Today, reply is on being “born again” and “growing up again” with corrections for backsliding, rather than having to offer “the sinners prayer” multiple times. Even among Christian believers, there are many occasions when errors and sins of ignorance are committed. Therefore, the process of salvation should not be thought of as a “one-time” event; salvation is active and ongoing (1st Corinthians 10: 12, King James Version (KJV): 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.) Recovery from errors as the offspring and heirs of divinity through Jesus Christ is more the result of humbling oneself and an abiding spiritual condition of sorrowing for sin than an outcome from multiple confessions and “talks with GOD.” Sin has not been eliminated by the death of Christ on the cross, and sin will continue to challenge believers until its final destruction through the second death. With this in view, believers are commanded to maintain vigilance against the operations of sin; and even mature Christians can not account themselves as perfected, sanctified, completely transformed, and no longer subject to sin through the power of their own will. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who uses the ID “Will” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since February 06, 2018) posted the following:
Why is it so hard to remember the sinners prayer?
See here I have been trying my hardest to get to know about GOD, But see I keep sinning left and right, see I do read my Bible every day if I remember but I still struggle with sin in my life, see I keep thinking that GOD hates me because I keep sinning see I'm almost in my sixty's and I don't want to spend eternity in the lake of 🔥 for forever how can I I remember sinners prayer and stop sinning
THE GOLDEN ARROW: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1st John 1: 5-10, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Genuine Spiritual Discernment? (03/27/2017); To Foster Godly Sorrow (03/11/2016); Skipping Church A Sin? (11/17/2015); Can Salvation Be Lost? (09/14/2015); Repentance, Sin and Willpower (09/08/2015); Genuine Repentance? (03/24/2014); When Is A Law The LAW? (03/25/2014); Resisting Sin (12/21/2013); When People Covet (12/22/2013)
“Will”, there must be actions that provide substance to our words. There is no single set of words that are to be repeated and spoken like a magic spell that will erase sin from our lives. Thus, “the sinners prayer” must be created and “made up” in the moment as the Spirit gives utterance. Here are some ideas that have made a great difference for Christian believers:
Many have tried to eliminate and remove the operations of sin from their lives by relying on finite human tools such as emotion, intelligence, logic, carnal reason, philosophy, and science. However, sin is more than simply an outcome or result from education, thinking, and feeling—thus, there also are doctoral degree holders and scientists who are sinners. Sin may dominate consciousness and self-will within created beings and living creatures, yet, sin is not a spirit substance, and is no object or thing created by GOD. Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Lawgiver, and the full universe that appears through divine order. Without divine law and the operations of ones inner life essence (we also say, breath, spirit, Word), sin is not discerned and recognized as contrary to the character and makeup of mankind. Therefore, sin is approved and indulged by sinners as “natural”, “normal”, and unavoidable.
Sinners must undergo permanent changes through operations of the Holy Spirit that include the death, burial, and resurrection of their inborn spirit. Once “born again” having divine DNA, so to speak, the sinner will exist as a developing believer who must “grow up again” facing the same “growing pains,” life challenges, hardships, and suffering as others on the earth. As a new creation through Jesus Christ, the believer must apply and display sacred knowledge in place of secular knowledge, along with inseparable aspects of divine fullness such as faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
Among other things, the life of the developing believer will be transformed through discovery, gradual growth, praise, regular prayer, practice of sacraments, continual study of the holy writings, and unselfish service. The believer must become mature (ripe) for harvest when the Lord returns to claim those who are his from the earth (we say, Advent, his appearing, the Rapture, the Second Coming). Just as believers now are being examined in judgment before that day, and are totally dependent on the operations of GOD, believers cannot rely on self-will (their own willpower), and are dependent on the sovereign will of GOD that is not subject to sin. Consider the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Matthew 10: 19-20, King James Version (KJV): 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
(2.) Romans 8: 26-27, KJV: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(3.) Luke 18: 9-14, KJV: 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
There is far more to be discovered, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Romans 10: 4-10, KJV: 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.) 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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