Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Not even close on this one, Judy. More proof-texting theology. Isa 59:2 has nothing to do with our present day situation. I am even startled to see this comment. It is so wrong as to be almost humorous. This is nothing but the doctrine of perfectionism It goes against a whole host of biblical comment and denies not only the purpose of the cross but the stated need for the continual flow of the blood of the Lamb. It offers no hope for those who come to the Lord trapped (in an addictive sense) in their sin. Your conclusion is not true.
John
=======================================================Maybe I am a little slow here John, but did Jesus not instruct us to be perfect, just as the Father is perfect? Has obedience not always been close to the top of God's list? Did the Father not turn away from even His own son when the Son took on the sins of the world?
I do not see anything wrong or humorous. That is God's word.
Respectfully,
Terry
Judy has said that one has absolutely no kind of relationship with God until and unless he is perfectly able to practice God's commandments against sin. Is it true that our sins and iniquities separate us from God using Isa 59:2 as a reference? Well, we are told that God accepts faith as righteousness (Romans 4). And why would that be? If there is no sin or iniquity of any sort in our lives, we are righteous and have no need for the exchange of faith for righteousness. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive even ourselves (I JO 1:8) We have sinned and continue to fall short of the Glory (Rom 3:23.) So, what of Isa 59:2? Ask youself this: does this passage exclude the necessity for a continuing sin sacrifice as defined by the Law? I say no. So sin continues, does it not? Isa 59:2 in light of the continuing need for sin sacrifice is speaking of an action on the part of the individuals involved, not of God's decision to exclude them. I fight or resist the sin issues I have in my life. If or when I decide to give in to them, to go my own way and revel in my sin, my sins and iniquities have separated me from my God. Romans 7:14-25 and Eph 4:14-24 paint a clear picture of one who struggles in a binary reality - two natures existing at the same time and influencing each other. To say that we have no relationship of any kind with God because of sin and iniquity is wrong. The point of the cross is that our misdeeds are covered and remembered no more -- is it not?
Your view?
John
