04 Mar '15 05:26>2 edits
Hey all, RajK included,
Someone in North Carolina sent me an e-mail excerpt below
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To “intend never to sin again in my heart in order to have a proper repentance so that I can be saved” is a great desire to aspire too. The reality is our sinful tendency is to our core! We are all totally depraved.
Ecclesiastes 7:20.
With that in mind our goal is to grow in holiness (as a result we will sin less – I Peter 1:15-16) yet the unique testimony of many is that the more they grow in holiness the more they realize they are sinful! That is why grace is so amazing. “where sin abounded grace did much more abound”. The verse before this one (Romans 5:19 & 20) makes it clear – “for as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”. Our intent on not sinning is not sufficient! Because we can’t not sin! Therefore our salvation is not dependent on how much or how well we repent but on how perfect Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins was!
Grow to know the love of God in Christ because only there will you find the ability to change at the heart level (II Corinthians 3:18, 5:17).
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Hey All,
It seems that Christ can be the only one who makes us righteous "...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." So, if Christ makes souls righteous rather than obedience and rather than repentance, it isn't people who do their best to be good that gains eternal life, but it is Christ who gains eternal life for people. Outside of Christ, there is no righteousness that merits eternal life.
For a Christian to be holy is good, but apparently it is too late for people to be holy in order to gain eternal life. Christ is the way for eternal life, not doing good works.
Christians, be good to please God and to gain reward, but don't think that you can earn eternal life by being holy. Christ is indispensable. Without Christ, there is no eternal life.
Someone in North Carolina sent me an e-mail excerpt below
=====================
To “intend never to sin again in my heart in order to have a proper repentance so that I can be saved” is a great desire to aspire too. The reality is our sinful tendency is to our core! We are all totally depraved.
Ecclesiastes 7:20.
With that in mind our goal is to grow in holiness (as a result we will sin less – I Peter 1:15-16) yet the unique testimony of many is that the more they grow in holiness the more they realize they are sinful! That is why grace is so amazing. “where sin abounded grace did much more abound”. The verse before this one (Romans 5:19 & 20) makes it clear – “for as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”. Our intent on not sinning is not sufficient! Because we can’t not sin! Therefore our salvation is not dependent on how much or how well we repent but on how perfect Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins was!
Grow to know the love of God in Christ because only there will you find the ability to change at the heart level (II Corinthians 3:18, 5:17).
================
Hey All,
It seems that Christ can be the only one who makes us righteous "...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." So, if Christ makes souls righteous rather than obedience and rather than repentance, it isn't people who do their best to be good that gains eternal life, but it is Christ who gains eternal life for people. Outside of Christ, there is no righteousness that merits eternal life.
For a Christian to be holy is good, but apparently it is too late for people to be holy in order to gain eternal life. Christ is the way for eternal life, not doing good works.
Christians, be good to please God and to gain reward, but don't think that you can earn eternal life by being holy. Christ is indispensable. Without Christ, there is no eternal life.