for people that during my wandering I never had. I have a hard time visiting those with whom I shared the pleasures of the world with. I get invited and I have no real desire to be around. When I go, my heart hurts for them. These were my friends and I see them wallowing in death.

I see the above items as my fruits. They may not be as exciting as what others have. If I am nothing more than a tare, I need to quit. Otherwise my testimony is going to hurt others chances of being touched by the Creator of the Universe. What a shame that would be if I kept quiet about things while others like me accept that there is not point in coming back.

I hope you aren't making these comments because of what I said. I was earnestly trying to build you up and encourage you. You don't have to worry about what any man thinks, anyway. The Spirit of God is all you need to follow.

Be encouraged, my brother. The fruits you speak of sound like a life transformed, and a lot like what I've gone through. Be blessed and trust in the Lord Jesus with all your heart. He's going to get you through all this.

Originally Posted by ByGraceAlone

I hope you aren't making these comments because of what I said. I was earnestly trying to build you up and encourage you. You don't have to worry about what any man thinks, anyway. The Spirit of God is all you need to follow.

Be encouraged, my brother. The fruits you speak of sound like a life transformed, and a lot like what I've gone through. Be blessed and trust in the Lord Jesus with all your heart. He's going to get you through all this.

I was not replying to anyone in particular. Just sharing my frustration(s) with what I run into when studying and what I hear.

I just have to keep giving Jesus the credit......

Originally Posted by Filthy

I was not replying to anyone in particular. Just sharing my frustration(s) with what I run into when studying and what I hear.

I just have to keep giving Jesus the credit......

Filthy -
You may be listening to too many teachers. As the Bible says (Prv 11:14), there is safety in many counselors, but, I also believe there is a tipping point where the the enemy can sow confusion through smooth tongued false teachers or teachers who concentrate on sinners and condemnation and pay scant attention to God's love and compassion.

SLE

Filthy, couple things you must understand and be grounded in with the utmost faith:

#1) Jesus is our righteousness. We wear this righteousness like a robe. When you returned to our Father, He called for that robe to be brought to you to cover your sins.

#2) There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. We may stumble, but He is faithful to extend grace to us in this walk. We are in no way commanded to walk perfectly in this life, as that would tread the blood that Jesus shed for our sins to begin with. We are called to grow in knowledge of our LORD, and as we spend time with Him we will inevitably be transformed being draw from the darkness of our fallen nature and the darkness of this world. It's all His work in us, though, so we should not fret or worry. Just trust.

It seems you've nailed it on the head with the fruits you're bearing. That sounds like good fruit from a good tree. Don't sweat this, the LORD has you right in the palm of His hand. Just stay close to Him, and He will teach you His ways.

Originally Posted by ByGraceAlone

Filthy, couple things you must understand and be grounded in with the utmost faith:

#1) Jesus is our righteousness. We wear this righteousness like a robe. When you returned to our Father, He called for that robe to be brought to you to cover your sins.

Its important for us to see ourselves in the person of the Prodigal Son and God as the loving Father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. "But the Father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him..." (LK 15:22). That robe is a sign of high status in the Father's household, high status that was freely granted when the son returned home.

SLE

Amen, Ed. We are children of the King!