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David, thanks for this: I think it will
help me understand where JD is coming from much better. Iz -----Original Message----- > Some sins stop -- but others only decrease in influence. I think you are confusing the source of sin, temptation, with sin
itself. I also think you are confusing poor character with sin. One of the
reasons believers need to stop all sin is so that they can grow spiritually,
which produces good character. One reason many so-called
"Christians" do not have great character is that they indulge in sin from time to time, thinking
that everybody else does it too. John wrote: > Some may never be completely gone. It is true that some element of the sinful desires of the flesh will
never be completely gone until the resurrection, but this is not sin if we do
not follow it. It is only temptation. We are promised that we will be
tempted, but we are also promised that we can have victory over that temptation
in every case. John wrote: > It is my opinion that there is absolutely no alternative > to this -- that those who disagree share a much narrower > definition of sin than I I think there is some truth to this statement. I think you are
stricter than God in regards to your definition and understanding of sin. This
is one reason why I have claimed that you are every bit a legalist as I am
(in my opinion more of a legalist), it is just that you have changed the
object of your legalism. You have forsaken the law and so you are not a
legalist in regards to the law. You have instead become a legalist in regards
to the grace doctrine. In doing so, you have broadened the definition of sin beyond what the Scriptures do in order to magnify the grace doctrine.
You equate the source of sin, temptation, as sin itself, and then reason
that because such cannot be avoided, everybody sins. The problem with your reasoning is that sin and temptation are two different things. We can
avoid sin. We cannot avoid temptation. John wrote: > - and I believe I have a sound biblical argument for my > point of view, not to mention the practical argument. > Much of nearly every letter saved for us in the NT scriptures > contains encouragement to the saints regarding the continuing > battle against sin ----- letters written to those who are in the > family of God. That Scriptural encouragement you talk about is not "sin
management," nor is it: "it's ok, everybody sins and always will; grace covers the sin
that you do every day." The encouragement of Scripture is that we have an
advocate with the Father and that we should stop all sin, and that he gives us
power over every temptation. The encouragement is to embrace righteosness
and forsake sin. Nowhere in the Bible do we have the doctrine of sin
management that you have expressed. Surely you know this. Peace be with you. 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)
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