Today,
reply is on the divine process whereby new Christians become mature
as life companions, his new creation, and joint-heirs with Jesus
Christ. A writer in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and
Spirituality forum using the ID “The new Christian” (Level 1 with
5 points, a member since January 01, 2015) posted the following:
So
if a Christian struggles with sin does that mean they aren't saved?
I’m
a new born again Christian and I struggle with pride, sloth,
gluttony, etc. I got saved in July.
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be
thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power
of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is
now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who
hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel: (2nd Timothy 1: 7-10, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: What Divine Salvation Requires (05/15/2018);
Salvation By Good Works? (03/08/2018); A Prayer Against Backsliding?
(02/08/2018); There Must Be Rebirth (01/21/2018); Transformation Not
Obedience Alone (07/02/2017); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016);
Becoming Ripe for Harvest? (07/03/2015); We Are Still Sinning
(11/30/2013); Like A Thief? (12/01/2013); Struggling (05/11/2013);
Through Much Tribulation (05/12/2013)
“The
new Christian”, here is some guidance intended for the followers of
the Lord. Those who come to Jesus Christ for redemption and
salvation are responding to sacred operations and divine works by GOD
that (1) already are complete, comprehensive, and will not be
repeated or reproduced (e.g., atonement; divine proclamations and
promises; the required provision for remission of sin); (2) that
occur as sacred events (we also say, miracles) and should not be
thought of as having limited duration, or being fixed within the
frameworks of time as known by mankind (i.e., the past; the present;
the future); and (3) that are to be acknowledged, adopted, and
applied as a believer's own endowment of divine substance from the
makeup of divinity (we say, the GODhead; the Father, the Son, the
Holy Spirit; the Trinity). Those “born again” through water
baptism also must “grow up again” and become mature to be taken
up as a harvest by the Lord at his appearing (i.e., his Advent; the
Rapture; the Second Coming). Inseparable aspects of divine fullness
are imparted as gifts and new life. Included are faith, forbearance,
holiness, lovingkindness, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against
sin. Developing believers are being supplied by Jesus Christ and the
Holy Spirit so they may face the many life challenges on the earth
that include bereavement, disappoints, “growing pains,” loss,
persecution as members of the church, reversals, and even suffering.
Looking to Christ for freedom from sin, happiness, and genuine love,
many mistakenly think salvation means living “happily ever after.”
However, sinners must undergo permanent changes that only begin with
heartfelt sorrowing for sin that results in repentance. Keep in mind
a sinner even must break old habits, conquer the natural forces of
appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual cravings), embrace divine law,
and respond to the influence of spirit instead of sensation (e.g.,
hearing, seeing, tasting, touching). The believer is to become
built-up and edified by discovery, gradual growth, fellowship with
mature believers, learning, study, and unselfish service. Consider
again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.)
Matthew 13: 1-9, King James Version (KJV): 1 The same day went
Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great
multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a
ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he
spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went
forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side,
and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony
places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up,
because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up,
they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked
them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit,
some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath
ears to hear, let him hear.
(2.)
Matthew 13: 18-23, KJV: 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the
sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and
catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which
received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into
stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy
receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a
while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the
word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among
the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh
unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he
that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also
beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty,
some thirty.
There
is far more to be acknowledged and received as part of ones own
spiritual fullness. (For example (3.) Romans 6: 3-13, KJV: 3 Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with
him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth
we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live
with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no
more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died,
he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the
lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as
instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto
God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness unto God.) Even so, to the rebuke of
the Adversary and the furtherance of the faithful in Jesus Christ, I
trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your
faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
https://answers.yahoo.com/dir/index?sid=396545163
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