John wrote: > Our definitions for sin are different. > I believe that to be the problem.
Feel free to define sin for us. For the most part, as a verb, I understand sin to be lawlessness, acting in a way that is contrary to God's law. It is any behavior that does not emanate from love. However, there are other ways in which sin is talked about in the Bible. For example, in Romans, when Paul personifies sin as being in him, he is not talking about any specific behavior, but rather a nature that leads one into selfish behavior. When the Bible speaks about Jesus becoming sin, again, this is not describing his yielding to temptation, but it is talking about a state of being. So there are many different ways that sin might be defined, but generally speaking, when we talk about sin, we are talking about behavior that does not emanate from love. John wrote: > Here you have equated spiritual growth with developing > enough courage to preach to those who do not want to > hear a preacher. I do not associate this with spiritual > maturity -- actually, quite the opposite. Courage - yes; > maturity -- no. Spiritual growth is the condition of increasing strength and quality of spiritual virtues like courage, boldness, faith, strong conscience, love, peace, joy, righteousness, gentleness, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, etc. We obviously understand spiritual maturity differently. If you remember when the apostles were cast into the common prison and were beaten, the Scripture says that they left rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name (Acts 5:41). It takes spiritual maturity to suffer shame for the name of Christ. God does not call upon the spiritually immature to suffer in this way. When we begin to experience it, we can rejoice because we know that we have reached a condition of maturity whereby we are worthy to suffer the shame. John wrote: > David, I do not believe that you experienced physical > abuse just because you lived your life differently as > you seem to claim in the opening sintences [sic]. It is sad that you do not believe me. God knows that I speak the truth. 2 Timothy 3:12 (12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. John wrote: >>> Do you include things like arrogance, pride, >>> conceit, selfishness, lust and the like as sin? David Miller wrote: >> Yes. John wrote: > Do you understand that I consider these things to be sin? Yes. John wrote: >>> And, do you have no trace of these? David Miller wrote: >> No traces? These things abound in my flesh. >> I must consider these things to be dead on a >> daily basis. What I am talking about is the kind >> of holiness that Jesus walked in. John wrote: > Right here is, perhaps, where we part company. > I do not understand your theology on this at all. > You have achieved Uniquesness [sic]. Are you > perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect? Only my heavenly Father is able to answer that question. John wrote: >>> Specifics David. That is how >>> you will change my mind. David Miller wrote: >> You only need to ask. John wrote: > I did ask, previously, David and you told me > that you were going to do something else. > but I am glad that you changed your mind. I did not change my mind. The first set of questions were: John wrote: > This day, did you pour yourself out for the afflicted? > Is there any degree of selfishness or pride in your life. > ... If you answer "yes" to the above --- how many folk > do you know, really, who can say the same. > An actually number is what I am asking for. > And what of those who have not so complied. > If I said that this would be nearly everyone you > know -- what are the impliations of that reality? These questions involve assessing whatever success over temptation I might have experienced and comparing it with others. I will not do that. It would be sin. :-) I am more interested in discussing what God's word teaches us about the problem of sin and the work of Christ in relationship to it. My personal testimony goes into how I have experienced God's word in relationship to this. I will express those things as they seem appropriate, but I will not yield to temptations of boasting in that which is given to me as a free gift of God. Job 1:1 (1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Job 9:20-21 (20) If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. (21) Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. Shalom, shalom. David Miller ---------- "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.
