Originally posted by EdSutton:
Okay, S&N, this is the post you have been a-waiting with bated breath. And probably baited breath, as well. Let's start from the top.
You wrote:
"In no way am I claiming to be perfect. As Paul Said in Romans 7:15-19, Christians will digress to their previous nature of sin. "
In fact, you are the one who said, in response to JackRUS' question of-
"What is the percentage of lordship over ourselves that we must give up in order to be saved, and where is the number found in Scripture? (If it's 100%, then the doctrine falls flat on it's face since we all sin.)"-
the following:
"Bad news. The Biblical answer is 100%. Basically, what you'rer (sic) saying is you want to be saved but you want to go on living as you did before. I'm afraid God won't accept your deal with Him. It's not the gospel."
My response to your '100%' claim was my post. I could say that here you answered two 'points' that JRUS didn't say, for he made no such claim.
Neverthless, how are you reconciling "the Biblical answer is 100%" with your closing statement here of -
"It is clear from the scripture I've posted and a lot of other scriptural references that the master of a Christian's life is Christ and they continually strive to follow His commandments."?
Going from "100%" to being "Lord of our lives" to "True Christians will live lives that are pleasing to Him." to "... are expected to endure until the end." to "...continually strive to follow His commandments", in my mind, covers an awful lot of ground, as we farmers say. (And all the above are your quotes, BTW.) At what point is this 'break'? One sin? Two? Three? Twenty-seven? One hundred twelve? One thousand, eight hundred fifty nine? Forty-one thousand, three hundred twelve? You tell me!; you made the claim of "100%". I'm pretty sure one sin 'not repented of', (which words 'repent of, or from sin' are not found in the Bible, BTW) is something else than 100%.
The answer is 100% because MA 6:24 says we can serve only one master. We can serve God 100% or we can serve the world 100%. There is no answer in between as you insinuate (One sin? Two? Three? Twenty-seven? One hundred twelve? One thousand, eight hundred fifty nine? Forty-one thousand, three hundred twelve?) I’m not talking about counting sins. I’m talking about who you serve as master. If you refuse to serve Him as Lord, you are serving the world 100%.
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Quoted for the third time.)
I don't know how you, or anyone else for that matter, are intending to appear "on that day". I only know for myself. And I'm going to be there as the 'biggest chicken' you've ever seen, even though I'm going to be perfectly righteous. Without question! And I'm not going to be basing it on some attempt of "making Christ Lord". AS i (sic) once heard one person say, "You're too late for that. It can't be done! God has already beat you to it! The Bible doesn't talk like that! It never says 'Make Him Lord!' It says He is!!"
I'm going to be hiding behind my 'Big Brother', the Lord Jesus Christ. I'll not be easy to find! When I am found, I will "... be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Phlp. 3:9) And that is going to be the same righteousess(sic) imputed to Abraham, when he 'wised up', and believed God, 'stead of trying to do it on his own, as I have mentioned in a previous post, and I'm gonna be one of those David spoke of who, apart from works, has this righteousness placed to my account by faith, in the manner of which Paul speaks in Romans 3.
What are you going to answer when He says:
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
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I didn't believe that following you was required? That's "Lordship Salvation?"
I'm not going to try and stand on how 'good a job' I did of ''yielding' to Him as Lord and Master'. I don't like those chances of being how sure I got my ducks all lined up, 'cause I got it figgered (sic) out. That would put me right there with Cain, Judas, and those of Matt. 7:21-23 who all "did many wonderful things for God." I don't like that religious crowd.
Since I accept Christ as my Lord, There isn't any chance I'd side with them either.
I'd rather be with a group I can better relate to, like Noah, Jacob, Rahab, Job, David, Solomon, Peter, Samson, Paul and 'my hero' - Lot. Way I got it figured, that's a drunk, a thief, an harlot, the biggest egoist in history, an adulterous murderer, the greatest 'womanizer' in history, a 'Christ denier', a whoremonger, the chief of sinners, and the Mayor of Sodom. That's some of the ones who were righteous by faith. That's where I 'takes my chances'.
If that is "easy-believism", whatever that means, then I guess I qualify as one of those. However I detest the straw man of "cheap grace".
How dare ANYONE to speak of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that was purchased with His own precious blood as 'cheap!!
That is about as close to being blasphemy, as one can come, IMO, and certainly falls under the condemnation of Hebrews 10:29-30 .
In His grace,
Ed
Easy-believerism is the prevailing "gospel" of today. It teaches that Christianity doesn't require discipleship, risk or suffering. In fact, in many places in America (a "Christian" nation) it's easier and more beneficial to your business career to be a Christian than not. It was nothing like that for the early Christians and it's nothing like that today in places where Christians are persecuted. I spoke to an Indian man who visited our church who said he was in constant fear for his life in India because he had become a Christian (from Hindu).
I don't see anywhere I have used the term "cheap grace." Can you please point that out to me? The "cheap" part refers to the unwillingness of people to give Christ lordship of their lives.
You don't believe in making Jesus lord of your life but you call him
the Lord Jesus Christ ? Do you believe in serving the Lord or not?