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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: James Saptenno]
#146068
10/20/12 02:45 PM
10/20/12 02:45 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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1. Paul said the "Spirit empowered him to overcome sin and be freed of it power . . . when he follows the Spirit . . . [nevertheless] sinning is inevitable." Not sinning is a reality while abiding in Jesus. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not." "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
2. "I knew that Paul’s life is not of a sinless perfect life since the day of his newborn." Only Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life from birth to death. People live without sinning only while they are abiding in Jesus.
3. ". . . believers are saved by the grace of God as a gift, not as a reward for his efforts to live a sinless perfect life with the combine power of the Spirit, which when this is the target of believers, they will overruled Christ works on the cross and made it useless." Amen. We are saved based solely on what Jesus did and does for us. "Righteousness and true holiness," the fruit of the Spirit, does not serve to save us. However, refusing or neglecting to abide in Jesus results in sinning and prevents Jesus from being able to save us.
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: Mountain Man]
#146079
10/20/12 08:02 PM
10/20/12 08:02 PM
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Shouldn't our focus then be on abiding in Jesus, not on whether or not we are sinning?
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: James Saptenno]
#146085
10/20/12 09:00 PM
10/20/12 09:00 PM
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OP
Banned SDA Active Member 2015
3500+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,613
USA
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Combining 1 Tim. 1:15 & Romans 7:7-25, I found out that even Paul did not live a sinless perfect life eversince his newborn day.
Verse 25: 21st KJV. I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me. So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin. (CEV).
I like this version, giving a better view of what Paul meant.
Both thing happened in him, the war between sin that dwelt in him and the Spirit.
You're thanking God that you believe that Paul was still sinning after conversion? What is this? Are you for real? Paul was not speaking for himself, he was speaking hypothetically, saying in essence IF he was sinning. In verse 24 of that same chapter (Roman 7) just before what you quoted he says "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Then he says in answer to this question in verse 25 was "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord". It is hypothetical because he had already been delivered from the death by accepting Christ Jesus. He was speaking sympathetically for men who have not been delivered from sin. Paul is one of the most intellectual men who wrote in scripture and what he says is very hard to comprehend says Peter. What makes you thank God even if he was sinning? Does it make you feel better that someone else falls to sin? This is very disturbing. If Paul was still considering himself losing to battle of the warring flesh why would he write this at the beginning of that Chapter? Romans 1(ASV) 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated (sanctified/ Holy) unto the gospel of God, 2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake; 6 among whom are ye also called to be Jesus Christ's: 7 To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, but Paul was still getting a little on the side right? God says it's OK to serve Him and go out and party after the Sabbath right? As long as he differentiates when he is in the mind of Christ and when he is being slave to sin it's ok?
Search me oh God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. Amen
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: jamesonofthunder]
#146088
10/20/12 09:29 PM
10/20/12 09:29 PM
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OP
Banned SDA Active Member 2015
3500+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,613
USA
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HOW TO ATTAIN CHRISTIAN PERFECTION;
"Enoch walked with God three hundred years previous to his translation to heaven, and the state of the world was not then more favorable for the perfection of Christian character than it is today. And how did Enoch walk with God? He educated his mind and heart to ever feel that he was in the presence of God, and when in perplexity his prayers would ascend to God to keep him. {LDE 71.1} He refused to take any course that would offend his God. He kept the Lord continually before him. He would pray, “Teach me Thy way, that I may not err. What is Thy pleasure concerning me? What shall I do to honor Thee, my God?” Thus he was constantly shaping his way and course in accordance with God’s commandments, and he had perfect confidence and trust in his heavenly Father, that He would help him. He had no thought or will of his own. It was all submerged in the will of his Father. {LDE 71.2} Now Enoch was a representative of those who will be upon the earth when Christ shall come, who will be translated to heaven without seeing death.—Sermons and Talks 1, 32 (1886). {LDE 71.3} Enoch had temptations as well as we. He was surrounded with society no more friendly to righteousness than is that which surrounds us. The atmosphere he breathed was tainted with sin and corruption the same as ours, yet he lived a life of holiness. He was unsullied with the prevailing sins of the age in which he lived. So may we remain pure and uncorrupted."—Testimonies for the Church 2:122 (1868). {LDE 71.4}
Search me oh God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. Amen
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: jamesonofthunder]
#146090
10/20/12 09:49 PM
10/20/12 09:49 PM
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OP
Banned SDA Active Member 2015
3500+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,613
USA
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For Mr Saptenno who was so grateful for Paul to sin...
"The opposition grew so fierce that Paul was not allowed to continue his labors at Damascus. A messenger from heaven bade him leave for a time, and he “went into Arabia” (Galatians 1:17), where he found a safe retreat. {AA 125.2}
Here, in the solitude of the desert, Paul had ample opportunity for quiet study and meditation. He calmly reviewed his past experience and made sure work of repentance. He sought God with all his heart, resting not until he knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted and his sin pardoned. He longed for the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming ministry. He emptied his soul of the prejudices and traditions that had hitherto shaped his life, and received instruction from the Source of truth. Jesus communed with him and established him in the faith, bestowing upon him a rich measure of wisdom and grace. {AA 125.3} When the mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite, the effect on body and mind and soul is beyond estimate. In such communion is found the highest education. It is God’s own method of development. “Acquaint now thyself with Him” (Job 22:21), is His message to mankind. {AA 126.1}
And this was BEFORE he wrote the book to the Romans.
Search me oh God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. Amen
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: jamesonofthunder]
#146091
10/20/12 09:58 PM
10/20/12 09:58 PM
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OP
Banned SDA Active Member 2015
3500+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,613
USA
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Mr Saptanno, if you need prayer for something you are not able to let go of, ask and ye shall receive. I will pray for you, just ask.
Search me oh God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting. Amen
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: Daryl]
#146101
10/21/12 04:18 AM
10/21/12 04:18 AM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
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Shouldn't our focus then be on abiding in Jesus, not on whether or not we are sinning? Amen
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: Mountain Man]
#146103
10/21/12 04:53 AM
10/21/12 04:53 AM
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Charter Member Active Member 2012
Dedicated Member
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,157
Jakarta, Indonesia
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1. Paul said the "Spirit empowered him to overcome sin and be freed of it power . . . when he follows the Spirit . . . [nevertheless] sinning is inevitable." Not sinning is a reality while abiding in Jesus. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not." "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
2. "I knew that Paul’s life is not of a sinless perfect life since the day of his newborn." Only Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life from birth to death. People live without sinning only while they are abiding in Jesus.
3. ". . . believers are saved by the grace of God as a gift, not as a reward for his efforts to live a sinless perfect life with the combine power of the Spirit, which when this is the target of believers, they will overruled Christ works on the cross and made it useless." Amen. We are saved based solely on what Jesus did and does for us. "Righteousness and true holiness," the fruit of the Spirit, does not serve to save us. However, refusing or neglecting to abide in Jesus results in sinning and prevents Jesus from being able to save us. Thanks MM. With what you presented here all this time, I knew your thought about the theme of a sinless perfect life, and with your answers to my opinions, I think we are in common.
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: jamesonofthunder]
#146104
10/21/12 05:08 AM
10/21/12 05:08 AM
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Charter Member Active Member 2012
Dedicated Member
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,157
Jakarta, Indonesia
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Mr Saptanno, if you need prayer for something you are not able to let go of, ask and ye shall receive. I will pray for you, just ask. Thanks JamesthesonofGod. You and I may have a little differences in our view about reaching a sinless perfect life in our Christian walk. Even I believe too that sin can be overcome as long as we abide in Jesus by faith, but I still feel not comfortable by the idea that we can have this life ever since we are reborn. It didn't work with me, I still sin and still enjoy sin till this time, but I knew and believe that if my target is to be with Jesus in the eternal world, I must bring my self to His desires and standards, not mine. So, one day I will not enjoying sin any longer, even I may still sin, but later on I may have this sinless perfect life when I hate sinning and what the world could offer. And between those days, I'm sure I will not loose faith in Christ and leaning fully on His grace and forgiveness, to be in His righteousness alone. Thus, according to me, to reach a sinless perfect life stage is not impossible, but not a state continues ever since we were reborn, but a life time progress, and I see here, many have the same thought.
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Re: "How to attain Christian perfection"
[Re: jamesonofthunder]
#146106
10/21/12 05:20 AM
10/21/12 05:20 AM
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Charter Member Active Member 2012
Dedicated Member
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,157
Jakarta, Indonesia
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Combining 1 Tim. 1:15 & Romans 7:7-25, I found out that even Paul did not live a sinless perfect life eversince his newborn day.
Verse 25: 21st KJV. I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me. So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin. (CEV).
I like this version, giving a better view of what Paul meant.
Both thing happened in him, the war between sin that dwelt in him and the Spirit.
You're thanking God that you believe that Paul was still sinning after conversion? What is this? Are you for real?Paul was not speaking for himself, he was speaking hypothetically, saying in essence IF he was sinning. In verse 24 of that same chapter (Roman 7) just before what you quoted he says "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Then he says in answer to this question in verse 25 was "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord". It is hypothetical because he had already been delivered from the death by accepting Christ Jesus. He was speaking sympathetically for men who have not been delivered from sin. I'm afraid he was talking about himself. Paul is one of the most intellectual men who wrote in scripture and what he says is very hard to comprehend says Peter. What makes you thank God even if he was sinning? Does it make you feel better that someone else falls to sin? This is very disturbing.
Just stating a fact, that even Paul has not a sinless perfect life ever since he was reborn. 1 Timothy 1:15 approve that. If Paul was still considering himself losing to battle of the warring flesh why would he write this at the beginning of that Chapter?
Romans 1(ASV) 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated (sanctified/ Holy) unto the gospel of God,
2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake;
6 among whom are ye also called to be Jesus Christ's:
7 To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, but Paul was still getting a little on the side right? God says it's OK to serve Him and go out and party after the Sabbath right? As long as he differentiates when he is in the mind of Christ and when he is being slave to sin it's ok?
Besides what he wrote about his personal experience about the war in his flesh, and that he too may serve the flesh, his own will from time to time, he didn't taught us the way you said, but just explaining a fact that is very important for our Christian's walk.
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