Are we expected to be perfect? (Full Version)

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whatislove -> Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 7:15:24 AM)

If someone experiences a genuine salvation, and changes and starts sanctification, yet "stumbles" a few times, is he not truly saved? Because, honestly, if we're expected to be perfect from the time we are saved, to the day we die, then I guess i'm not saved.



mvic -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 7:39:35 AM)

We all stumble from time to time - you should see my injured knees!

It is just not possible to be perfect and anyone who tells you otherwise then he is ... well, just proved that he's not perfect.



armydude -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:13:29 AM)

Does God expect perfection? 1 Peter 1:16 says, "Be ye holy as I am holy." God sets Himself as the standard for our behavior.
According to Romans 6, we are "dead to sin", so how could we "live any longer therein?" Skipping to Romans 8 says that there is no condemnation to those that "walk after the spirit". I could go on and on, but Jesus summed it all up with His words in Matthew 6. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." If you seek His kingdom first, you are looking to Him on a daily basis. If you do that, you may stumble from time to time, but you won't be continually, habitually sinning.



4IMPersuaded -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:23:06 AM)

Hi! Here's the great thing about the "perfect" question. When we accept Jesus' sacrifice as our salvation, we are coverd in the blood of Jesus and in God's eyes he sees us clothed in the perfection of Jesus.

Now, this doesn't mean that we are to go ahead and do whatever we want because we are covered by grace. Romans 6:15 asks that very question. Paul (the apostle) is telling us in this context that whomever we obey is our master. If we continue to sin, then we are slaves to sin and if we obey God, we are His slaves-- paradoxically free from bondage to sin. We are not saved by our "sinless-ness" or our good works. Our good works are a result of our desire to be obedient to God-- a natural by-produce, if you will, of the Holy Spirit living within us.

We are not told, however that we will be sinless here on Earth, but we "work out" our Salvation until we are called to our Eternal Life in His presence where our perfection is complete.

The desire to be sinless defines the Christian. Our relationship with the Father through the HS spurs us to regularly repent of our sins and seek to become more Christ-like.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:32:07 AM)

quote:

Be ye holy as I am holy."


To be holy is to be seperate. Different from the world. Having one Master. It does not mean perfection.

quote:

we are "dead to sin", so how could we "live any longer therein?"


We should not LIVE in sin. It cannot be our master. We are not ruled by sin. This does not mean we do not sin.

quote:

"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."


To seek. To fervently search. To make important in your life. It does not say if you have God's righteousness all these things will be added upon you. It says to seek them.

We should seek them. With everything we have. Its the standard. With God, all things ARE possible.

...and ya know what a perfect christian is? Someone who admits, he is not perfect.



armydude -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:46:21 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

quote:

Be ye holy as I am holy."


To be holy is to be seperate. Different from the world. Having one Master. It does not mean perfection.
I love ya SonInMe, but I think you missed my point here. If we are separate from the world's way of doing things, we are not continually, habitually sinning. We have one Master. And because we stay close to that Master, continually seeking a deeper relationship with Him, we are perfected.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:48:39 AM)

quote:

If we are separate from the world's way of doing things, we are not continually, habitually sinning. We have one Master. And because we stay close to that Master, continually seeking a deeper relationship with Him, we are perfected.


Are being perfected...correct and amen.



armydude -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:51:10 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

quote:

If we are separate from the world's way of doing things, we are not continually, habitually sinning. We have one Master. And because we stay close to that Master, continually seeking a deeper relationship with Him, we are perfected.


Are being perfected...correct and amen.
That's one thing that I believe the church has messed up on. The bible clearly states that perfection is expected. But it never says we're supposed to make ourselves perfect. Good thing since we can't. God does that. Our only task is to have faith that He knows what He's doing in the process...



SonInMe1 -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 8:59:56 AM)

quote:

Our only task is to have faith that He knows what He's doing in the process...


Yes, and we are called to be obediant as well. From our faith good works will be evident and we must listen to the Holy Spirit's guidence. We do have a part to play in our covenent with God....

submission. Dieing to self. Done with God's help no doubt...but...with even saved christians, we can disobey. Its never a good thing...but we can.

Thank God for His forgivenss. For His sanctification of us, the tempering of our spirits through trials of fire, the leading of our spirit to ask for forgiveness and through His power tha ability to repent.



armydude -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 9:12:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

quote:

Our only task is to have faith that He knows what He's doing in the process...


Yes, and we are called to be obediant as well. From our faith good works will be evident and we must listen to the Holy Spirit's guidence. We do have a part to play in our covenent with God....

submission. Dieing to self. Done with God's help no doubt...but...with even saved christians, we can disobey. Its never a good thing...but we can.

Thank God for His forgivenss. For His sanctification of us, the tempering of our spirits through trials of fire, the leading of our spirit to ask for forgiveness and through His power tha ability to repent.
Everything you said is true. But if I may, I'd like to offer an alternative perspective...

We are called in order that we might bear everlasting fruit (John 15). To bear fruit (a time consuming process even in the horticulture world) requires that we be continually in communion with our Savior. That requires obedience. That's usually a bad word to most Christians, but it's a very important word. We can talk about how much faith we have, but it's our obedience (or lack thereof) that's a true measure of our faith. And just like Abraham, it's faith on our part that will be credited to us as righteousness (right standing with God).



makarizo -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 10:08:04 AM)

nicely worded army dude.
I call it "the grunting grape seed"
and the illustration is this - plant a grape seed somewhere in the back yard. in a nice location, water it, and then go back inside.... the next day go to the seed, and put your ear close to the ground where you planted it... listen carefully...... do you hear it grunting? errrrrrrrrrr... grrrrrrrrrrrrr... uuuggghh.

no, it is planted in good soil, watered, and over the course of time. in another season, thru no effort of the seed, God will cause the growth.



URForgiven -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 10:17:41 AM)

Perfectionism, is itself a sin. There is only One Who is perfect, and it is none of us.

Peace



rcjames -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 2:07:33 PM)

Here is what the Word says we are to be if we are Christians;

(Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

(Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

So I will not argue against that passage.

Thsnks
RC



Kath -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/14/2008 2:18:25 PM)

Moving from General Faith to Salvation Issues

Please make sure when you start a thread it is placed in the proper folder. Thank you.



GraceBro -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/18/2008 1:31:24 AM)

quote:

If someone experiences a genuine salvation, and changes and starts sanctification, yet "stumbles" a few times, is he not truly saved? Because, honestly, if we're expected to be perfect from the time we are saved, to the day we die, then I guess i'm not saved.


May I suggest you stop focusing on your sins and start looking at yourself from God's perspective.

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—" Colossians 1:22

God sees you as holy, blameless and free from accusation. The Christian life is not about trying to rid ourselves of sin. The Christian life is about trusting God to live His life in and through us. God already had a system in place designed to modify our behavior. It's called the Law. But, the purpose of the Law was to show us we can't be perfect so we would turn to Christ by faith. If trying to perfect ourselves were possible than the Bible wouldn't say:

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21

Did Christ die for nothing? Of course not. But, if we think we can somehow live a perfect life that is effectively what we are saying to Him. We spend our Christian life discovering what it is we already have become through faith in Jesus Christ.

"For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." Hebrews 9:15

We are free in Christ. Free from trying to earn in the flesh that which could only come by faith. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us. In order for God to indwell us He had to deal with that which caused His life to leave us to begin with and that was sin. Christ's death on the Cross took away all our sins from the eyes of God for all eternity, thereby, clearing the way for the life of God to once again be offered to us, as a free gift, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now, that the life of God indwells us it will never leave again because of the Cross. That is why it is called an eternal life.

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10: 10-14

You are already perfect in God's sight because of what Christ did for you. Now, trust what God has said about you and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. Be who you are!

Grace and Peace



Stronger2day -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/20/2008 1:08:50 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: whatislove

If someone experiences a genuine salvation, and changes and starts sanctification, yet "stumbles" a few times, is he not truly saved? Because, honestly, if we're expected to be perfect from the time we are saved, to the day we die, then I guess i'm not saved.


Thank you for asking this- I have been searching the folders looking for this topic in order to understand it better.

I understand that we can never be 'sinless', but shouldn't Believers still avoid sin at all cost? Including examining sin in their lives and 'striving' for elimination of that sin? Shouldn't we pray that our eyes be opened to the sin we are committing (even if we can never rid of it all)? I believe some of the posts here help to back up this way of thinking. I guess I have sensed some Believers have the attitude- 'Well we can never be perfect, and we are forgiven, so why try that hard to ID and eliminate it?' Does anybody else see this?



loveineffable -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/20/2008 3:41:54 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

quote:

ORIGINAL: whatislove

If someone experiences a genuine salvation, and changes and starts sanctification, yet "stumbles" a few times, is he not truly saved? Because, honestly, if we're expected to be perfect from the time we are saved, to the day we die, then I guess i'm not saved.


Thank you for asking this- I have been searching the folders looking for this topic in order to understand it better.

I understand that we can never be 'sinless', but shouldn't Believers still avoid sin at all cost? Including examining sin in their lives and 'striving' for elimination of that sin? Shouldn't we pray that our eyes be opened to the sin we are committing (even if we can never rid of it all)? I believe some of the posts here help to back up this way of thinking. I guess I have sensed some Believers have the attitude- 'Well we can never be perfect, and we are forgiven, so why try that hard to ID and eliminate it?' Does anybody else see this?


Christ himself was and is the only one sinless, born of the virgin Mary. So in essence none of the israelites prior to Jesus could be sinless, could not obey the law in its' intirety. had to sacrifice animals for their sin, as well as shed blood. (there is no forgiveness w/o the shedding of blood)
Then Christ comes along, perfect in all he did, as per his Fathers' instructions to him through the Holy ghost.
Goes to the cross taking away the sin of the world in his Fathers' spirit. Goes to the grave for three days. then rises from the grave. Hangs around here with the disciples teaching them all things that have taken place with it's purpose.

Now John the baptist was a witness to the fact that Christ was here to take away the sin of the world.
He did this at the cross. He yells out in John 19:30 It Is Finished!
In matthew 5:17, he claimed he was here to fullfill the law and prophets.
So the ? is did he do it or not?

Then go to Hebrews 9:15, 16 where God explains that after the death of his son we are in a new covenant with him. Where our sins and lawless act are behind his back never to see again. This is good news?
But wait ther is more Romans 5:10 For since when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, trhrough the death of his Son, so now be reconciled, now we are saved by his life, the ressurected life.

So receive this reconciliation through His Son and come to life, receive this free gift of life, and do not trodden under foot. taking advantage of grace, using it for a cloak to do unrighteousness.
Rather thank god for the free gift and thus ask him how to say no to unrighteousness, believe he will show you. Seek as you are doing, trust and you will find. Bottom line, do not give up, for the devil and his minions, will do their best to keep you from the truth.
loveineffable



loveineffable -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/20/2008 4:05:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

I understand that we can never be 'sinless', but shouldn't Believers still avoid sin at all cost? Including examining sin in their lives and 'striving' for elimination of that sin? Shouldn't we pray that our eyes be opened to the sin we are committing (even if we can never rid of it all)? I believe some of the posts here help to back up this way of thinking. I guess I have sensed some Believers have the attitude- 'Well we can never be perfect, and we are forgiven, so why try that hard to ID and eliminate it?' Does anybody else see this?


In Christ you are made sinless from his Fathers' point of view. This is how he can and has come to live in the believer, through the Holy Ghost.
Father knows no sin, and by making you sinless in his point of view through the cross of Jesus, he can sup with you and you with him.

You see, when I, we, or anyone tries to avoid sin, all they are doing is stirring it up, causing death in themselves.
On the other side when one trusts actively, God starts the process of removing sin from that child that is trusting him to do it, instead of themselves, trying to do it.
I will bet their is a place in anyones life that besets them, and have been trying to actively remove the problem from themselves EX: getting angry at the husband. Every time you try, you just get angrier, and thus back to supoossed repentance, back up saying thank you, because now you think God has forgiven you again, walking around saying to yourself I can not do that again.
How long before you do it again? An hour, a day, and if you really got good control, a week.
Always repeatedly asking for more forgiveness. Beginning to wonder have I received it or not, Or will you: Father keep forgiving me?

When the whole time he is trying to get across to you, you are forgiven it happened at the cross, the last shedding of blood. Please receive this so you can go onto the newness of life, being so preoccupied with Father, that when you look back you did not have time to sin, for you no longer were trying to stop it.
It was stopped through your preoccupation on Father and his finished work at the cross, unto the new life he bestowed upon you.

So go ahead and be preoccupied on keeping from sin, and you will get some things you do not do anymore, but not all, and when doing it this way, there is still proudness and boastfullness. Trusting God to do it for you there is no proudness or boastfullness. He will carry on the work (he through your belief in him) till the day of Christ Jesus
loveineffable



LCannon -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/20/2008 4:23:10 PM)

2 Corinthians 5:11-"Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride themselves on a man’s position and not on his heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

Paul says we're 'saved' in position when one appropriates Jesus' blood and sacrifice for our own, we're 'being saved' by our obedience to His Word in service and we will finally 'be saved' in fact when we see Him 'face to face'(1 Corinthians 13:12).



Stronger2day -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/20/2008 4:55:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: loveineffable

So go ahead and be preoccupied on keeping from sin, and you will get some things you do not do anymore, but not all, and when doing it this way, there is still proudness and boastfullness. Trusting God to do it for you there is no proudness or boastfullness. He will carry on the work (he through your belief in him) till the day of Christ Jesus
loveineffable


Is it being preoccupied with sin that when I lay down at night I evaluate the day in an effort to ID areas I may need to do better in and should do better in because it's not as Jesus would do it. Again- I *know* we ALL fall short and that He paid the price- but don't I owe Him my best efforts?



SR20FL -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/21/2008 8:41:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: whatislove

If someone experiences a genuine salvation, and changes and starts sanctification, yet "stumbles" a few times, is he not truly saved? Because, honestly, if we're expected to be perfect from the time we are saved, to the day we die, then I guess i'm not saved.

If this were the case, then we're all going to hell. There is way too much elaboration in this topic. As long as we are here on earth, we will never be perfect no matter how hard we try.



loveineffable -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/21/2008 11:29:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

quote:

ORIGINAL: loveineffable

So go ahead and be preoccupied on keeping from sin, and you will get some things you do not do anymore, but not all, and when doing it this way, there is still proudness and boastfullness. Trusting God to do it for you there is no proudness or boastfullness. He will carry on the work (he through your belief in him) till the day of Christ Jesus
loveineffable


Is it being preoccupied with sin that when I lay down at night I evaluate the day in an effort to ID areas I may need to do better in and should do better in because it's not as Jesus would do it. Again- I *know* we ALL fall short and that He paid the price- but don't I owe Him my best efforts?


Yes, this is what happened to me, best efforts, best efforts, never attaining, to the point I gave up. Telling God I can not do it, I give up. That is when I heard Thank you from God. My reply What! Then I heard, I have been waitnig for you to realize, you can't do it. What then do I do? I heard: now I (God) can do it through you, since you are out of the way.
You know the saying let go, let God.
Ever since I gave up and began to trust the living God to do in me what I can not do inself. I have watched him remove so many things. It is amazing, I was trying so hard, and just kept coming up short, and when I did well, I was proud and boastful, so in essence my trying was of my own zeal as Saul's was before he became Paul.
It did not matter, which way I approached sin, it would still take me captive. Thinking Oh Lord forgive me, as if he did not know what I would choose, because myself was still in the way. Then I would stand up and state to myself I can not do that again, holding myself accountable and thus do it again, feeling sorry again.
Asking aqain, never attaining. Then I went into okay, I am forgiven and there is no more forgiveness for sin. the final act for forgiveness was and is at the cross of Jesus Christ. Yet My sin that beset me so bad was still in the way, others started to be removed, by God, once I understood getting out of the way.
Then I learned as a man thinks so is he. Thinking about this, I learned I could not get dpressed w/o depressing thoughts. That God designed us all in such a way, that whatever we are thinking at the time our emotions will respond to it, good or bad, dependant on what one is thinking.
So I tried a game I tried to be angry w/o angry thoughts, I found It can not happen w/o the thoughts of anger.

So being here now, I realized what God meant when he said in the word, now renew your mind.
Now the application was what now was difficult.
The majority, I found out renewing our minds is changing our thinking to do now what is right, forsake what is wrong. And this is all great, forging out our own righteouseness, seeking others approvals, thus having so many denominations now.
I went to enough differant ones, to realize one thing. they all were talking about the Savior (Jesus Christ)
This denomination saying they were right, then another claiming the same thing. This went on and on until I said all these can't be right, and the rest wrong. They all preach Christ as the savior.

Then I heard in my heart, renewing my mind is seeing things from God's vantage point
Could anyone ever obey the old covenant prior to the cross? No I said. Could anyone except my Son obey the old covenant during my Son's walk on earth? no one except Jesus. So what makes you think (Howard) that you can from your own accord obey, since no one has except my Son. And he was born of the virgin, no one else was or will be. It is in him and only in him, through you trusting him will cause you to obey, and it will not be anything to do with you (Howard). It is your belief that I (God) will do in you what you can not do inself.

Then I went into the word to find out what is: from God's point of view.
I found, there is no forgiveness, w/o the shedding of blood, it is all over the old testamnet, and in the new testamnent, hebrews. Then I found out John the baptist testified behold th lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, as well as Jesus was the last sacrifice for sin. This is where I learned from God's vantage point. so he (Who knows no sin) could come after the death, burial, ressurection, and ascencion. To the day of poentecost and preach life to the people, speaking in their own languages, telling them about the risen Christ, and all your sins and lawless acts are taken away. thus he now can teach you to trust him, and you will do what is right, for it will be God doing it through you. So you can rest now in belief.
Repent therefore and Believe in this Christ that has been risen from the dead. Change your mind from unbelief to belief.
Now checking myself, am I . did I walk in the faith today. Was I proud, boastful, did I get mad, and on and on. saying thank you Lord for your Son, w/o Jesus I would have had to die, for sin caused death, (not out of fellowship) And Jesus seperated sin and death at the cross, where you brought in the new covenant, (hebrews 9:15, onward) Our sins and lawless act are behind your back never to see again. ( in Hebrews )
Because I know w/o Jesus I would have to die. Now Father I thank you for this provision of eternsl life, will you teach me how to trust you to walk circumspectly?
Yes my child I (God will). It really is all him and none of me once I put my whole life in his hands.
I have worked harder than ever before, except it is no longer me it is Christ who lives now for me. Stress over time has been leaving, because I have been trusting him to teach me. When one does this their cup overfloweth. Now this has not happened overnight, it has taken a long time, of me never giving up.
And am still growing today.


This is my experience with the almighty, bringing me into conformity with him, being my, brother, sister, papa, father, mother, whatever I need God is ther always, never ever forsaking anyone. forsaking is a human trait, not god's.
For he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who so ever beleives shall not perish, and have everlasting life.
God said he would never leave you or forsake you: So when you fail you are not out of fellowship with God.
You are out of fellowship with others when they find out what you did or thought.
But God is there embracing you, saying oh my child, trust me to turn you around, and walk circumspectly
I (God) have, past tense already forgiven you before you were ever born back at the cross, through my son Jesus. Please come to him and take on his burden, it is light, and his yoke it is easy, and rest my child while you are so busy at your every day tasks.
ineffable love



loveineffable -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/21/2008 11:33:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SR20FL

quote:

ORIGINAL: whatislove

If someone experiences a genuine salvation, and changes and starts sanctification, yet "stumbles" a few times, is he not truly saved? Because, honestly, if we're expected to be perfect from the time we are saved, to the day we die, then I guess i'm not saved.

If this were the case, then we're all going to hell. There is way too much elaboration in this topic. As long as we are here on earth, we will never be perfect no matter how hard we try.



SO THEN GIVE UP AND LET GOD BE PERFECT FOR YOU IN YOUR PLACE
ineffable love



Stronger2day -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/22/2008 1:30:21 AM)

loveineffable, thank you for responding. I may not be effective in communicating my thoughts. I have surrendered my life and slowly have come to give Him my worries (though sometimes I REALLY want to hold on), however I do not sit around all day 'worrying' about sin, thus worshipping it over our Father. One of the ways I DO show my love is through my obedience as the Bible tells:

If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15)

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. (John 14:21)

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)

Due to the wonderful gift of free will, I falter often and will forever, but I will not use the gift of grace as my excuse not to obey to the best of my ability (of course with His direction and help- that’s a given).

Take care.



loveineffable -> RE: Are we expected to be perfect? (6/22/2008 9:06:11 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stronger2day

loveineffable, thank you for responding. I may not be effective in communicating my thoughts. I have surrendered my life and slowly have come to give Him my worries (though sometimes I REALLY want to hold on), however I do not sit around all day 'worrying' about sin, thus worshipping it over our Father. One of the ways I DO show my love is through my obedience as the Bible tells:

If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15)

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. (John 14:21)

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)

Due to the wonderful gift of free will, I falter often and will forever, but I will not use the gift of grace as my excuse not to obey to the best of my ability (of course with His direction and help- that’s a given).

Take care.
a


Exactly. yet understand, through your belief, you have been freed. It is through your belief in Christ, that you are no longer in bondage to sin. You now have the free choice to say no to unrighteousness. before belief, you did not. It only seemed as if you did. I was caught under that trap. and could easily faulter under it again.

Seek and ye shall find. You are, and you are finding, his commands are not burdesome.
Is not Christ awesome? yes beyond measure.
ineffable love



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