tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081631727760066049.post7761524321208140744..comments2023-07-13T00:09:18.439-05:00Comments on Preaching the Gospel: We Should Judge Our Own Decisions, Not the Guilt of Othersauthor@ptgbook.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13775228362728122027noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1081631727760066049.post-56777182292147394022013-08-16T13:53:57.048-05:002013-08-16T13:53:57.048-05:00Author,
To supplement what you have written, if p...Author,<br /><br />To supplement what you have written, if people of God's Church, by the power of God's indwelling Spirit, would deeply understand the following two verses relative to themselves, then they will accomplish what your title has stated:<br /><br /><br />Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.<br /><br />1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.<br /><br />That's an amazing thing for God the Father to do for those of His Church for Christ's sake: "...your sins ARE FORGIVEN..."!<br /><br />God is not a respecter of persons we are told elsewhere.<br /><br />If God can take care of those of His Church, as Paul and John said in the above two verses, then what about "the rest" of those who exist (the world)?<br /><br />A reconciling needs to take place for everyone, including those of God's Church. God inspired the apostle Paul to tell all of us this:<br /><br />"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19<br /><br />If God can take care of those of His Church (Romans 8:29-30), then can He also take care of "the rest?"<br /><br />When the resurrections have been fulfilled we will all finally see the "end of the matter," and whether God did actually accomplish that reconciliation of the world that Paul was inspired to write about.<br /><br />We have so much to be thankful for. If we judge ourselves, we know that even if we have God's spirit dwelling within, sin still occurs in our lives...we still cannot choose to cease from sin and make it stick in our lives.<br /><br />God knows the value of forgiveness in our lives. He knows the necessity for that forgiveness.<br /><br />When we appreciate that need for forgiveness in our lives, then we begin to appreciate what God will do in the lives of others.<br /><br />We should not be judging, or condemning, others nor hang that guilt on others. What if God, instead of forgiving, actually did that to us: judged us and hung guilt over our heads?<br /><br />I venture to say that God the Father and His Son would be two very lonely Beings...even with all of the good angels existing with those other beings/beasts around His throne.<br /><br />And God basically advised Moses that human beings without His Spirit are under a huge handicap:<br /><br />"Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." Deuteronomy 29:4<br /><br />God has to give that gift to perceive, to hear and to see! It works no other way. That is how God is able to direct our steps: by His Spirit.<br /><br />"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10:23<br /><br />We live in a world largely controlled by another spirit being, who has no problem directing our steps.<br /><br />I personally look forward to the day that God allows His Spirit to be poured out on the entire world to overwhelm, and overcome, that evil spirit that has been allowed to leaven this world so much into sin.<br /><br />In conclusion, why do humans have such a problem with sin? Here is part of the reason from the mind of a Christian:<br /><br />"Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth IN me." Romans 7:17<br /><br />It was so important in Paul's mind that he was inspired to tell us again:<br /><br />"Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth IN me." Romans 7:20<br /><br />Who will say that that sin isn't there? Can anyone deny this?<br /><br />Why is that sin there? John told us:<br /><br />"He that committeth sin is of the devil..." I John 3:8<br /><br />That is why God knows the importance of His Spirit in the lives of all human beings...before all is said and done.<br /><br />And if God does not provide that forgiveness, then who will?<br /><br />Again, we all have so much to be so thankful for. And in the meantime, we'll continue to strive to do the best we can with what we have...<br /><br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com