Greg discusses how we can be sure of our salvation.
Comments
Setting aside the concept of living in sin for a moment (sinning without a care or not thinking certain sins are, in fact, sins).
Greg says, “If you’re living like everyone else, you’re probably going where everyone else is going.”
This sounds like what Greg calls a pastorism. These are lines that can be helpful in teaching but don’t tell the whole story (e.g. love the sinner hate the sin).
Christians have dreadful days. Perhaps even compared to everyone else on a particular day. Absolutely dreadful. No one denies this.
What to make of that?
The difference is the recognition of the sin and the recognition of the need for Christ and forgiveness.
Paul says the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God because we lack spiritual discernment. So before we can believe in Christ God must first regenerate our dead human soul.
When this happens, mostly while hearing or remembering the Gospel, we believe in Christ. Because we believe we respond in repentance from sin.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is both substance and evidence that God has saved us (Hebrews 11:1). So if we look at our faith as something God gives only to those he saves, we can rest assured that we are born again.
John says that all who are born again will overcome the world (1 John 5:4). But those who are born again will experience internal conflict while struggling to overcome (Galatians 5:17).
Setting aside the concept of living in sin for a moment (sinning without a care or not thinking certain sins are, in fact, sins).
Greg says, “If you’re living like everyone else, you’re probably going where everyone else is going.”
This sounds like what Greg calls a pastorism. These are lines that can be helpful in teaching but don’t tell the whole story (e.g. love the sinner hate the sin).
Christians have dreadful days. Perhaps even compared to everyone else on a particular day. Absolutely dreadful. No one denies this.
What to make of that?
The difference is the recognition of the sin and the recognition of the need for Christ and forgiveness.
Posted by: KWM | February 01, 2016 at 12:42 PM
Symptoms include: mood swings, cravings, personality changes, and spontaneous regrowth of limbs.
Posted by: Phillip A | February 01, 2016 at 11:40 PM
Paul says the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God because we lack spiritual discernment. So before we can believe in Christ God must first regenerate our dead human soul.
When this happens, mostly while hearing or remembering the Gospel, we believe in Christ. Because we believe we respond in repentance from sin.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is both substance and evidence that God has saved us (Hebrews 11:1). So if we look at our faith as something God gives only to those he saves, we can rest assured that we are born again.
John says that all who are born again will overcome the world (1 John 5:4). But those who are born again will experience internal conflict while struggling to overcome (Galatians 5:17).
Posted by: dave | February 02, 2016 at 03:59 AM