Believers are either always forgiven for all sins, or not forgiven for any sins; Of course, the latter is never the case, and the prior is a truth of which there is no greater encouragement! A great truism is that God keeps believers in constant and continuous forgiveness (1Jn 1:9), and it’s the future sins which with one may have the most difficulty when applying this fact!
The Father knows believers always want to “please” Him, because He continually “works” this in them (Phl 2:13). Apart from sins that are related to any type of addiction, of which He allows some time to repent, the sins of saints are no longer “presumptuous” or “willful” (Num 15:30; Heb 10:26). What believer would intentionally desire to sin against God, assuming one has all needed mental faculties?
No, the Christian’s desire for God’s “pleasures” are always present—even when it’s momentarily interrupted by the “old man”; and this is where the temptations are the greatest, when the old man is involved. The old man is an equal or more of a repetitious temptation than Satan himself; for as the Spirit uses the “new man” or new nature, to guide and enable the believer, so does the Enemy use the sinful nature—the old man, to tempt believers! Thus, I say the enemies of the saint is self, Satan and society, and in this order of significance. For self (old man) is the closest to the believer, and is therefore the most in opposition.
It’s my belief that possessing the old man and enduring its temptations continues to keep believers exercising their faith in Christ’s expiation for their sins, which strengthens faith and always needs strengthening, due to the enemies continuous temptations; and knowing that faith and salvation are permanent is of course the most important doctrine for spiritual growth and serves as the basis for all doctrines of truth! Continuing to learn the sin nature (old man) teaches to know, understand, apply and share God’s Word with one another in order to “exhort” (Heb 10:25) the saints. “Exhortation” is an attribute much needed and much missing in many if not most believers.
Be blessed, be encouraged and be patiently enduring, glorifying God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through Their precious, highly blessed and loved Holy Spirit (Who is the Creator of our new birth, Comforter, Author and Teacher of the Word of God)!
Much Love in Christ
NC
The Father knows believers always want to “please” Him, because He continually “works” this in them (Phl 2:13). Apart from sins that are related to any type of addiction, of which He allows some time to repent, the sins of saints are no longer “presumptuous” or “willful” (Num 15:30; Heb 10:26). What believer would intentionally desire to sin against God, assuming one has all needed mental faculties?
No, the Christian’s desire for God’s “pleasures” are always present—even when it’s momentarily interrupted by the “old man”; and this is where the temptations are the greatest, when the old man is involved. The old man is an equal or more of a repetitious temptation than Satan himself; for as the Spirit uses the “new man” or new nature, to guide and enable the believer, so does the Enemy use the sinful nature—the old man, to tempt believers! Thus, I say the enemies of the saint is self, Satan and society, and in this order of significance. For self (old man) is the closest to the believer, and is therefore the most in opposition.
It’s my belief that possessing the old man and enduring its temptations continues to keep believers exercising their faith in Christ’s expiation for their sins, which strengthens faith and always needs strengthening, due to the enemies continuous temptations; and knowing that faith and salvation are permanent is of course the most important doctrine for spiritual growth and serves as the basis for all doctrines of truth! Continuing to learn the sin nature (old man) teaches to know, understand, apply and share God’s Word with one another in order to “exhort” (Heb 10:25) the saints. “Exhortation” is an attribute much needed and much missing in many if not most believers.
Be blessed, be encouraged and be patiently enduring, glorifying God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through Their precious, highly blessed and loved Holy Spirit (Who is the Creator of our new birth, Comforter, Author and Teacher of the Word of God)!
Much Love in Christ
NC