The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

When I attend Bible studies with people I see something that drives me crazy. People.

No just joking. But a verse that says IF x,y,z then A. So since "A" is a good thing they just assume it's theirs, so therefore they must have done the x,y,z part as well. And in some circumstances you can tell by the life the "A" was never received, and you can clearly see the x,y,z part was never fulfilled. In the rush to claim all the glory and benefits of a life with God, they/we ignore the fact that there are things that are in an order sometimes, and in our eagerness to be saved, we end up claiming that which we do not have.

This premise being in error, will adversely affect how we intrepret other verses because of our errant assumption we are something we aren't. Is that ambiguous enough to have no meaning?

An example would be Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (NASB)

Most people will say I AM NOT IN THE FLESH BUT AM INDWELLED BY THE SPIRIT! See this verse says so! What about that big IF in there. I got excommunicated from a study group a couple of years back by pointing this out. It upset someone who couldn't get past the ramifications of what it would mean.

Consider the verse says that you no longer have that sinful nature Paul just described in romans 7 IF the spirit of God indwelled you. I confessed to the group, with the Bible as my standard I had to accept what my SBC upbringing taught me was a wrong. I knew dang good and well I still have a sinful nature conflicting inside of me. Therefore I had to contend, I could not yet have the Spirit of God indwelling me. It was as simple as that. On the outside working ON ME I had ample assurance, but that conquering event had yet to occur.

This is a case of assuming things favorably for ourselves by ignoring the contingencies in scripture, then being deathly afraid to let go of it for the truth.

Have you ever run across this, and how did you handle it? Better than I did I hope.

Those "ifs" are certainly very important. But that is because context is always important. Here's an example: "or if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Rom 8:13 NAS) In other words, it is not a matter of right now we are so under the Spirit's control that there is no longer ever any sin that happens in our lives, but that sin no longer has the mastery over us and we are " by the Spirit [we] putting to death the deeds of the body." I'm afraid you may have informed your Bible study group that your were given the left foot of fellowship from the wrong thing. Perhaps you should have received their disciple (perhaps not...as I don't know the circumstances of it all) and stayed as a member of those who recognize that we are part of a body that is being built up together as the body of Christ. IF we will indeed work together serving one another, loving one another, suffering together, rejoicing together as one...we shall truly be living as the Body of Christ and as individual members of that body (1 Cor. 12:1-27).

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XC - i have a hard time understanding what you post -- perhaps it's because i read these before bed -- perhaps it's because you have a lil' too much emotion in your words -- dunno

here's an ex. -- it appears to me you're saying a christian cannot sin nor even be tempted by sin -- i don't read that in the Bible so you cannot mean it so I must be tired -- anyway, please elaborate

as to your post, perhaps they were the problem...perhaps you...perhaps both -- we all need to chill out & be humble & seek understanding -- we need NOT agree on every theological pt to have fellowship -- so not sure what caused the split but am certain all suffered by it

patience is needed as well in these studies & in life & something i need more of too...