John UK wrote:
...One thing I know, and if I have any goodness or some holy thought, I will not attribute it to myself, but to God's grace. I can only say, I am what I am by the grace of God.

Truly all that is vile in me is my own doing and fault, and all that is Christlike is of Christ. How else can all of the glory go to Him and none to me? And, thanks alone to His grace, this is indeed how I would have it. Praise God!

Let us continue to sincerely pray for transformed desires and motives that will bring honor to our King. It is a prayer that will be heard and answered.

America wrote:
TB,
Agreed with your posts. This has been our experience also in most congregations from pulpit to pew.Start talking about holiness and sanctification and you are usually told you are legalistic or trying to earn heaven.
Was a blessing to read your posts.

John UK wrote:
TB, there are some, including those of the RCC, who believe we are "being saved", by which they mean that salvation is not fixed at conversion, and that salvation is a process which requires certain things from us...

With regard to imputed or declared righteousness (justification) and being translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of the Son we are saved once and for all time. In the sense of the sanctification that must necessarily follow true justification there is a cooperative process between the Spirit of God and ourselves. It is in this sense that I use the term "being saved" -- I'm not using it in the sense of adding to the cross of Christ to remain adopted into His family.

But these are basics.

John UK wrote:
I don't hearken to pastors like that, and neither should you. Find a better church, or form your own. Preach repentance and holiness, faith and faithfulness, and get your people out on the streets obeying the great commission. Be not afraid of being cast into prison, or crucified for your stand. Be all out for Jesus, and do not listen to the gainsayers who do not have a heart for the gospel nor for people in great need. Do plenty of good in this world, give away any excess cash, and cast your bread upon the waters, as you will see it after many days.
Be a winsome revivalist, and win battles against the devil, saving the church from shooting itself.

John UK wrote:
Ha! There is a world of difference in believing in being spotless, and actually being spotless. Which one are you talking about?

John UK wrote:
As for admonishing posters on here, and preaching at them, I suggest you go out and win some converts for yourself, and preach to them.

John UK wrote:
Now in case you didn't ever hear the gospel...

John UK wrote:
You really believe that pastors are not teaching against sin among God's elect? Or are you relating to liberal and modernist "churches"?

John UK wrote:
2. Wow that's one big strawman! You think all of God's elect and blood-bought people - his church - "believes in being spotted with sin"?

Speaking of strawmen:

John UK wrote:
...when you appear before God, I can assure you that you will never mention any of your supposed holiness - the blinding light of God's glory will silence any thought of claiming anything but the mercy of God.

Rufus wrote:
Further, I do not point you to my works to demonstrate that I am saved...

...except this quote:

Unprofitable Servant wrote:
...To quote a famous preacher, it is not the perfection of our life but the direction that matters.

Certainly our perfection DOES matter to God, as His ultimate goal is that we become ultimately perfect in holiness. I hope you agree that this is not the same as saying that here and now you and I walk continuously in perfect holiness to somehow earn our justification. Nevertheless, precisely because it matters so much it should be our goal -- for blood-washed saints it is our destiny.

Look at the Holy Spirit's standard for our walk: "Let fornication be not even MENTIONED among you." Compare that to 80% porn use in the church and you'll understand what I'm trying to communicate!

John UK wrote:
1. ...You speak about the big difference between a Christian and a pseudo-Christian. Yes, I agree with that wholeheartedly.
2. It is marvellous to meet someone who believes in remaining SPOTLESS until the coming of the Lord. Wonderful, no less...
3. ...I only have the perfect and imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ in order to be acceptable to God. Maybe I should look for some more thing?

1. That's what I'm talking about, indeed.
2. I do believe in remaining spotless -- it saddens me that the church today believes in being spotted with sin.
3. Look no further than the righteousness and grace of Christ for your perfect justification and necessary sanctification.

Rufus wrote:
...Every moment of every day we choose to walk right or wrong, because we sometimes choose wrong does not mean we are disowned by our father.

Rufus wrote:
...Holiness matters, not for eternal salvation...

John UK wrote:
Methinks you are ignoring the scriptures which Rufus has furnished you with, which show that the justified believer does not lead a sinless life.

John UK wrote:
Methinks also that the Spirit has not yet opened your eyes to the depths of sin in your own life...

It is not my objective to beat you in a contest of Bible knowledge. My intent is to magnify the necessity of Christ-like purity in a church that grows increasingly wicked. A church that the Son of God died for to present her to Himself SPOTLESS. There is already too much allowance for wickedness; can we not lift up the standard of "holiness, without which no one will see the Lord"?

In my view our issue is that you are equating practical sanctification with self-righteousness. Your conclusion seems to be that since self-righteousness cannot justify us (which I agree with wholeheartedly), therefore sanctification (i.e., the fruits of the Spirit) is optional (which I and the Bible disagree with vehemently.)

Again, the Bible is clear: "Faith without works is dead." A so-called faith that bears no fruit is worthless and cannot save.

Jesus is clear: Branches that bear no fruit are cut off and thrown into the fire.

If I may suggest: Study 1st John chapter 3 and pray over the words "he that practices sin is of the devil." Biblically there is a marked difference between a righteous man committing a sin (1st John 1:9) and one who is of the devil and practices sin. Make sure you know which one you are!

Rufus wrote:
...Sons of God can walk in the flesh or walk after the spirit...

Bible: If ye live after the flesh ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Also, the rule of the false prophet applies equally to the false professor. I notice too that you ignore Jesus' condemnation of those who practice iniquity who most certainly are just false professors.

Really? I think that many want to think this because they suppose they are justified IN their sin.

Try this instead, as Jesus said: "by their fruits ye shall know them... depart from me ye that work iniquity."

There's more to being saved from our sins than a "get out of hell free" card. JESUS HAS THE POWER TO SET US FREE!!! Those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God!

Oh?

The fool has said in his heart that there is no God.

Who cares?

The devil's a LIAR. Jesus is the TRUTH.

The Word says "who can speak of His descendants?" There are a number of papyri dating to the first century that are clear that Jesus was not married.

The devil was a liar in the 4th century just like he's a liar today. All he can do is lie about Jesus cause he's already been beat real bad. A lie in the 4th century is no more authoritative than the Davinci Code lie of the 21st century...

Read the whole article. Very inspiring.