When I talk to people who have been misled into sinning religion (you know, the people who believe God does not save us from the power, pollution and presence of sin in our lives), they usually attack my bold, Biblical beliefs that God not only forgives us of our sins we have committed, but He also cleanses us from the sinful nature we have inherited, and He empowers us to quit sinning (i.e. deliberately disobeying the known will of God).
They go on to falsely accuse me of saying that I have never sinned, OR that I am saying I cannot sin again, OR that I am claiming to be sinless based on my works of the flesh, OR that I am claiming to be absolutely perfect, OR (many other false accusations).
But then I re-read the Bible and I am convinced that Jesus does save His people from their sins, that He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, that He does cleanse us from all sin (all unrighteousness, all iniquity), that whoever is born of God does not commit sin, that He is able to save us to the uttermost, and on and on and on.
Then I read (sounds like reed) the first verses of Psalm 119 (as well as the last verses of Psalm 119 and all the verses in the middle of Psalm 119). Let me just mention Psalm 119:1-8. Read it and feed on it and heed it.
It is one thing to say we don't understand or we don't live by God's word; it is a totally different thing to say we don't accept or believe God's word.
Psalms 119:1-8
1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Take note...
vs. 1
* The meaning of UNDEFILED.
* Those who walk in the Law of the LORD.
Law means "teaching, instruction and the discernment of God."
vs. 2
* Those who keep (observe) God's testimonies.
His witness concerning His nature, instructions and works.
* Those who seek God with their whole heart.
vs 3
* They do no iniquity.
* They walk in His ways.
vs. 4
* God commands us to KEEP His precepts DILIGENTLY.
God does not command us to do that which is impossible.
vs. 5
* The prayer to keep God's statutes.
vs. 6
* Keeping God's commandments results in no shame.
vs. 7
* We can praise God with UPRIGHTNESS of heart as we learn God's righteous judgments.
vs. 8
* I will keep God's Statutes.
* I need the fullness of God's continuous presence.
And the rest of this Psalm, and the other Psalms and the Proverbs and the other Writings, Law, Old Testament History, Prophets, Gospels, New Testament History, New Testament Letters, and New Testament Prophecy (in other words, the entire Bible) says the same thing.
Don't interpret the power of God to save His people from sin and sinning as the work of the flesh or the work of the devil. Without holiness of heart and life, no one shall see the Lord. Don't demean the work of salvation, which comes through the death and resurrection of Christ, by calling it a man-made doctrine or a doctrine of demons.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. God gives us victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. Ours is not only salvation, but it is GREAT SALVATION.
Hebrews 2:1-4
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
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