'Set free' from what?

[Troy]

It is possible to remain sin free totally. You know where Jesus says, "..the truth shall set you free"? Read the next thing after that. He reveals he meant freedom from sin. And whoever the Son set's free is free indeed. Romans 6:18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness".

To further illustrate this I point you to the fact that he once commanded a woman to go and sin no more (John 8:11). Why would our saviour command to do something that's impossible? The answer is because it's not impossible for those who have truly received the salvation. 1 John 3:9 'No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him;...'.

If you prayed a prayer of commitment to Jesus then found yourself convicted by this weeks video then you know for sure that simply praying a prayer of commitment obviously does not do the job. Read the next verse in 1 John 3. The scripture used by Paul in the video for this week is Mat 7:13-23. Have a read of it now.

Considering that scripture, I will now point out what is necessary to remain in Christ. To follow his command which he says in John 15:12 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you". How did he love us? He gave up everything he had in heaven including his fame for being God and came down here to where we are and even humbled himself in obedience until death on a cross. He gave up everything including that which could have saved him from death on a cross. He was given an opportunity to save himself from it by Pilate and the chief priests and elders (Matthew 27:12-14).

So how does all that be done by us? Now look to what Jesus said prior to the passage Paul used in the video at Matthew 6:19-24. Note this and what Paul used all goes together in one teaching session according to Matthew. Not storing up treasure for yourself is the key to loving your brothers. Now look in the book of Acts to see how the early church went about this in Acts 4:32-37. Now you can see how life with God is meant to work. Jesus was very clear that the cost of being a disciple of his is everything you have. Family and possessions. Read Matthew 10:34-42. Notice in the last verse that there is a reward for giving to his disciples. Also in Mark 10:21 and verse 28 it is clear Jesus intends all possessions. No more sole ownership of anything is heaven's way. And one last thing I point out is how to do the obedience to death part. This part is easy. If you do what I've pointed out already and share it with others to make new disciples (Luke 14:25-35) which Jesus commanded us to do (Matthew 28:19) then you definitely get flak for it that may even get you martyred.

 

[Chad]

Brother, its nice to see someone respecting the Word for what it is. I like that a lot. But, I just want to ask you - are you sinless? Do you believe you will be sinless on earth one day before you die?

1John 2:4: " He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

Jesus is talking about repenting and walking with Christ in obedience. He knew for sure we would sin, but there is a difference between a sinner who does not care and one who struggles in their sin, but at heart desires repentance and obedience to Christ.

 

[Coconut]

Greetings Troy :`)

I have to disagree on your conclusions in your post, if you are saying what I think you are saying ...I think you taking the command to love, and interpreting it to mean "what is necessary to remain in Christ...is to forsake all family and possessions?" If so, in reality you are saying, to remain in Christ you must become a travelling hobo...well now there`s a thought lol. Please correct me if i`ve misunderstood.

I`ll be back later...

 

[Troy]

To answer both posts at once...

If God didn't expect us to become sinless, which means to walk in obediance, then he would not give us commands at all. The scripture is clear, 1 John 3:9 'No one who is born of God will continue to sin...'. So therefore because I am born of him I have stopped sinning. However 1 John 1:9 'Ifwe confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrightesousness.' So if he has purified you then you are at that point completely sinless because it says 'all'. But dont and go about telling people afterwards that you never sinned in the first place because the next thing it says in verse 10 is 'If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.' I have sinned many times in the past including today. However each time I immediately confessed my sin and he forgave me and washed me clean right away. That's why the guilt stopped and therefore I now have no condemnation (Rom 8:1). Hebrews 10:22 reveals the thing that is washed away - guilt.
So this doctrine you teach that one must remain struggling in thier sin is not scriptual. Jesus came to set us free from that very trap of sin as he himself made clear in John 8:32-34. If you say you must stay in sin then you have a form of godliness but deny it's power. God did not call us to continual repentance because we would have to continually sin to do that. Obediance leads to righteousness (Rom 6:16) which he intends for us to do. So do I obey him? Yes I do. I do not store up treasure for myself on earth. I use treasure but do not store it for myself. Sharing everything means you get to use it too (Act 4:32-34).

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings Troy,

You have said this...

So therefore because I am born of him I have stopped sinning.

I have sinned many times in the past including today. However each time I immediately confessed my sin and he forgave me and washed me clean right away.

God did not call us to continual repentance because we would have to continually sin to do that.

Can I ask what sin is?

And treasure ?

Thanks.

Bless you,

Br. Bear

 

[MiZZJuSTiFiED]

Not for nothing but God realized that we were not perfect (Old Testament), He gave us many chances back then, and we failed each time. He was very angry with us in those times, we were not able to live up to His commandments. So, therefore, He gave us another chance, a new way of life, Jesus... thru Him, we could be redeemed. So, for him to expect us to live sinless, I don't buy that. He wouldn't have given us His son then. I'm sure God wants us to do the right thing, absolutely, but He knows we are of the flesh and mere mortals and it's just not in our DNA to be perfect.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Hello Troy

I just have a few simple thoughts to offer.

As Christians we are saved by His death, redeemed by His precious blood. He delights in mercy and when He forgives, it is with completeness and finality 'I will remember their sin no more'

The perfection of God and His indwelling Holy Spirit summons us towards Christian perfection. However, God knows that we cannot be perfect, we were born in sin. He gives us the grace and guidance to press towards the mark. He is able to keep us from falling but knows that we stumble at times.

We need to rest continually upon the Lord for help to remain true and faithful and to keep us from temptation. So whilst it is not possible to be sinless, we should aim to live a sinless life and only do those things which glorify and honour the Lord. Its His precious blood that has redeemed us for eternity - past, present and future sins all included.

God bless you

Julia

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Sorry I forgot my thoughts on treasures that you mention.

It is true that people can become prisoners of their possessions and slip into material living rather than spiritual living. Christians should aim to give up anything that is not honouring to the Lord.

Maybe we should all examine our lives and ask 'Am I spending time on things that matter, eternal things. Or am I so caught up by my earthly treasures or possessions that I am not getting anywhere spiritually'

I think it is how posessions are used that matters and how the useage glorifys the Lord and exalts His name.


Julia

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Re: Set Free From What?

1 John 3:9 'No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him;...'.

When the apostle John wrote these words, he was not referring to individual acts of sin, he was speaking of being controlled by our sin natures.

To balance this out, we need to look at some words from the apostle Paul regarding our sin natures: "So I find this law at work; When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Ro 7:21-8:2)

SLE

 

[Troy]

That's a fair few posts there. Lets see I'll try answering in order.

If I say I have stopped sinning I only mean 'for now' and I have no idea if I will sin again. Sorry I didn't mean to give the wrong impression. I'll explain why I think like this. 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' So after you have done this you then stand sinless. However God want's us to be more than sinless. He want's us to be perfect just as he is perfect and this can only be done by following the love commandments.

Read the following: Mat 5:43-48. You will see it's about what you do with possessions. The difference between the old testiment and the new is that the old only tells you what not to do. While the new tells you what to accually do. So if you do what you should do then you are not busy sinning. Romans 7:6 'But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.' Serving in newness of spirit (obeying the love commandments) satifies the old law.

Now read these: 2 Pet 3:14 and Col 1:22 'But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, whithout blemish and free from accusation.'

Not for nothing but God realized that we were not perfect (Old Testament), He gave us many chances back then, and we failed each time. He was very angry with us in those times, we were not able to live up to His commandments. So, therefore, He gave us another chance, a new way of life, Jesus... thru Him, we could be redeemed. So, for him to expect us to live sinless, I don't buy that. He wouldn't have given us His son then. I'm sure God wants us to do the right thing, absolutely, but He knows we are of the flesh and mere mortals and it's just not in our DNA to be perfect.

I dissagree. He did not give us another chance but instead made a new covenant because it was proven no matter how many chances we got we would never live up to it. The new covenant is not like the old. The fact that Jesus blood can totally remove our impurities so they do not cause us to continue in them shows that he has done the work of purification for us without any need of action from us other than confession. So the sin stops. However it does not mean that you can't start a new line of sin. Continuing in obediance is not forced by the Spirit.
As for redemtion if I redeem a car that was old and faulty then what does that mean I have done? Doesn't it mean that I have made it like new and useful again without it's old faults? Heb 6:7-8 'Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.'
And as for the last thing you said, God want's us to be under the control of his Holy Spirit and not the sinful nature. The two are opposed to one another (Rom 8:6). Rom 8:8 'Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.' So you are either pleasing God by producing a useful crop or you are heading for the fire.
Now let me teach you how to get free of sin. This is what he has taught me in scripture and not opinion. I am finding much success. It even kills sinful desires in the middle of them happening if you do it right away. 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' I am finding the time between each sin I've done is becomming greater and greater as a result of applying this in my life immediately when sin is present. Remember to be descriptive about the sin to him.

As Christians we are saved by His death, redeemed by His precious blood. He delights in mercy and when He forgives, it is with completeness and finality 'I will remember their sin no more'

Take note, 'and when'. When does he forgive? According to 1 John 1:9 it is after we confess a sin. So what happens if we don't confess it at all? He doesn't purify us and the sin continues.

The perfection of God and His indwelling Holy Spirit summons us towards Christian perfection. However, God knows that we cannot be perfect, we were born in sin.

Two things. One: We were not born in sin but born of God and there is no sin in him. Two: Phi 1:6 'being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.' He will bring completion if he has been given a chance to start the work in you.

He gives us the grace and guidance to press towards the mark. He is able to keep us from falling but knows that we stumble at times.

A mark that his grace is not enough to achieve? The work on the cross was not enough? Also make up your mind. Either he keeps us up or he doesn't. If you fall it's because you chose to sin on your own accord. You should obey the love commandments instead.

We need to rest continually upon the Lord for help to remain true and faithful and to keep us from temptation.

According to you we don't ever 'remain' true. Either you believe godliness has the power of purity or you have a form of godliness but deny it's power (2 Tim 3:5).

past, present and future sins all included.

According to 1 John 1:9 that is only true for sins that have been confessed. There is no excuse to continue sinning.

When the apostle John wrote these words, he was not referring to individual acts of sin, he was speaking of being controlled by our sin natures.

To balance this out, we need to look at some words from the apostle Paul regarding our sin natures: "So I find this law at work; When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Ro 7:21-8:2)

SLE

If I say that I am continuing to throw golf balls then doesn't it mean that I'm accually 'doing' it? If you are controlled by the sinful nature then you are 'doing' what that nature causes.


To sum it all up people God intends for you to stop sinning with perfected obedience which he has the power to bring to completion or else, if you don't repent, he will throw you in the fire when he sneaks in on you like a thief on the day of the Lord and catches you out.

 

[Br. Bear]

Troy,

I would like to remind you to be well mannered, to answer with grace, to be kind and gentle, just as the Lord is and has been with you.

While you are pointing a crooked finger at other members, you seem to forget that you, by your own words do the very things you here preach against.

And, by the way, you seemed to skip over my post, and after reading what you have just written, I am even more interested as to what you think sin is, and treasure.

Remember you said something about keeping the love commandments... so please do keep them, and show more love in your replies.

I don't like having to say this to you Troy.

Bless you,

Br. Bear

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Dear Troy

Firstly I have to say I dont feel that your comment he will throw you in the fire when he sneaks in on you like a thief on the day of the Lord and catches you out was very honouring to the lord.

Troy, my God and Saviour is loving and and merciful. It is not His will that any should perish.

I can only quote scripture to you in answer to the points you raised in your previous post.

Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother concieve me. Psalm 51:5

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31


You also say ' I dont know whether I will sin again' Of course you will. We all will, we cannot help it. But that doesnt take away our Salvation. What we must do is seek to live a sinless life that glorifies the Lord by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Praise the Lord we are all perfected and made fit for heaven by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm not sure that I should say this Troy but I was left worrying a little about your Salvation and whether you have had a point in your life when you have accepted the Saviour. I only say this because you seem to be intellectualising and a little confused. Please forgive me if I have offended you by saying this, I just feel concerned for you.


God bless you

In my prayers

Julia

 

[Br. Bear]

Dear readers,



Now let me teach you how to get free of sin. This is what he has taught me in scripture and not opinion. I am finding much success. It even kills sinful desires in the middle of them happening if you do it right away. 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' I am finding the time between each sin I've done is becomming greater and greater as a result of applying this in my life immediately when sin is present. Remember to be descriptive about the sin to him.

Please don't anyone take the above quote seriously.

There is ONLY one way to be free of sin.... it is through believing that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).... Jesus sets those who believe this, free, totally free, and nothing we can do will improve on His shed blood for us. Nothing will improve on Jesus..... and I warn all readers to not try and add to His blood.... that of all things is a sin.

1John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

2Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made Him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

 

[Chad]

That's a fair few posts there. Lets see I'll try answering in order.

If I say I have stopped sinning I only mean 'for now' and I have no idea if I will sin again. Sorry I didn't mean to give the wrong impression. I'll explain why I think like this. 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' So after you have done this you then stand sinless. However God want's us to be more than sinless. He want's us to be perfect just as he is perfect and this can only be done by following the love commandments.

So your telling me you don't know if you will ever sin again after you confess your last sin? I find that hard to believe.

Do you believe *you* will be perfect on earth eventually before you die? Its either yes literally perfect or no, never will be.

Read the following: Mat 5:43-48. You will see it's about what you do with possessions. The difference between the old testiment and the new is that the old only tells you what not to do. While the new tells you what to accually do. So if you do what you should do then you are not busy sinning. Romans 7:6 'But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.' Serving in newness of spirit (obeying the love commandments) satifies the old law.

The new testament is grace, the old is being under the law. Jesus Christ satisfied the law and GOD's judgment by taking it upon Himself. We are made righteous through Jesus alone, NOT by our own works.

Now read these: 2 Pet 3:14 and Col 1:22 'But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, whithout blemish and free from accusation.'

I dissagree. He did not give us another chance but instead made a new covenant because it was proven no matter how many chances we got we would never live up to it. The new covenant is not like the old. The fact that Jesus blood can totally remove our impurities so they do not cause us to continue in them shows that he has done the work of purification for us without any need of action from us other than confession. So the sin stops. However it does not mean that you can't start a new line of sin. Continuing in obediance is not forced by the Spirit.

We are fully redeemed through Jesus alone. Not our own works at all. That is why we are under grace. It is the gift of grace from GOD through Jesus Christ. So, in the sense it IS a "second chance" again. Another chance to repent and turn to Him for salvation, external life. Otherwise, how would it not be another chance? Its logical and makes sense, it is obvious another chance.

As for redemtion if I redeem a car that was old and faulty then what does that mean I have done? Doesn't it mean that I have made it like new and useful again without it's old faults? Heb 6:7-8 'Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.'
And as for the last thing you said, God want's us to be under the control of his Holy Spirit and not the sinful nature. The two are opposed to one another (Rom 8:6). Rom 8:8 'Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.' So you are either pleasing God by producing a useful crop or you are heading for the fire.
Now let me teach you how to get free of sin. This is what he has taught me in scripture and not opinion. I am finding much success. It even kills sinful desires in the middle of them happening if you do it right away. 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' I am finding the time between each sin I've done is becomming greater and greater as a result of applying this in my life immediately when sin is present. Remember to be descriptive about the sin to him.



Take note, 'and when'. When does he forgive? According to 1 John 1:9 it is after we confess a sin. So what happens if we don't confess it at all? He doesn't purify us and the sin continues.



Two things. One: We were not born in sin but born of God and there is no sin in him. Two: Phi 1:6 'being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.' He will bring completion if he has been given a chance to start the work in you.

A mark that his grace is not enough to achieve? The work on the cross was not enough? Also make up your mind. Either he keeps us up or he doesn't. If you fall it's because you chose to sin on your own accord. You should obey the love commandments instead.

The Cross is enough, but it is you here making it seem like you will literally be without sin on earth. So your the one who clearly seems to be viewing the Scripture differently then everyone else here who understands we can not be *literally* perfect ourselves. We are redeemed through Jesus and therefore made *righteous* through Jesus Himself, not ourselves. Not our works NOR our confessing of sins alone. If it were not for Jesus, we'd all be hell bound.

According to you we don't ever 'remain' true. Either you believe godliness has the power of purity or you have a form of godliness but deny it's power (2 Tim 3:5).



According to 1 John 1:9 that is only true for sins that have been confessed. There is no excuse to continue sinning.



If I say that I am continuing to throw golf balls then doesn't it mean that I'm accually 'doing' it? If you are controlled by the sinful nature then you are 'doing' what that nature causes.


To sum it all up people God intends for you to stop sinning with perfected obedience which he has the power to bring to completion or else, if you don't repent, he will throw you in the fire when he sneaks in on you like a thief on the day of the Lord and catches you out.

GOD hates sin, no doubt about it. But He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to *pay the price and redeem us* from the consequence of our sins (hell). He does want us to be obedient indeed.


Check out these articles:
Book of 1 John - Bible Survey
Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven (1 John 1:9)?
What is the meaning of "perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13:10?

 

[faithworks]

Hello Troy,
I see what you are saying. I do not live in contuined sin. I do not keep doing the same sin over and over. To repent of something means to turn away from it. If I keep on doing the same sin, I have not repented.

The Lord states, "BE Holy for I AM Holy." He does not tell us to do something we can not do. The only way I can be Holy is through His blood and the Holy Ghost living in me there is no other way. Do I sin as mcuh as I used too NO. YEs, there are some days where I will not sin and there are some days where I will. When I do, I repent right away and He forgives and makes me clean. HE is coming back for a spotless bride, I have to remember that.

I believe what it means to forsake the world, is not to put anything or anyone above the Lord your God. That means husbands, children, parents, & things... He is to be number 1... When I meet my husband, right away he told me I would never be first in his life. My first thought was yeah right his kids or his ex-wife was first. He then told me the first person in his life was Jesus Christ, then me. That is the way it should be always.

blessings,
debbi

a good verse to walk Holy before our God is.

"I can do all things through Jesus Christ, who strengthens me." Phil 4:13