(05/05/2017) Achieving Feats of Righteousness?

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

(06/02/2016) The Remission of Sin?

The richness of divine revelation, sacred process, and the cross are in view, today.  Scriptures are shared to show that remission of sin requires more than ceremonies using animal blood to expunge ones condemnation, guilt, shame, and standing as unrighteous acquired through sin.  It must become possible for created beings and living creatures to correctly discern and recognize the surpassing authority, power and sovereignty of GOD in every aspect of the unfolding.  The Son of the Highest must become the embodiment of sin, and be destroyed upon the cross.  Through grace, mercy in judgment, and transformation that amounts to rebirth, Jesus must become one with and reside within every disciple and follower who will embrace him as Savior.  As depicted by the Lord’s Supper that uses the emblems of bread and wine, there must be a “breaking” and reconfiguration within a unified body of unseen consecrated bonds (we say, the GODhead), and the believer’s ingestion of spirit substance that may rightly be spoken of as eternal life.  One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information provided) posted the following:

Christians, what does the remission of sins mean? based on bible.?

Update: Thanks for all the wonderful answers given here, well informed, and students of the Scripture and very thorough--reading all these answers, has given me nuggets, from all of the scriptural responses here. Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:  for after that he had said before,  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God;  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (Hebrews 10:  12-22, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Divine Meanings and Values? (03/31/2016); Atonement and The Cross? (02/29/2016); Life Is In Blood (12/08/2015); More Than Death Needed (12/07/2015); The Lamb of GOD (08/19/2015); The Return to Dust? (06/14/2015); That All Were Prophets! (08/09/2014); The Need to Purify Heaven (01/17/2013)

“Anonymous”, through the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, many mature Christian believers understand the remission of sin is a formative operation of divinity in judgment carried out by the Holy Spirit.  The active presence and eternal purposes of GOD are revealed in such expressions as atonement, deliverance, divine love, forbearance, forgiveness, grace, mercy, reconciliation, sacrifice, godly sorrow, and suffering.  Those whom Jesus will harvest from the earth as “ripe” at his appearing (we say, the Advent, the Rapture, the Second Coming) will have been “born again” and “matured again.”  Divine love is not “unconditional” in a way that eliminates judgment.  The errors, offenses, and sins of the beloved will continue to appear within the Books of Life and other sacred records such as the Bible; however, the meaning and value of such accounts will be transformed.  Thus, the errors of Moses, David, and Solomon are no more to be erased or removed than the nail prints in the Savior’s hands.  So to speak, because of, and not “in spite of ” their sins, believers will be granted status as “blameless”, “redeemed”, “resurrected”, and “sanctified”.  Consider again how these ideas are shared using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Mark 1:  3-5, King James Version (KJV):  3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

(2.)  Hebrews 9:  19-22, KJV:  19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,  20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.  21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.  22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

(3.)  1st Thessalonians 5:  19-24, KJV:  19 Quench not the Spirit.  20 Despise not prophesyings.  21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.  23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

There is far more that should be said, must be carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (For example, (4.)  Matthew 26:  26-29, KJV:  26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC