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SpongeBlog -> RE: the refiner's fire (7/19/2008 12:04:16 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: drussell52
...Some assert by nature we are sinful and unclean, and wonder how does that work with being a new creation in the Savior? Can one make specific sins their enemy if you will, or, are we truly reliant on God's mercy for those sins to become something we no longer practice.
I think it is absolutely true that the power of the sin nature is broken in a man when he believes. The problem is the will of the man is not yet broken. Of all the sins I've struggled with I could sense that I was not in the power of that sin except to the extent that I wanted to entertain it. As a christian, sin never made me do anything I didn't want to do somewhere deep down inside. My will was the weak link that ultimately caused failure, not the overwhelming power of the sin nature that I used to be in bondage to.
quote:
ORIGINAL: drussell52
The addicts anonymous claim we are powerless over.... and only a power greater than ourself can restore to sanity.. The church at large doesn't grasp this or state this like they do.
I'm convinced only our leaders who are well aquainted with struggling with sin and experiening the grace of God through that struggle teach effectively on this subject. But so many leaders we raise up for ourselves today have not even been tested. And this lack of testing gives them the false impression that they are victorious over sin and can teach others how to be also. And that always comes across in a 'don't do that!' type of sermon (I'm talking about discipleship, not evangelism).
quote:
ORIGINAL: drussell52
There is no more condemnation to those who are in the Savior, but what about the existance of the sin nature? Most times, I want to be Spiritually sanctified but have moments when immediately gratified wins out. Please help if you would!
The secret for me has been being very honest with myself and seeing it's my own desire to rely on sin as a way to satisfy my needs that gets me in trouble. Not the circumstances around me. It seems the humility it takes to give up one's entitlement to sin (fits of rage, lust, greed, whatever...) to fix our situations and satisfy unmet needs in our lives opens the door to real confession and brokenness that ushers in the grace of God.
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