TCGreek said:
1. Where is the scriptural support?
Matthew 25:30? It's not important right now, but because you asked, I answered. Webdog believes they will not have a reigning position in the kingdom, but they will enter. I don't see this, but do you believe a Christian can lose the 'reign'?
2. My statement is the resistless conclusion of your statement about those who sin will miss the reign. Therefore, those who reign are those who do not sin. What prevents this conclusion in your argument?
3. What do you mean by a "relatively high degree of righteousness? Does it involve sinning along the way?
I believe that often Christians are beset by sins that they could easily overcome if they had the proper motivation to overcome it. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God is part of our shield of faith. By faith, Noah moved with fear. But we are going to need mercy and forgiveness from God when we fail. The bible tells us how to get mercy and forgiveness. God forgives those who confess their sins and forgive others. God shows mercy toward the merciful.
4. We're dealing with Heb 12:4-11. The text of Hebrews doesn't address what you're talking about. From Hebrews, I can't answer that.
Can you answer it from any other scripture?
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
What happens to this son who despised his parents chastening? Could this be a picture for us to learn from?
5. I never said my sins but someone's sin. It may have been my sin. At any rate, I don't believe a true believer has sins piling up. The atonement has taken care of all sins, past, present and future.
Thats kind of what we have been discussing all along. Why is it that the atonement doesn't prevent us from reaping punishment for sins in this life, if all sins have been taken care of?
6. Sins that we commit are part of the process of sanctification. Beyond that, I can venture anything for certain. It still remains a mystery to me. But your explanation would not work.
The process of sanctification for what? What if you get to the end of the process and you aren't sancified? That P in TULIP is supposed to answer the question, but I would venture to guess that if you've been a Christian for a few years, you probably know of some saints who didn't P.