How much of a "sinner" are we really?

I would argue that Satan, much like God, is a non-temporal being and as such receives, processes, and responds to information in a much different way than we humans or even the other angels do. The difference is that our God has spent a great deal of time and effort...up to and including the Incarnation...to understand us and our perspective. Satan has not. Based upon what the Voice of Revelation (12:12) stated, that Satan knows he has but a little time, I'm sure that he sees the walls closing in around him. But I've come to appreciate Satan's personality, and I think that he fancies himself an escape artist. I think that he believes that he can still slip away, even at this late date. I think he's wrong. But I think that he himself doesn't realize that, and when the door really does slam shut...he'll be (unpleasantly!) surprised.

 

Written in the Present tense. Paul speaking of himself as a saved sinner. When Paul writes of himself as the 'chief of sinners' in 1 Timothy 1:15, he again uses the Present tense.

 

provoke such what?

 

He is speaking of how he views himself. He is quite plain in his other writings such as Rom 1:17, 3:22 etc. that he knows that Christ blood made him righteous. One can not positionally be both righteous and a sinner. When Paul speaks of being a sinner, he is speaking of his actions, not his position in Christ or the state of his soul.

 

They are skrewed

 

That’s what your stomach feels like a few hours after the chicken wings.

 

I disagree. Paul was not the most wicked after conversion. But certainly was before. If you, as he says, walk in the Spirit you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. And I'm certain Paul practiced what he preached. Certainly you have experienced this?

 

Thanks for sharing. I see indifference as hatred. Love takes action, hatred abandons the idea.

 

Dave, that’s the way the Catholics feel. To them, action is the key.

I reject your idea that indifference as haters. Rather it’s focus on things that are important to our own agenda.

 

If we do what love would do, all will find its proper balance.

 

You are an idealist, I am not.

 

That's OK. But faith without works is dead. And Faith works by love.

 

There is no reason to consern yourself with the world unless you can profit by it

 

How does this match the sentiments you associate yourself with in your signature?

 

HEY! Don't even make me think about it.

 

It doesn’t. Now does anyone care about those sentiments? No. For all intense and purposes, those sentiments have been ignored by this board. They are probably seen as the ramblings of a yankee Catholic liberal. They might be right.

In today’s trumpian world, those words are looked upon as petty sentimentality. In this “new world order” one must protect ones own interests, not consern ones self with others and their condition. So it’s really about refocusing, putting your own agenda in order, concentrating on your own plans and ignoring all else. Wasn’t it Sophocles who said that when a vast force or power enters into the affairs of men, open or secret, it brings with it a curse?

 

“I made a covenant with mine eyes; Why then should I think upon a maid? Job 31:1

 

By their fruits shall you know them...

Apples prove an apple tree.
Still, an apple tree is an apple tree before it bears fruit.