Re: [Bulk] Re: [TruthTalk] NIV Bible Quiz

[Terry Clifton]

The point that I was trying to get you to see for yourself is that though growth as a Christian is a continuous thing, sin stops when we die to self.  My old self cursed and hated with the best of them.  I drank from two to four six packs a day.  I lusted in my heart.  I dipped snuff and defiled my body.   But when I died to self, that stuff went, and it did not go gradually.  When Jesus says, "You are forgiven.  Go and sin no more",  only the most selfish persons could consider what Christ did for them and not  respond in obedience.  I know that.  It is a fact.  I have never been more certain of anything in my life. Terry [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes, Terry.   And that is all that I am saying, here.   sin is sin  --  but what IS sin?   As long as we have this idea that it is a violation of the law,  we will never be able to really help the people we are called to help.  We HAVE been given the ministry of reconciliation.     For the past 4 weeks, my left knee has been out of action.   An operation is soon in the offing.   But during this period,  I have had to continue to work.   About six hours or so is all I can stand.   What has happened is this:   the surrounding muscle structure has increased and the knee is becoming serviceable on  its own  --  painful as that might be.   ditto with those who are dealing with their besetting sin  (and we all have them).  Their lives are not defined by a single area of concern.   No one is.  I know "management of sin" might sound repulsive, a doctrine of license.    But it really is not.   Management is a RECOVERY tool   --   not a teaching that encourages sin.  Sin Management teaches the addict to postpone her addictive behavior for a specified time   --   and this time is increased.  Fat people   (and I suspect there are more fat people on this forum than one would suppose) victimize themselves with the addiction of gluttony.   Sin Management teaches them that this is destructive behavior (ala "sin")  and encourages them to modify or postpone their eating .   Meanwhile, we emphasize the good and healthy aspects of their lives with God.       -----Original Message----- From: Terry Clifton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]innglory.org Sent: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:19:18 -0500 Subject: Re: [Bulk] Re: [TruthTalk] NIV Bible Quiz [EMAIL PROTECTED]com wrote:     Back to an issue of substance.     Law and faith   It is amazing to me that those who are clearly legalists in the crowd argue for the banishment of an individual based upon only one consideration of sin.  What I mean is this  --   if you have one who is addicted to heroin and (of course) continues to "use,'  he is withdrawn from despite the possibility other areas of his life, spiritually, are improving.   Part of the curse of the law is that one who violates a speeding law is just as guilty as one who murders a child.    Guilt is guilt.     Under grace through faith, a heroin addict can be given hope because his life is not judged by that single issue.   And I am talking about a "judgment" that is , in reality, the reasonable conclusion of his conduct.   If he manages his addiction (and in the beginning of a recovery process, this may be all that he can do with addiction) and gives equal attention to filling himself up with God in the Word, with the Relationship, in continued fellowship  (someone has to stop telling to leave) prayer and communion,   he can be saved from the ravages of his continuing sin.   Personal destruction does not need to be the final consequence.   Praise the Lord.   JD ================================================================ Seems that I remember someone once asking, "What fellowship has light with darkness?" "course, I could be wrong.  Possibly continuous sin should be excused for any number of reasons.  Only, of course, until Jesus gradually gives them the power to overcome. Terry