Do the acts of the flesh reveal false Christians?

score:0

Accepted answer

Before salvation a person fulfil the deeds of the flesh deliberately and glory in them but after salvation the same person should only do them involuntarily and if deliberate he is to ask for forgiveness, forsake them and move on

But any christian saying we cannot be perfect is trying to justify himself instead of focusing on God's grace to overcome those weaknesses.

It is true we are imperfect human but what God has given to us is enough to overcome our imperfection. Jesus was made example for us as the bible said he was tempted as we are but did not sin. We shall be tempted too but we should not yield. Jesus almost did in Gesthemane but called himself to order and God strenghtened him

Paul describe one of the effects of being saved as being made alive from dead conscience.

Ephesians 2:1-2 - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience

Before salvation you could do all those deeds of the flesh and brag about them, enjoy the company of bad friends and so on. But after salvation, you become a new person [in heart] and you won't feel comfortable about those things any more.

Unlike before you feel remorseful everytime you do those things. This is because the Spirit of God is now active in you. That's what God is looking at, a broken spirit, a contrite heart, a sober mind. You will still do them but the frequency would reduce day by day.

If after being remorseful you keep doing them over and over, you will go back to your previous state - dead conscience

Romans 8:13 - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die...

But if you yield to God's Spirit then you will drop those things.

Romans 8:13 but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death - NLT) the deeds of the body (Sinful Nature - NLT), ye shall live.

It is very important that we surrender our hearts to the Holy Spirit because it is only through this we can do it. ... Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9)

If you look at the fruit of the Spirit, it is complete opposite of the deeds of flesh. Holy Spirit is very important.

If you LOVE you can't HATE

If you like PEACE there will be no DISCORD-ENVY-JEALOUSY

and one leads to another

And finally,

Luke 7:21 - Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter

A christian who justify his sinful habits is not a true christian or may be slipping away

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ

Everything we need to succede as a christian has been provided in christ according to that verse and we have them at our fingertips [The Word, The Spirit, Constant Fellowship with God and much more]

Upvote:0

...you will fully know them by their fruits.
Matt 7:20

Nobody is perfect (except you know Who).. If we could be, then we wouldn't need Christ. We will do sinful works of the flesh until the day we die. However, the more we grow in God, the more good fruit we will bear. But it is not for us to judge the salvation of others. I have much more self-control than I used to, praise the Lord, but I still lash out at times. That doesn't mean I'm not saved. Only God can judge.

Now if someone is obviously bearing no good fruit and shows no change of heart or real repentance of their sin, it is right to be cautious of their salvation, and it would be a good thing to try and talk to them about their walk with God and reprove them in love.

Upvote:1

While there are some traditions that teach that after being saved, Christians no longer sin (Wesleyan, and some strains of fundamentalist tradition, for example), most Protestant theologies, and also the Roman Catholics, teach that believers necessarily continue to sin. AFAIK, Eastern Orthodox also recognize sin in saved believers. See Mt 5:21-30.

See the Westminster Larger Catechism #79: "May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?" (emphasis mine).

The three basic phases of the Christian life, in chronological order, are: Justification; sanctification; and glorification. Your question addresses sanctification.

  • Justification is an event that takes place when Christ's atonement is applied to a person that has either "received faith" or "chosen to believe," depending on the whose theology one consults. The person is then counted as righteous in God's sight, because their sins have been transferred to Christ, and Christ's righteousness has been transferred to them. (This is called "double imputation").
  • Sanctification is an ongoing process, which takes place throughout a Christians post-conversion life, of "putting to death" the works of the flesh, and "living by the spirit." That is, over time, a Christian's life should have less rebellion against God (sin) and more obedience to God (righteousness).
  • Glorification is an event, and takes place when a believer gets to heaven.

See also Romans 7.

You might also find this C.SE response helpful.

It is also entirely possible that an individual who considers himself saved is not, in fact, regenerate, and some traditions deny the possibility of assurance of salvation altogether. Jesus addressed the issue of false assurance specifically at Mt 7:21-23.

Upvote:2

Simple answer -

You are reading too much into it.

Romans 7:19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.

Paul couldn't possibly have meant that Christians could never commit acts of flesh when he himself admits doing the same.

The principle of interpretation you are using is called letterism, and I wouldn't put my money into it.

Upvote:2

Paul said,

Romans 8:2 (AMP)
2  For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

Galatians 2:20 (AMP)
20  I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)
17  Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Romans 8:6b (AMP)
6  [...] But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Romans 8:13-14 (AMP)
13  For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. 14  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Notice all these things are past tense ... reality - you ARE a new creation. He lives in you & brings all His qualities, strengths, truths, love, faith, etc with Him - it is not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord. (Zec 4:6)

As soon as you sin (separation from God) your spirit will detect this - repent (change how you are thinking), acknowledge the sin & turn your mind to Jesus -

Hebrews 7:25 (AMP)
25  Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

Ephesians 6:18 (AMP)
18  Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

Philippians 4:8 (AMP)
8  For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

As all things on earth are "impure" turn your attention to Father, our Lord Jesus & heavenly & divine things.

James 3:2 (AMP)
2  For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.

1 John 1:9 (AMP)
9  If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

More post

Search Posts

Related post