Today, repentance and the condition of sinless righteousness are topics. A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Deino” (Level 7 with 75,403 points, a member since April 02, 2007) posted the following:
Obviously, even a repentant Christian cannot repent his way to sinlessness, so how do we judge legitimate repentance vs. outright blasphemy?
Or do Christians believe they really have achieved feats of sinless righteousness on Earth?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1st John 2: 1-3, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Only GOD Is Good? (05/03/2017); Operations of Christian Faith (04/28/2017); No Repentance Without Rebirth? (12/14/2016); On Expecting Quick Results (11/07/2016); Spirit Process not Feelings? (09/21/2016); Why Are Works Required? (07/18/2016); The Remission of Sin? (06/02/2016)
“Deino”, given the Bible teaches, All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, there are only 2 kinds of people in the world, penitent sinners (those sorrowing and seeking change) and impenitent sinners (those refusing change who would rather sin than live without sin). Salvation is a divine work that entails multiple sacred operations to benefit created beings and living creatures. Included are adoption by the Spirit, anointing, atonement, forbearance, forgiveness, Incarnation, justification, rebirth, resurrection, revelation, and sanctification. The works performed by believers that display faith and the many inseparable aspects of spirit content from the makeup of GOD (e.g., holiness, hope, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, wrath against sin) permit the living to express themselves as a new creation having awe, gratitude, humility, meekness, respect, reverence, and imparted righteousness. Self-expression notwithstanding, while still upon the earth, all Christian believers first are accounted as offspring and heirs with Jesus Christ on the basis of the Savior’s life, ministry, and other works. Included are his circumcision, his fasting 40 days and 40 nights, his rebuke of Satan, his death, his resurrection, his ascension.
Many speak of a spiritual condition of being “sinless”, yet, fail to realize that “sin” does not exist as a material object or thing that has form and substance provided by the Creator. Because their thoughts are still framed according to things carnal, material, and social, they fail to apply the spiritual meanings and values established through the Holy Spirit. Sin may be spoken of as an immaterial, non-spirit influence that opposes the continued existence of sacred law, the Law Giver, and divine order throughout the universe. Sin is self-destructive and promotes both annihilation and non-existence; therefore, sin and Creation may not co-exist in perpetuity.
Sinners returning to GOD through Jesus Christ are to understand they presently will receive only a divine guarantee or “down-payment” of the full endowment intended for those acknowledging the Kingdom of GOD. The living, though yet sinners, can be accounted as “blameless” and without sin while undergoing a divine process of growth, new life, and permanent change. The ongoing transformation of mankind to exist as a companion to immortal, incorruptible divinity will be completed when Christ appears to harvest from the earth those belonging to him who are “ripe” (we say, the Advent, the Rapture, the Second Coming). Consider again the following from Scripture:
(1.) John 3: 12, King James Version (KJV): 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
(2.) 2nd Peter 1: 2-4, KJV: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(3.) Romans 4: 15-17, KJV: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(4.) Ephesians 2: 8-9, KJV: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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