David: Itruly appreciate your taking the time to make these comments, but I am not under the law so they don't help too much. I no longer walk in condemnation because I have made Jesus my Lord, and He has forgiven my sins. I agonize over even the tiny sins, if there is such a thing, because I hate to disappoint my savior, not because of any fear of Hell.
Before I was married, I was involved in adultery on more than one occasion. Fornication was a normal part of life. I straightened up as far as the actual acts were concerned, when I got married, but the thoughts were often still there. I drank heavily right up until the day I surrendered my life to Christ, and was often legally drunk. Back in my youth I stole car parts off other cars to keep mine running. I smoked for twenty years even though my wife hated it. I was not a nice person, just a good ol' boy. When I met my savior at the age of forty-seven I gladly put all that behind me. I was born again. It was no problem. The Holy Spirit gave me the desire and the ability to do His will instead of my will. Sometimes there is the temptation to think that I have come a long way, that God must be at least satisfied with me, if not pleased, and yet I know without a doubt I am a sinner. A lightweight sinner compared to the old days to be sure, but a sinner none the less. I know it, and am working on it A while back, I needed a quadruple bypass. I had been informed by the surgeon that I might not survive the operation. After he left and I was alone, waiting to be wheeled into surgery, I prayed. My prayer was "Lord, your will be done". I meant that prayer. If I were not saved, my prayer would have been a selfish plea for healing, my will, not His, The Holy Spirit may not always be apparent in my life, but He is always resident in my heart, in spite of sometimes dropping the ball. I do not agree with some of what you say, but I will not have to answer to you, so that is not a real problem. Thanks for trying. Terry ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 5:56 PM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] The relationship between Torah observance and eternal life. > Terry wrote: > > I am not one of the children of Isreal (Lev.27:34). > > I am not under the law, but grace. I have never even > > sacrificed a calf. > > You do not have to be a child of Israel to be under law. Being under law is > a state of mind. Most Christians are under law, even those who declare that > the law of Moses has been annulled. > > Terry wrote: > > As for Romans 7, I have read it, but never really studied it. > > Please tell me what you think it says in terms a three year > > old could understand. Maybe I can benefit from your insight. > > Sorry, but I can't get on a 3 year old's level concerning Romans 7. A 3 > year old has no ability to comprehend such things. > > Romans 7 describes the condemnation that comes from living under law. > Living under law means that you receive knowledge of something being wrong > (such as coveting), then you try not to do it (not covet), yet you find > yourself doing it anyway. This is what you seem to describe when you talk > about knowing something is wrong yet still doing it. > > Terry wrote: > > I gather from Hebrews, seventh chapter, that the > > law was annuled even for those once under it, > > because of its weakness and unprofitableness. > > I would also appreciate your comments on this > > chapter if you feel that I am in error. > > As a covenant, those seeking to be righteous must annul their covenant of > law because righteousness cannot come through it. Neverthless, this does > not mean that the law is no longer in existence anymore than one would say > that marriage is no longer an institution just because some people have > their marriages annulled. > > Matthew 5 makes it clear that the law would not be destroyed until heaven > and earth passes away. Even common sense tells us that the law continues, > for which of us would vote to get rid of laws in our nation such as, "thou > shalt not commit murder" or "thou shalt not steal"? What Hebrews 7 talks > about is another priesthood and change in covenant with God whereby we > become righteous. We put away the old priesthood and the old law in that it > was part of a different covenant. > > Terry wrote: > > At what point between 35 and 80 does this > > change from an infraction to a sin? > > >From a civil standpoint, when someone's life is endangered or a policeman > decides you are endangering others and so he charges you with a crime in > addition to or instead of speeding. > > >From a moral standpoint, a sin is simply when you are not walking in love. > Slipping 1 mile over the speed limit does not in itself qualify for that. > However, when you recklessly endanger others, that would qualify. Speed > limits change all the time. Remember when they had that 55 mph cap? Now > you can go 70 on most interstates. It use to be that way before also. So > was 56 mph a "sin" during the time when the law said 55 but now it is not? > > Terry wrote: > > Does something have to be a crime to be > > a sin, or can little infractions qualify under > > certain conditions? > > I was just trying to point out that even our community recognizes the > difference between speeding and a criminal offense. Generally speaking, a > sin is a crime and a crime is a sin. Of course, our laws are a little > goofed up and some sins are not crimes or infractions anymore (e.g., > adultery, homosexuality). > > Terry wrote: > > ... the first instinct in this feeble mind is to consider > > the offender a jerk. This is usually followed by > > immediate repentance, Realizing that I am not > > behaving as I should, but the thought has been thunk! > > Yup, sounds like you are under law to me. The New Covenant changes you on > the inside, in your heart. Under faith, we renew our minds in the Holy > Ghost so that our reaction is more along the lines of hoping for the best > for the other person. > > When we are under law, we know in our heads what we should do, but we don't > always find the ability in our heart to do it. Read Romans 7. In Christ, > we are transformed to walk in the Spirit so was no longer walk in this kind > of condemnation. Read Romans 8. > > Peace be with you. > David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
