Today, points are shared on why preachers sometimes speak publicly about the errors and faults they committed before and since they came to Christ. Where their utterance is by the Holy Spirit, they make no boast of their own merit. They acknowledge, extol, and praise GOD for what divinity has done, is continuing to do, and will do in times that are yet to come. Many believers mistakenly think that salvation means one is to “forgive and forget.” They rejoice speaking of their own sins as having been buried in the “sea of forgetfulness.” In fact, however, believers are to have an ongoing awareness of the damage they received by sin as an aspect of correctly knowing and valuing their deliverance. Believers in Jesus are never to forget; they are to change, grow, learn, and serve having new purpose and strength from Christ. All clergy are challenged to demonstrate a correct knowledge of human nature as well as of mankind’s spiritual potential. Confession, humility, intercession and personal testimony often appear when the “good news” is proclaimed because they provide background, context, and a bridge for recognizing the sameness among certain secular and spiritual truths. Becoming committed to Christ (we say, becoming saved) is not achieved on the basis of abstract arguments and analytical debates. There must be contact, exchange, and interaction that are alive, intimate and personal. All are to receive a revelation that is in harmony with the material and natural world, yet, is an expression of divine essence and power. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Rigal T” (Level 5 with 7,575 points, a member since September 04, 2008) attacked using the following:
Why do Christians brag about their past 'sins'?
Evangelists and apologists often go into great detail about their 'wicked lives' before they found Jesus. Televangelists seem especially proud of their past 'sinful' accomplishments.
Update: Some go on about so much that I think they take a perverse pride, agree?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. (Psalm 40: 9-11, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Inseparables? (07/15/2014); On Christians Being Inclusive? (07/16/2014); Not A Matter Of Opinion? (04/24/2014); What Faith Makes Possible (04/25/2014); Life Choices (12/14/2013); That Mortal Children Die? (12/15/2013); Law A Schoolmaster (10/03/2013); Was Jesus Literate? (10/04/2013); How Do I Repent? (05/16/2013); The “Jesus Way”? (05/17/2013)
“Rigal T”, here are some important points to consider when viewing the work of divinity through flesh and blood:
(1.) Discernment (the ability to use ones own spirit content to recognize the spirit substance within such features as events, oneself, other persons, purposes) is a gift through the Holy Spirit that must be developed by acquiring sacred knowledge, continuing in fellowship with more experienced believers, observing sacred practices (we say, sacraments), and meaningful study of the holy writings.
(2.) Believers must receive a fresh endowment of the same spirit matter deposited within the first male and female (Adam) that came directly from the makeup of Deity. Water baptism depicts the many unseen divine operations carried out to terminate ones inborn spirit and regenerate their nature in rebirth. More than simply the washing away of sins, baptism establishes the believer as an incarnation (we say, vessel) containing aspects of divinity such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
(3) Generally, where men define sin, no more than attitudes, behavior, and conduct are described. However, sin that was unleashed upon the earth through Adam is no “thing” that exists, and is not material, mental, or tangible. Sin has not been created by or put forth from divinity; yet, sin has direction, effect, and presence, and may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. Sin is only recognizable because it opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and the universe that functions through divine order rooted in law.
(4.) Sin can not be eliminated using such finite human tools as intellect, logic, persuasion, philosophy, and science. Those who choose to stand before GOD through Jesus Christ as their mediator are permanently altered to recognize and resist sin through sacred operations that convey divine power such as admonition, forbearance, forgiveness, love, promise, prophecy, and resurrection. The many things of our salvation can not all be comprehended in an instant.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Repentance is not a one-time event; and must be achieved as an ongoing process in the life of a believer. Personal testimony also is shared among believers as sacred truth. It is an artifact in divine judgment, and has the same power and weight as ballistic evidence, fabrics, fingerprints, and psychiatric evaluations (we say, expert witness). False witness and lying would be accounted as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith and spiritual maturity.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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