pure
11Apr07
I’m writing a book called Pure.
It’s very simple. It just shows from hundreds of (mostly) New Testament verses that our lives as believers are to be lives that grow in grace, that go from glory to glory. We’re born into Christ, and we grow in Christ. Our “process” - our progress in Christ, is a matter of pure maturity; rather than a matter of becoming “less evil.” Jesus has made us pure, and we can live in that.
Please do read, comb, skim through it and comment. Then check it again in a week, it will grow. It’s a work in progress, and I would love all the feedback yer amplifiers can make.
Download Pure.PDF
You seem very focused on Romans 7:14-25 and the fact that it applies to pre-regenerate man. I understand your point, but how do Christians still sin? Are you saying that Christians who sin aren’t truly regenerate? If you aren’t, how do you explain the fact that Christians still give in to temptation and sin against God? Are you saying that we’ve been deceived into thinking that we have to live with the burden of sin still on our shoulders, when we don’t even realize that we are free from it? or are you saying that because we sin we aren’t truly free from it and have deceived ourselves into thinking that we are?
Sorry for being so long-winded.
that’s so awesome. i just told Monica (only a few nights ago) that you
needed to write a book. there’s such amazing exposition here at times -
it would truly be a shame if more people weren’t able to eat of it.
lemme start combing here. thanks Action Sound Dead Man!
~Only a few more weeks before finals are over and I can read about things other than far fields, op amps, dividends, thin lenses, and SIP. Can’t wait to flatten my eyes on this one!
thanks lukas & skab & mike for being the first of hopefully many combers.
mike, fine question - very valid point. no, i’m not saying real Christians never sin. John says it so well in 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that you do not sin. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
the fact that Christians do sometimes sin doesn’t mean that sin is inevitable, or that sin lives in us, or that we should accept habitual sin as normal Christian life. if anybody does sin, they should confess that sin immediately and expect in faith never to give in to it again.
i know it’s a complex question. does that help at least start to answer it?
Yes, thanks a lot.
I just feel stuck, and want out. I want to learn to rely on God fully instead of myself.
No one who comes to Jesus ever stays stuck - this is exactly what you want to be asking. From now on you go free in this area. You give God control and he will act on your behalf >>
Romans 6 is a goldmine for this stuff. Most people are all too familiar with what it’s like for sin and bad habits to run rampant in their lives. What Romans 6 holds out is the well-kept secret of constantly and consciously yielding to the control of the Holy Spirit - and with the same abandon that you’ve formerly experienced only in terms of letting sin rage out of control.
There are prayers that come out of a place of pure desperation and hunger that God will absolutely invade with his presence. I’m constantly praying things like “Holy Spirit pray through me,” or “Holy Spirit love through me,” or “Jesus i yield right now to your peace that goes beyond all my understanding” or “Lord i give myself over to your divine joy right now.” When i feel like somebody just smacked me over the head and spun me around 10 times blindfolded, i’ll pray something like “Father just show me how to please you in this situation, just show me how to pass this test and make you proud.”
God’s given us so much of this directly out of Romans 6, so by all means soak it up and take him up on everything he’s offering.