In essence I am the same person I was 12 years ago. On the outside I look the same it is inside that has been transformed, even that though is essentially the same. My need for Jesus is still as much real today as it has ever been. There will never be a point that this is not true. There is no collection of obedience or love that I can produce to overcome even one sin. I could live sinless (I do not believe in this) for the next 25 years and slip up and sin and my 25 years of obedience could not cover that one sin. It is my confidence (faith) in Jesus that will purchase my forgiveness. It will always be His blood that atones for my sin. Anyone that is out there trying to say that your obedience is what gets you life with God is flat out wrong. It will always be about Jesus.
Sin wrecks all peace. Honestly I love this. I love that if I do something out of selfishness, pride, lust, envy, or anger I do not have the peace that I had prior to it. This makes it so obvious that the rest of the life that I am living is true. I love that I cannot go on as if nothing happened and try to converse with the creator. I love how giant He is and how small I am and when that it is its proper place. What I like even more is when I draw near and seek the forgiveness of God with Jesus at my side and not only does forgiveness take place but peace once again floods my soul. This always brings such amazing clarity of who I am, who my Father is, and who Jesus is.
Self proclaimed prophets that attack Christianity and think that their obedience is what sets them apart from “other” Christians and do not love those other Christians or care enough about those other Christians to actually go and teach them but sit back and criticize, are Pharisees. They will be judged by God. I do not subscribe to mainstream Christianity by any means. But I see is that is what the Bible says there will be. Little Children, Young Men, and Fathers. Unfortunately it is also true that there are not many Fathers. Those that really know God, Him who is from the beginning. If self proclaimed prophets actually knew God they would be going to these “children” and teach them and bring them along. All they do is criticize and use Bible verses in all the wrong ways. Let those who are wise shut their mouths, unless they are bringing others along instead of pointing out that people are doing it wrong. There is no method laid out in the Scriptures. These “remnant” types are trying to have another method, another law. It is about Jesus and loving Jesus and teaching others what this means. Those who are strong should go to the weak. The weak want help. The strong think that they are strong but they have no idea how weak they really are. Their obedience is their righteousness, I think that error is obvious. They think that they hear God but all that comes out of their mouth is condemnation for those trying to follow. Nobody recorded in the new testament speaks in that manner. Father, I beg you to always keep me filled with compassion and love. I would rather remain a child then not be able to offer practical truth.
What I mean by "overcoming one sin" is that no amount of obedience can erase that sin or set it right with God. My life is littered with sin that the Spirit in me has overcome and ruled out of my life. The Spirit gives me victory on a regular basis. There are times though that I just flat out seek my own. It is my decision to. I do not understand it but the only thing that I can do is turn to God and seek forgiveness through Jesus. Always this will be the only way.
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