When the Disciples Were Saved By Faith in Jesus Christ?

[At Peace]

What were they pricked in their hearts for? For crucifying Jesus Christ Whom they had not believed in. So the call to repent is to do what? To believe in Him for the remission of sins. Proof?

To imagine that they were "turning from" only unbelief...without conscience of their prior murder, theft, adultery, blasphemy, covetousness, is ludicrous.
Were they to "repent" of those things at some other time?

Let's look at this same Peter in giving the same gospel to the Gentiles in how they were to receive the same remission of sins by believing in Him too..
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
So water baptism has nothing to do with salvation, but just an ordinance for saved believers to follow after, but by believing in Him is how one receives the remission of sins and the promise of the Holy Ghost at their salvation.

If they don't believe in Him, they won't get baptized...into Him and into His death, burial, and resurrection. (Rom 6:3-6)
They won't crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts, without baptism. (Gal 5:24)
They won't be able to "cease from sin". (1 Peter 4:1)

Those names not found written in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire. All those other sins are just listed is to identify the unrepentant unbelieving sinner as being such.

Your inability to see the seriousness of every sin worries me.

Still, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit which is why comeuppance will come from the Father for defiling the temple of God by paying for it with physical death; not by paying for it by loss of salvation.

As the repentant don't commit further sin after conversion, any "defilement" is being done by unbelieving posers.
They don't have the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" (Eph 2:2)

God will judge His House first at the pre great trib rapture event ( 1 Peter 4:17 KJV ) In that day, how each believer has built on that foundation will be judged ( 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ) but they will be saved so as thru fire in that day incurring physical death for defiling the temple of God by not departing from iniquity before the Bridegroom had come ( 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV & 2 Timothy 2:18-21 KJV )

You are confusing "death" with the "second death".
Don't confuse "life" with the condition of the skin.

That foundation is still there. The seal of redemption is still there. The Holy Spirit is not going anywhere, but not every believer will be found abiding in Him as His disciple to be ready as well as willing to go when He comes

You are in error.
EVERY believer will be "found in Him".
Only unbelievers offend God..

We endure by continuing to believe in Him and even then we are allowed to ask Him for help when we are being overcome with doubts.

Doubt is the antithesis of belief.
Pick which "team" you are on!

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Isn't it interesting that even the unfaithful would call upon the Lord for help, before His resurrection and glorification?
I thank God for the gift of the Holy Ghost, given for a true "turn from" sin!

 

[JesusIs4Me]

Can you give me the scripture reference where it says he was baptized in the Holy Spirit?

You really think that after he was water baptized by Philip that the Holy Spirit would transport Philip somewhere else without the eunuch being born again of the Spirit? What would be the point of that?

 

[JesusIs4Me]

To imagine that they were "turning from" only unbelief...without conscience of their prior murder, theft, adultery, blasphemy, covetousness, is ludicrous.
Were they to "repent" of those things at some other time?

Feel free to point out what the Gentiles had to do in order to receive the remission of sins in Acts 10 to prove that Peter was preaching a different gospel in Acts 2. If you can't, then you can't add repentance from all sins for there are an awful lot of sins that the Jews had to repent from in Acts 2 that it should be listed, but it wasn't. Just as there was no list of sins to repent from first before coming to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

If they don't believe in Him, they won't get baptized...into Him and into His death, burial, and resurrection. (Rom 6:3-6)
They won't crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts, without baptism. (Gal 5:24)
They won't be able to "cease from sin". (1 Peter 4:1)

They can only receive the promise of the Holy Spirit by believing in Him at the calling of the gospel and then they have power to live as sons of God to crucify the flesh of the affections and lust thereof and thus ceasing from sin. ( John 1:12-13 KJV )

Your inability to see the seriousness of every sin worries me.

You thinking that a sinner has power to cease from sin before he gets saved worries me.

As the repentant don't commit further sin after conversion, any "defilement" is being done by unbelieving posers.
They don't have the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" (Eph 2:2)

Not sure how you can say to any believer to look to Jesus for help to lay aside every weight & sin unless they are still in this sinful vessel that they can commit sin. James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

That is why the apostle John had written this in case someone did err and sinned. 1 John 2:1-2 KJV & 1 John 1:9 KJV

You are confusing "death" with the "second death".
Don't confuse "life" with the condition of the skin.

No. The wages of sin is physical death for a saved believer. This warning was given to the saints at Thyatira to repent of their spiritual fornication or else be cast into the bed of the great tribulation to incur physical death.

Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

God will excommunicate at the pre great tribulation rapture event for the purpose stated for why the church is to excommunicate unrepentant brethren below.

1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

You are in error.
EVERY believer will be "found in Him".
Only unbelievers offend God.

Heresy is a work of the flesh. That is why those professing Him were denied because they were workers of iniquity when their iniquity was denying Him. Matthew 7:21-23 KJV & Luke 13:24-30 KJV

Doubt is the antithesis of belief.
Pick which "team" you are on!

Should I pity any saved believer that seeks encouragement from you?

His disciples have doubted the Lord on several occasions. Bound to happen when believers find themselves not rooted in the word when they get overwhelm by the storms in their lives. So don't write them off as not saved or whatever.

Isn't it interesting that even the unfaithful would call upon the Lord for help, before His resurrection and glorification?
I thank God for the gift of the Holy Ghost, given for a true "turn from" sin!

So are you saying you had never sinned since you had been saved? That you truly turned from sin in order to receive the promise of the Holy Ghost in order to be saved?

A woman I used to work with had believed that she had to clean up her life first before coming to Jesus to be saved. I told her that is what Jesus came to do.. to save us from our sins and to help us live as His so she should feel free to come to Him. The Lord raised somebody else up to confirm the truth as the next day she was joyful and exclaimed that I had told her the truth and she came to Jesus for her salvation.

So you better think about what you are saying because a lot of sinners will be honest in coming to Jesus if they are demanded to repent from all sin when they see how much sin has dominion over their lives when they tried to stop sinning before on their own. Such a demand turns them away from Jesus because they know how much sin has dominion over their lives. That is why Jesus came which is to destroy the work of teh devil in our lives. 1 John 3:8 KJV

That is why our hope is in the Lord as He will finish what He has started in us as our confidence is in Him to do it so we can rest in Him as saved; 1 John 3:3 KJV 2 Timothy 4:18 KJV Jude 1:24-25 KJV Philippians 1:6,11 KJV

 

[Laura1557]

I have a standing question for the folks who say they've never sinned since they've been saved:

What do you call the bad things you do?

Obviously as Christians we ought not live in habitual sin. But we won't achieve sinless perfection, as I've said before, until we are saved from the very presence of sin and we receive glorified bodies after the Lord takes us home, whether it's by death or by rapture.

Glorification (which is yet future) is the point at which my sin nature will be completely eradicated and I will be perfected. Only when I leave the body of this flesh in the grave will my earthly struggle between my two natures as a Christian will be over. Until then, the battle continues between the old man and the new man, the flesh and the spirit, carnality and Spirituality.

(The verses have already been posted by various peeps several times in this thread.)

 

[B-A-C]

I have a standing question for the folks who say they've never sinned since they've been saved:

What do you call the bad things you do?

Obviously as Christians we ought not live in habitual sin. But we won't achieve sinless perfection, as I've said before, until we are saved from the very presence of sin and we receive glorified bodies after the Lord takes us home, whether it's by death or by rapture.

I don't count myself among those who "haven't sinned" since I've been saved.
But I often wonder if "we won't achieve sinless perfection... until..." is used as an excuse for many Christians.
"We're all gonna sin anyway, so why worry about it? It doesn't make any difference to God, right?"

I'm not really talking to @Laura1557 here. Just people who use this as an excuse to justify sin.

I can't say I never sin, but I can honestly say it's a lot less than it used to be. I can also say there are some
"habitual" (as you put it above) sins that I just don't do anymore. Seriously... at all. Not in decades.

 

[JesusIs4Me]

I have a standing question for the folks who say they've never sinned since they've been saved:

What do you call the bad things you do?

Not to mention when we choose not to do a good thing by putting it off.planning on doing it tomorrow..

James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Obviously as Christians we ought not live in habitual sin. But we won't achieve sinless perfection, as I've said before, until we are saved from the very presence of sin and we receive glorified bodies after the Lord takes us home, whether it's by death or by rapture.

That is why running that race is a daily thing just as picking up the cross is in laying aside every weight & sin by looking to the author & finisher of our faith to help us to do this ( Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV ).

Glorification (which is yet future) is the point at which my sin nature will be completely eradicated and I will be perfected. Only when I leave the body of this flesh in the grave will my earthly struggle between my two natures as a Christian will be over. Until then, the battle continues between the old man and the new man, the flesh and the spirit, carnality and Spirituality.

(The verses have already been posted by various peeps several times in this thread.)

I am sick of my shortcomings and my failing memory can be my enemy. How the Lord leads me from here I do not know, but I trust Him to help me to let go when I need His help to let go, even if it means getting banned from forums. Truly shows how much a foolish servant I am in His service. All I can do is ask Him for forgiveness and pray that He will raise up workers for the harvest in my absence since He is the One ministering after all.

The hardest thing for me to do is do nothing but just wait for Him and He has to help me to do even that.

 

[At Peace]

Feel free to point out what the Gentiles had to do in order to receive the remission of sins in Acts 10 to prove that Peter was preaching a different gospel in Acts 2. If you can't, then you can't add repentance from all sins for there are an awful lot of sins that the Jews had to repent from in Acts 2 that it should be listed, but it wasn't. Just as there was no list of sins to repent from first before coming to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

Your response means, they must repent of sin at some later time.
When would that be?
It is clear that Cornelius had already turned from sin by verse 2..."A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always."
God doesn't hear sinners, (John 9:31), so he must have already been a non-sinner.

Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

If you are inferring that no "turn-from" sin is necessary to receive the "gifts and calling of God", you have been deceived.
That kind of doctrine implies that there is sin in Christ.
We know that to be untrue.

They can only receive the promise of the Holy Spirit by believing in Him at the calling of the gospel and then they have power to live as sons of God to crucify the flesh of the affections and lust thereof and thus ceasing from sin. ( John 1:12-13 KJV )

Did you catch the part about "believe in His name"?
That happens when men are baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ" for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38)

You thinking that a sinner has power to cease from sin before he gets saved worries me.

As salvation won't be assured till after the final judgement, what you call "saved", I call "conversion".
If I hold fast to me conversion, endure till the end, I will be saved.

Not sure how you can say to any believer to look to Jesus for help to lay aside every weight & sin unless they are still in this sinful vessel that they can commit sin. James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Only those who have NOT been "immersed" into Christ, and into His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, and been raised with Christ as "new creatures", would call the "body" sinful.
It is Christ's body, and the residence of the Holy Spirit, after obedience to Peter's exhortation in Acts 2:38.

That is why the apostle John had written this in case someone did err and sinned. 1 John 2:1-2 KJV & 1 John 1:9 KJV

Both those verses are intended for those wanting to live in accordance with God.
Those already living in subjection to God don't commit sin.

No. The wages of sin is physical death for a saved believer. This warning was given to the saints at Thyatira to repent of their spiritual fornication or else be cast into the bed of the great tribulation to incur physical death.

Whatever version of the bible you are using sure adds a lot to scripture.
Paul writes..."Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; (death),and some men they follow after." (1 Tim 5:24)
My death occurred when I was "immersed" into Christ's death.(Rom 6:6)
Don't confuse life with the condition of the skin.

Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Looks to me like you found a scripture to validate the need for repentance from sin without me.

God will excommunicate at the pre great tribulation rapture event for the purpose stated for why the church is to excommunicate unrepentant brethren below.
1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The "spirit" here, is the church.
There are no sinners in the church.

Heresy is a work of the flesh. That is why those professing Him were denied because they were workers of iniquity when their iniquity was denying Him. Matthew 7:21-23 KJV & Luke 13:24-30 KJV

We do agree on that.
All iniquity is done by deniers the Lord.

Should I pity any saved believer that seeks encouragement from you?
His disciples have doubted the Lord on several occasions. Bound to happen when believers find themselves not rooted in the word when they get overwhelm by the storms in their lives. So don't write them off as not saved or whatever.

They "doubted" only before they received the Holy Ghost: not after.
Salvation won't be assured till after the final judgement,
We must all endure till the end.

So are you saying you had never sinned since you had been saved? That you truly turned from sin in order to receive the promise of the Holy Ghost in order to be saved?

I have not committed any sin since my conversion.
My repentance from sin was true.
And I thank God for His ways and means to accomplish that in mere men.

A woman I used to work with had believed that she had to clean up her life first before coming to Jesus to be saved.

Isn't that what repentance is?
"Turning from", or, "Changing"?
With no turn or change, they have manifested that they have not submitted themselves to God.

I told her that is what Jesus came to do.. to save us from our sins and to help us live as His so she should feel free to come to Him. The Lord raised somebody else up to confirm the truth as the next day she was joyful and exclaimed that I had told her the truth and she came to Jesus for her salvation.

Save us from our sins...yesiree.
AND save us from sinning.
It is written..."There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13)

So you better think about what you are saying because a lot of sinners will be honest in coming to Jesus if they are demanded to repent from all sin when they see how much sin has dominion over their lives when they tried to stop sinning before on their own. Such a demand turns them away from Jesus because they know how much sin has dominion over their lives. That is why Jesus came which is to destroy the work of teh devil in our lives. 1 John 3:8 KJV

If they don't want deliverance from sin, they will refuse to humble themselves before God.
I wanted deliverance form the sin in my life, and "Godly sorrow worketh repentance" (2 Cor 7:10)

That is why our hope is in the Lord as He will finish what He has started in us as our confidence is in Him to do it so we can rest in Him as saved; 1 John 3:3 KJV 2 Timothy 4:18 KJV Jude 1:24-25 KJV Philippians 1:6,11 KJV

If we continue to commit sin, neither are we saved nor will we be on the day of judgement.

 

[At Peace]

I have a standing question for the folks who say they've never sinned since they've been saved:
What do you call the bad things you do?

What do you mean by "bad"?
Miss adding in my check-book?
Misspelling words?
I call those mistakes, as I will not be judged for my spelling and math.
And nobody is "saved" till after the final judgement.
We all must endure till the end.

Obviously as Christians we ought not live in habitual sin. But we won't achieve sinless perfection, as I've said before, until we are saved from the very presence of sin and we receive glorified bodies after the Lord takes us home, whether it's by death or by rapture.

Isn't one cigarette a year habitual?
One drunken binge a year?
One adulterous affair every tenth year?
You support devilishness by supporting the erroneous notion that no man can completely obey God.

Glorification (which is yet future) is the point at which my sin nature will be completely eradicated and I will be perfected.

Scripture please.
My old nature was "completely eradicated" when I was crucified with Christ and raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
A life with a divine nature.

Only when I leave the body of this flesh in the grave will my earthly struggle between my two natures as a Christian will be over. Until then, the battle continues between the old man and the new man, the flesh and the spirit, carnality and Spirituality.

Just how often do you have to snatch your hand away from an open cash-drawer?
How often do you need one hand to disarm the other?
Your "body" can't force you to commit sin.
It is your mind that needs renewing.
God made the way to accomplish that with repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

 

[Dave M]

I don't count myself among those who "haven't sinned" since I've been saved.
But I often wonder if "we won't achieve sinless perfection... until..." is used as an excuse for many Christians.
"We're all gonna sin anyway, so why worry about it? It doesn't make any difference to God, right?"

I'm not really talking to @Laura1557 here. Just people who use this as an excuse to justify sin.

I can't say I never sin, but I can honestly say it's a lot less than it used to be. I can also say there are some
"habitual" (as you put it above) sins that I just don't do anymore. Seriously... at all. Not in decades.

The Pharisee and Tax Collector

9To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive.’

13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

[At Peace]

The Pharisee and Tax Collector

9To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive.’

13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Aren't you glad we can live Godly lives now without 4000 "rules"?
Love God above all else and your neighbor as yourself.

 

[Laura1557]

I don't count myself among those who "haven't sinned" since I've been saved.
But I often wonder if "we won't achieve sinless perfection... until..." is used as an excuse for many Christians.
"We're all gonna sin anyway, so why worry about it? It doesn't make any difference to God, right?"

I'm not really talking to @Laura1557 here. Just people who use this as an excuse to justify sin.

I can't say I never sin, but I can honestly say it's a lot less than it used to be. I can also say there are some
"habitual" (as you put it above) sins that I just don't do anymore. Seriously... at all. Not in decades.

I can't say I've encountered any Christians in my little circle over the years who have willfully used ''we won't achieve sinless perfection...until..." as an excuse to justify sin. I think that's because the preachers I've sat under have preached Romans 6 and "God forbid!" to the idea that continuing in sin that grace may abound is acceptable to God. They've preached that it does indeed make a big difference to God: that He expects us to gradually achieve greater and greater victory over the sin in our lives the closer we walk with Him. Otherwise, a Christian has an awful lot that they can lose in both this world, and the world to come as they put themselves in God's crosshairs, as it were.

We can't lose our salvation because it isn't ours to begin with: it's His. If I can do nothing to save myself; conversely I can do nothing to ''unsave'' myself either. (No, I'm not looking to start an OSAS vs NOSAS discussion here.) But we can lose our fellowship with the Lord, His approval, our testimony before other people, our joy, our health, our home, our family, our service to Him, possibly our physical life and our rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (Not an exhaustive list)

Some Christians may use excuses to justify sin, but in my observation, the Lord doesn't let His children get away with it unchallenged through the conviction of the Holy Spirit or His chastening. Christians who want to please the Lord generally don't find sin enjoyable anymore to begin with.

 

[Laura1557]

What do you mean by "bad"?
Miss adding in my check-book?
Misspelling words?
I call those mistakes, as I will not be judged for my spelling and math.
And nobody is "saved" till after the final judgement.
We all must endure till the end.

By ''bad,'' I mean those things that cause us to come short of the glory of God according to Romans 3:23.

Rhetorical questions (no answer required, just throwing them out there as food for thought): In a scale that has Jesus in one pan and you in the other, does the scale perfectly balance based on the way you conduct yourself in your day to day life? Do you live a life as perfect, pure and holy as He did while He walked this earth? Do you always display a servant's heart? Is your behaviour always humble and meek? Are your thoughts always pure? Are you always 100% dependent on the Lord with no evidence of an independent spirit? Do you ever display a harsh, unyielding, critical spirit? (Jesus didn't.) Are you ever unloving or unforgiving? (Jesus wasn't.) Are you ever ungrateful or discontented? (Jesus wasn't.) Do you permit things in your own life that Jesus didn't permit in His?

Positionally, yes, we're seated in Heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6), for example. Practically, unless the life we live on this earth mirrors the purity and perfection of Jesus's life on this earth 100%, we can't honestly claim to be sinless. He is the only One Who lived a completely sinless life while on this earth.

Salvation is complete after the final judgment.

I can and should know now according to 1 John 5:13 that I have eternal life, that I'm saved. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Isn't one cigarette a year habitual?
One drunken binge a year?
One adulterous affair every tenth year?
You support devilishness by supporting the erroneous notion that no man can completely obey God.

Okay, I admit to laughing out loud on this one. First off, since @B-A-C also honed in on the word ''habitual," strike that and replace it with ''willful." A Christian ought not continue in willful sin: a Christian ought to gain greater and greater victory over the besetting sins in his/her life.

What I laughed out loud at was your comment that "You support devilishness by...." That's a pretty strong criticism of someone you don't even know, and a judgement based on a maximum of not even a hundred posts of mine that you might've read here on Talk Jesus. It's rather the opposite (on your part) of "in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves," (Philippians 2:3) isn't it? (And then of course there's Mtt 7, but I see more irony in the Philippians verse.)

My Bible says "Only by pride cometh contention" in Proverbs 13:10. To say a Christian never sins after salvation is ludicrous just based on reading some of the threads on this forum (or any forum)! When forum mods close threads because of the increasingly contentious dialogue in them, it seems the Bible points to pride as the source of that contention. Pride, last time I searched the scriptures, is a sin. I submit that we're all guilty of pride more than we'd care to admit, especially in this selfie-oriented day and age in which we live.

Scripture please.
My old nature was "completely eradicated" when I was crucified with Christ and raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
A life with a divine nature.

Scripture on the doctrine of glorification:

1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

This passage makes reference to both the rapture and death:
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

There's a bunch more, but that's enough for now.

Scripturally, the old nature is crucified. We, as believers, are crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6, Gal 2:20, Gal 5:24) and we are also crucified to the world (Gal 6:14). I don't see anywhere that the old nature was ''completely eradicated'' though. Because we're crucified with Christ, we're not to serve sin any longer (Rms 6:6) but Paul spoke often enough to the churches in Ephesus, Colossae and Galatia about our responsibility to put off the old man and put on the new man, and to walk in the Spirit so we don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Just how often do you have to snatch your hand away from an open cash-drawer?
How often do you need one hand to disarm the other?
Your "body" can't force you to commit sin.
It is your mind that needs renewing.
God made the way to accomplish that with repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

That's rather the point: that the flesh can't force a Christian to commit sin. We are to gain the mastery over it, but that complete mastery over sin won't happen till we're Home. I agree, the mind needs renewing, and we're instructed to renew it in Romans 12:1-2, among other places. Even Paul in Phil 3:13-14 knew he hadn't ''arrived'' as a Christian since he was still on this earth, and in 1 Tim 1:15 he called himself ''the chief of sinners" in his letter to Timothy, even though he'd been saved for a number of years by then.

I'd point out though, that doctrinally, Acts 2:38 is not written to Christians, it's written to Jews and proselytes (Acts 2:10). Peter addressed "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," in Acts 2:14 and "Ye men of Israel" in Acts 2:22. It was Acts 11:26 before the disciples were first called Christians (in Antioch). Paul's instructions to the church on how to be saved appear in Romans 10:

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ro 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Ro 10:12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ro 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

[JesusIs4Me]

Your response means, they must repent of sin at some later time.
When would that be?

If you are applying how they give altar calls today without discipleship, then I understand why you would think that, but I believe back in the early church days they disciple new believers. They just did not cut and run preaching the gospel.

And Jesus taught us a daily prayer to pray to the Father to forgive us of our debts as we forgive others of theirs, and ended that prayer with a warning that if we do not forgive others of their sins against us, neither will God the Father will forgive ours.

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

As it is, I have not seen any presentation of the gospel in the N.T. as including repenting from all sins, when believing in Him is how we are saved. Therefore sinners can only have power as sons of God after they have been saved so they can run that race, looking to the author & finisher of our faith to help us lay aside every weight & sin. To admit that you are running that race still is to admit that you still need Him to stop sinning.

It is clear that Cornelius had already turned from sin by verse 2..."A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always."
God doesn't hear sinners, (John 9:31), so he must have already been a non-sinner.

Since that testimony was BEFORE he was saved, I am not sure you are applying that verse right when obviously, he needed Jesus as His Saviour.

If you are inferring that no "turn-from" sin is necessary to receive the "gifts and calling of God", you have been deceived.
That kind of doctrine implies that there is sin in Christ.
We know that to be untrue.

Explain this verse then.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Did you catch the part about "believe in His name"?
That happens when men are baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ" for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38)

I caught that it means the only call to repentance is repent from unbelief by believing in Him as confirm in Acts 10:43 KJV

As salvation won't be assured till after the final judgement, what you call "saved", I call "conversion".
If I hold fast to me conversion, endure till the end, I will be saved.

I reckon it depends on which Bible you read then.

1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God...........21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. KJV

The witness of the Holy Spirit in you at your salvation is the testimony from the Triune God that you are saved as in His in Jesus Christ's name.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:...........

Are you going to say that His blood was not yet good enough to have saved us?

Is not the forever indwelling Holy Ghost a witness from the Triune God that we are saved?

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

That is why I believe we are saved because that foundation which was laid by Christ Jesus can never be removed. That seal of adoption cannot be removed. Our Father in Heaven cannot cease to be our Father.

But what we build on that foundation will be judged and why we need to trust the Lord Jesus Christ to help us discern good & evil by the KJV in order for us to expose the works of darkness to depart from them by His grace & by His help.

Those who do not after they had been saved, will be at risk of the consequence of an eternal damnation in being received as a vessel unto dishonor in His House after the door to the Marriage Supper has been shut at the pre great trib rapture.

But the reason there are vessels unto dishonor in His House is to testify to the saving power of God in Christ Jesus that even those who believe in His name are saved.

1 John 5:13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. KJV

The gospel has to be that simple and separate from discipleship which is running that race by the grace of God by faith in Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd so that even little children are free to come to Him for all they can do is trust Him.

Otherwise, how can what you preach still remain as the simplicity of the gospel?

How can you say you have not come short of that rest and are not laboring in unbelief? Hebrews 4:1-3 KJV & Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV

 

[Lanolin]

If you go to a church that has an altar call, and you dont go forward, that doesnt mean you might not already been saved, but if God is TRULY calling you, through that preacher dont just ignore it.

Going forward at an altar call isnt the only way people become christians. Its just one of the ways, Jesus does the saving. I wouldnt say it is wrong, because you can be saved anywhere. Some churches do things piecemeal like they will have communion once a month instead of every week or everyday, or they might only have prayer certain days instead if everyday. Dont be arrogant over those starting out in the faith just because youve walked with the lord for many years.

If you warning of those seeking after signs and wonders, then thata different, but you go to have compassion and edify those that maybe arent quite getting it, for example, some baby christians think that God ought to heal every single ache and pain instantly, and ask Him for things that arent even His to give. Some think that they will never have to go through any tribulation or suffering, and they are better than the next person their sins are not so obvious. jusy cos you dont have a tattoo, or maybe you think you better cos you got a christian tattoo. Well no!

 

[JesusIs4Me]

If you go to a church that has an altar call, and you dont go forward, that doesnt mean you might not already been saved, but if God is TRULY calling you, through that preacher dont just ignore it.

Going forward at an altar call isnt the only way people become christians.

Acts 10:34-44 KJV has the Gentiles believer just having heard the words Peter had spoken, had believed, and had received the promise of the Holy Spirit before they had come forward, before they had confessed Him, before they had been water baptized in His name Acts 10:44 KJV. So it is with any one that is born again of the Spirit when they come to & believed in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Its just one of the ways, Jesus does the saving. I wouldnt say it is wrong, because you can be saved anywhere.

The moment any sinner believes in Him are saved, but when altar calls are given as a means to obtain salvation or making a commitment to follow Christ as if keeping it, one can obtain assurance of salvation, then that is laboring in unbelief just as much as doing the works of catholicism is to obtain salvation by doing the sacraments and other works.

Jesus had set me free ( Galatians 5:1 KJV ) from my commitment to Him to make Him Lord of my life and all other vain evil promises ( Matthew 5:33-37 KJV ) to rest in Him that He is Lord of my life and He will help me to follow Him by faith in Him as as my Good Shepherd and Friend ( Galatians 5:5 KJV ) as He will finish His work in me ( Philippians 1:6 KJV ) as all the fruits of righteousness ( Philippians 1:11 ) are by Jesus Christ.. ( John 16:13-15 KJV )

Some churches do things piecemeal like they will have communion once a month instead of every week or everyday, or they might only have prayer certain days instead if everyday. Dont be arrogant over those starting out in the faith just because youve walked with the lord for many years.

Taking communion in an unworthy manner is a warning given to new believers for discipleship, but the correction and the warning of the consequences must come because He has given judgment on such willful sinning in that manner as if they are to receive again that one time sacrifice for sin made present in the Mass when there is no more sacrifice for sins to be had. The babes in Christ need to be made aware because they are listening to their church rather than His words. We are tp share the truth in Christ's love, but tip toeing about it for fear of offending the babes is not valid when He is the One that is ministering. ( pretty sure you are not meaning that, but just addressing maybe a fiery rebuke on the little ones which would be out of line.

If you warning of those seeking after signs and wonders, then thata different, but you go to have compassion and edify those that maybe arent quite getting it, for example, some baby christians think that God ought to heal every single ache and pain instantly, and ask Him for things that arent even His to give. Some think that they will never have to go through any tribulation or suffering, and they are better than the next person their sins are not so obvious. jusy cos you dont have a tattoo, or maybe you think you better cos you got a christian tattoo. Well no!

Any correction in Christ's love may be seen as an angry rebuke I reckon, but what I would consider an angry rebuke not done in Christ's love is when they condemn the saved believer which is different form of judging which they are not to do. Only God can do that when He judges His House in regards to who shall become castaways to be received later on as vessels unto dishonor in His House for not departing from iniquity before the Bridegroom had come at the pre great tribulation rapture event.

The call to depart from iniquity is given to every believer and even former believers; 2 Timothy 2:18-21 KJV so that they may be received by Him as a vessel unto honor in His House to attend the Marriage Supper held in His honor.

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

I think this is all the Lord would have me share today. Not sure if He would have me share any more after this, but only God knows.

 

[At Peace]

By ''bad,'' I mean those things that cause us to come short of the glory of God according to Romans 3:23.

Rhetorical questions (no answer required, just throwing them out there as food for thought): In a scale that has Jesus in one pan and you in the other, does the scale perfectly balance based on the way you conduct yourself in your day to day life? Do you live a life as perfect, pure and holy as He did while He walked this earth? Do you always display a servant's heart? Is your behaviour always humble and meek? Are your thoughts always pure? Are you always 100% dependent on the Lord with no evidence of an independent spirit? Do you ever display a harsh, unyielding, critical spirit? (Jesus didn't.) Are you ever unloving or unforgiving? (Jesus wasn't.) Are you ever ungrateful or discontented? (Jesus wasn't.) Do you permit things in your own life that Jesus didn't permit in His?

It is written in 1 John 5:17 that "all unrighteousness is sin", so with that in mind, I walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6)

Positionally, yes, we're seated in Heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6), for example. Practically, unless the life we live on this earth mirrors the purity and perfection of Jesus's life on this earth 100%, we can't honestly claim to be sinless. He is the only One Who lived a completely sinless life while on this earth.

The "positionally-practically" doctrine is just another way to pretend to be a Christian.
You either love God above all else or you don't.
Jesus was the first to walk without sin, but all those who have "lost their lives" in favor of the reborn life given by God also walk without sin.
If you say you are "in" Christ, by definition you must also be without sin: as there is no sin "in" Christ.

Salvation is complete after the final judgment.
I can and should know now according to 1 John 5:13 that I have eternal life, that I'm saved. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

I can concur with that, but it is incumbent on us to "endure till the end".

Okay, I admit to laughing out loud on this one. First off, since @B-A-C also honed in on the word ''habitual," strike that and replace it with ''willful." A Christian ought not continue in willful sin: a Christian ought to gain greater and greater victory over the besetting sins in his/her life.

All sin is willful, as, according to James 1:14-15, it takes temptation, lust, enticement, and conception to "bring forth sin".
That is a lot to go through to end up "accidentally" killing or stealing or committing adultery.
Don't you think?

What I laughed out loud at was your comment that "You support devilishness by...." That's a pretty strong criticism of someone you don't even know, and a judgement based on a maximum of not even a hundred posts of mine that you might've read here on Talk Jesus. It's rather the opposite (on your part) of "in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves," (Philippians 2:3) isn't it? (And then of course there's Mtt 7, but I see more irony in the Philippians verse.)

I hope you weren't laughing so much that you missed the part that came after that.
By saying no man can be perfect you say nobody has to try to obey God all of the time.
Jesus conquered sin, in the flesh.
The repentant have been baptized into Christ, and there is no sin in Christ.

My Bible says "Only by pride cometh contention" in Proverbs 13:10. To say a Christian never sins after salvation is ludicrous just based on reading some of the threads on this forum (or any forum)! When forum mods close threads because of the increasingly contentious dialogue in them, it seems the Bible points to pride as the source of that contention. Pride, last time I searched the scriptures, is a sin. I submit that we're all guilty of pride more than we'd care to admit, especially in this selfie-oriented day and age in which we live.

More reason to keep getting your info from the bible instead of from "men".
If a "Christian" still commits sin after his supposed conversion, what was he converted to?
Still a sinner...which means he keeps something other than God as his god...does not define those reborn of seed that cannot bring forth evil fruit.
It certainly doesn't define anyone who has "crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts". (Gal 5:24)

Scripture on the doctrine of glorification:
1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Did you get the "will be like Him" when He appears part?
If He appears today I will "be like Him".

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
This passage makes reference to both the rapture and death:

Do you think sinners will be "raptured"?
My first interest in "churchy" stuff was based on an early escape from the turmoil at the end of time, but my life mirrored the wicked lives of those "left behind".
So my goal became "How do I please God hear and now".
Miraculously, God gave me someone to explain scripture, with the orientation of obedience to God.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
There's a bunch more, but that's enough for now.
Scripturally, the old nature is crucified. We, as believers, are crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6, Gal 2:20, Gal 5:24) and we are also crucified to the world (Gal 6:14). I don't see anywhere that the old nature was ''completely eradicated'' though. Because we're crucified with Christ, we're not to serve sin any longer (Rms 6:6) but Paul spoke often enough to the churches in Ephesus, Colossae and Galatia about our responsibility to put off the old man and put on the new man, and to walk in the Spirit so we don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

How can you say your old self was crucified, but not killed?
Rebirth is not twenty or thirty years in motherly "labor", it is instant.
God doesn't allow His children to languish in wickedness while they cry out to Him for deliverance from evil.
Walk in the light or walk in the darkness-sin. You can't do both.

That's rather the point: that the flesh can't force a Christian to commit sin. We are to gain the mastery over it, but that complete mastery over sin won't happen till we're Home. I agree, the mind needs renewing, and we're instructed to renew it in Romans 12:1-2, among other places. Even Paul in Phil 3:13-14 knew he hadn't ''arrived'' as a Christian since he was still on this earth, and in 1 Tim 1:15 he called himself ''the chief of sinners" in his letter to Timothy, even though he'd been saved for a number of years by then.

I am already "home", as "I" am dead, and hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
All that Paul lacked, in Phil 3, was his new body: as Phil 3:21 makes clear.
You have been given a false interpretation of 1Tim 1:15 to cast doubt on Paul's total subjection to God.

I'd point out though, that doctrinally, Acts 2:38 is not written to Christians, it's written to Jews and proselytes (Acts 2:10). Peter addressed "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," in Acts 2:14 and "Ye men of Israel" in Acts 2:22. It was Acts 11:26 before the disciples were first called Christians (in Antioch)

With that misinformation, you have successfully hamstrung any impending salvation.
You imply that Gentile Christians need no repentance or baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of sins nor will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for doing so.
Whoever gave you that "doctrine" is leading you astray.

Paul's instructions to the church on how to be saved appear in Romans 10:
Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ro 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Ro 10:12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Ro 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ro 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Yep. I confessed with my mouth the Lord Jesus when I was baptized into His death, burial, and was raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
A life without sin.
Thanks be to God.
I wonder what the 'twelve at Ephesus' would say to that "instruction"?

 

[At Peace]

If you are applying how they give altar calls today without discipleship, then I understand why you would think that, but I believe back in the early church days they disciple new believers. They just did not cut and run preaching the gospel.
And Jesus taught us a daily prayer to pray to the Father to forgive us of our debts as we forgive others of theirs, and ended that prayer with a warning that if we do not forgive others of their sins against us, neither will God the Father will forgive ours.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As it is, I have not seen any presentation of the gospel in the N.T. as including repenting from all sins, when believing in Him is how we are saved. Therefore sinners can only have power as sons of God after they have been saved so they can run that race, looking to the author & finisher of our faith to help us lay aside every weight & sin. To admit that you are running that race still is to admit that you still need Him to stop sinning.
Since that testimony was BEFORE he was saved, I am not sure you are applying that verse right when obviously, he needed Jesus as His Saviour.
Explain this verse then.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
I caught that it means the only call to repentance is repent from unbelef by believing in Him as confirm in Acts 10:43 KJV
I reckon it depends on which Bible you read then.
1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God...........21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. KJV
The witness of the Holy Spirit in you at your salvation is the testimony from the Triune God that you are saved as in His in Jesus Christ's name.
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:...........
Are you going to say that His blood was not yet good enough to have saved us?
Is not the forever indwelling Holy Ghost a witness from the Triune God that we are saved?
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
That is why I believe we are saved because that foundation which was laid by Christ Jesus can never beremoved. That seal of adoption cannot be removed. Our Father in Heaven cannot cease to be our Father.
But what we build on that foundation will be judged and why we need to trust the Lord Jesus Christ to help us discern good & evil by the KJV in order for us to expose the works of darkness to depart from them by His grace & by His help.
Those who do not after they had been saved, will be at risk of the consequence of an eternal damnation in being received as a vessel unto dishonor in His House after the door to the Marriage Supper has been shut at the pre great trib rapture.
But the reason there are vessels unto dishonor in His House is to testify to the saving power of God in Christ Jesus that even those who believe in His name are saved.
1 John 5:13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. KJV
The gospel has to be that simple and separate from discipleship which is running that race by the grace of God by faith in Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd so that even little children are free to come to Him for all they can do is trust Him.
Otherwise, how can what you preach still remain as the simplicity of the gospel?
How can you say you have not come short of that rest and are not laboring in unbelief? Hebrews 4:1-3 KJV & Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" (Gal 2:20)
It sorrows me to see that you are so comfortable with your...doctrine.
If you ever do decide to love God above all else, and your neighbor as yourself, you can be sure God will supply someone to teach you what I have already touched on.
After your "turn from" sin, and baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of your past sins, and into Christ, you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to counter all the misinterpretations you cling to.

 

[Dave M]

Laura God bless you sister for the truth in Christ !!

Matthew 7:6
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

 

[B-A-C]

Some Christians may use excuses to justify sin, but in my observation, the Lord doesn't let His children get away with it unchallenged through the conviction of the Holy Spirit or His chastening. Christians who want to please the Lord generally don't find sin enjoyable anymore to begin with.

We are perfectly capable of resisting the Holy Spirit. In fact every time we sin... we are doing exactly that.
Acts 7:51; "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

Some have the conscience "seared over" and feel no guilt at all.
1 Tim 4:2; by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

God does discipline, but He doesn't force us. Not everyone who once loved the Lord enough to please Him makes that love a continuing priority.
Rev 2:4 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

If we don't find sin enjoyable... then why does anyone do it?
2 Pet 2:22; It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Heb 12:1; Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

[Br. Bear]

@Dave M

Greetings,

Laura God bless you sister for the truth in Christ !!

Matthew 7:6
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

is that a dog or a mop or something else on your avatar? My eyes aren't too flash so I have never quite worked it out but your post here made me want to ask.
Maybe it's none of the above?

Bless you ....><>