I think it is good to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith, as Paul writes “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. The world condemns and shames us when we sin or fail. God bless you and your family and I hope to read more of your helpful articles again.WHEN I READ IT ALL THE SIGNS / WHAT THE BIBLE DESCRIBES A TRUE CONVERT CONFIRMS THAT I WAS FIRST FALSLY CONVERTED BUT THEN I STARTED TO TRULY SEEK CHRIST AND I GOT TRULY SAVED AND I’VE BEEN TRULY CONVERTED SINCE THENWhy do we except we will sin less? All the Bible reading and resources and going to church and study will not save you.
To be perfectly honest, I confess that every word you typed there is as accurate as it can be, but no, I don’t live in the outback, hunting water buffalos (that did make me snicker). There is comfort for the afflicted. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6). I am thrilled that you like it and I checked out your website. If I just sin less how can I fulfill Romans 12 (I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. I pray I have helped you my brother. Perhaps more Greek understanding and context are needed.”The Greek word for “world” is Kosmos. He did after all ask why God forsook him. If you’re despairing, and you’re trembling that you don’t know if you have the fruit or the evidence in your life that you’re born again, and then you read 1 John 3:9, and you use it to kill yourself, that’s not the Holy Spirit. Keep towels present…;-)4) Finally, praise Jesus in the shower for dying for you and allowing you the victory over sin. I cannot get enough of His Word. I fail but His love never fails.Please allow me to add(to Pastor Jack’s good points) that the reason you have these problems with overcoming sin is that you are human. Even if our sins are great, our Savior is greater! It takes more education(usually) to get a good job to support a family. (4) Last, sorry for the length, but lots of questions, how does a Christian “pass the test” (and why did you leave the ? John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary.
We have all either stolen,blasphemed God’s Name, lied, cheated, lusted, murdered, or coveted. Not being saved involves a rejection of truth and a hatred of it (2 Thess.2:10). You watched over your soul, you had some standards, you put up some barriers, you fought the fight. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. I think going around to all of your friends and family and informing them you are a Christian is not what God had in mind. You didn’t even know it was happening. I could not have said it better. Especially now, more than ever, that my mind needs to be as pure and renewed as it can be, because I’m studying theology starting this year, and I know I got a lot to learn and experience still.Hi Jack, Great article! He achieves that for which He was sent. ;-) Here are just a few quirky, practical helps to battle temptation:1) Do something physical if you are not already. After all can’t these fruits, the very stuff of God’s love and ceaseless work, become idolatry in itself? Then force…it will be extremely hard…but FORCE yourself to stand up, away from the computer, grab your rope and start jumping, until you are exhausted.2) Keep some bottled water around your room. “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. May God richly bless you sir.Hello Mr. Wellman. Faith without works may indeed by dead as James rightly says but Paul counters in Ephesians that works without faith are useless. God has rescued me again and again and again, by taking my eyes off of my mediocre performances and fixing them on my advocate.“But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate.” In other words, the word that John wants the despairing to hear is the word: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. All lawbreakers will have their place in the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15).Then) You can read more about this at: WhatChristiansWantToKnow.com (with an embedded hyperlink to the original article).The reason we can’t have the article reprinted in its entirety is because it is copywritten material so it is out of my control, even if I wrote it. There’s no way out, except that in the regenerate person — and this is why I believe I’m born again. Most excellent. YES, it is by FAITH you are saved, not of yourself, but if you lack spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22) and evidence of your spiritual walk (not by outward performance) and a life of worship, it leads you to be a stranger to Christ.