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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Mar 30, 2004 15:34:35 GMT -8
Can a believer in Messiah overcome sin in his/her life after he/she has been indwelt by The Ruach HaKodesh? I already have a definite view on this subject, but I just wanted to open it up for discussion. I have spoken with many individuals that claim to be believers, but think it is impossible to master over sin in their lives. I believe this type of mindset widely found in Christianity has served as a cloak of laciviousness for many.
Shalom,
Reuel
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Yochanah
Junior Member
Yochanah...Yah Enables
Posts: 99
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Post by Yochanah on Apr 13, 2004 20:10:38 GMT -8
I want to include the following quote because I don't think it could be written any better:
John and Judas are representatives of those who profess to be Christ's followers. Both these disciples had the same opportunities to study and follow the divine Pattern. Both were closely associated with Yeshua and were privileged to listen to His teaching. Each possessed serious defects of character; and each had access to the divine grace that transforms character. But while one in humility was learning of Yeshua, the other revealed that he was not a doer of the word, but a hearer only. One, daily dying to self and overcoming sin, was sanctified through the truth; the other, resisting the transforming power of grace and indulging selfish desires, was brought into bondage to Satan.
Such transformation of character as is seen in the life of John is ever the result of communion with Christ. There may be marked defects in the character of an individual, yet when he becomes a true disciple of Christ, the power of divine grace transforms and sanctifies him. Beholding as in a glass the glory of YHVH, he is changed from glory to glory, until he is like Him whom he adores.
John was a teacher of holiness, and in his letters to the church he laid down unerring rules for the conduct of Christians. "Every man that hath this hope in him," he wrote, "purifieth himself, even as He is pure." "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 3:3; 2:6. He taught that the Christian must be pure in heart and life. Never should he be satisfied with an empty profession. As Elohim is holy in His sphere, so fallen man, through faith in Christ, is to be holy in his sphere. {AA 559.2}
"This is the will of Elohim," the apostle Paul wrote, "even your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The sanctification of the church is Elohim's object in all His dealings with His people. He has chosen them from eternity, that they might be holy. He gave His Son to die for them, that they might be sanctified through obedience to the truth, divested of all the littleness of self. From them He requires a personal work, a personal surrender. Elohim can be honored by those who profess to believe in Him, only as they are conformed to His image and controlled by His Spirit. Then, as witnesses for the Saviour, they may make known what divine grace has done for them.
True sanctification comes through the working out of the principle of love. "Elohim is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in Elohim, and Elohim in him." 1 John 4:16. The life of him in whose heart Christ abides, will reveal practical godliness. The character will be purified, elevated, ennobled, and glorified. Pure doctrine will blend with works of righteousness; heavenly precepts will mingle with holy practices.
Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the meaning of self-sacrifice. The cross of Christ is the central pillar on which hangs the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." "If any man will come after Me," Christ says, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." 2 Corinthians 4:17; Matthew 16:24. It is the fragrance of our love for our fellow men that reveals our love for Elohim. It is patience in service that brings rest to the soul. It is through humble, diligent, faithful toil that the welfare of Israel is promoted. Elohim upholds and strengthens the one who is willing to follow in Christ's way.
Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. [Acts of the Apostles pg 558-560]
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Apr 14, 2004 11:00:05 GMT -8
Yochanah,
Thank you for sharing that. Everyone needs to read this, and meditate upon it.
B'Shem Yeshua,
Reuel
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Post by Frank T. Clark on Jun 23, 2004 8:59:07 GMT -8
The scriptures given above say it but I feel it must be clearly and simply stated again. We can and must be fulfilling our salvation in this life by working for full sanctification.
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Post by LovingNeighbor on Jun 26, 2004 13:00:00 GMT -8
Shalom all,
Well this is a good topic, but I have one problem with the application I hear many times, is that The Holy spirit does it not us. THe problem I have with this is it goes agains the nature of mankind and of what our Creator has done since the beginning. Many people in a ultra humility statement say well i can do no good, any good I do is the spirit working through me. Well the spirit is not the one being tested and judged, as a matter of fact the very first thing YHWH did after telling Adam and eve not to eat of the tree was to test them. On both extremes we have a I'm not responsible mentality. One is The Holy Spirit did it. Two is the Devil made me do it.
The reality is they are servants of YHWH and he allows them to both help and test us to see what WE will chose. He is training us and our test is in direct relation to the choices we make. Like he said chose life or death.
I'm not saying the Holy spirit doesn't help us, but it is a bad theology to say we can do no good. If that was true we would be destroyed. From the beginning he has taught us and helped us and tested us which point to the fact he wants us to learn. So we may have wisdom. and wisdom leads to eternal life in making the right choices.
Shalom
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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Jun 27, 2004 12:14:03 GMT -8
Shalom LovingNeighbor  You have some good points in regards to making a choice. But, this choice after we are filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, if it is truly righteous, holy, and good is usually empowered by Ruach HaElohim (The Spirit of G'd). I would say that this is true, and that I do believe the scriptures back this up. Perhaps it just our understanding of how this happens that is the issue. You are right we must make a decision to accept the leading of HaRuach, but He does indeed cause us to walk in YHVH's statutes (unless the scripture says in vain)... "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." - Ezekiel 36:25-26 So we must ask the question...Did we put the Spirit in us? Did we give ourselves the new heart? Did we write YHVH's  on our heart? And, finally did we indeed cause ourselves to keep His statutes, and judgments. Or, is it truly as the above description of the Brit Hadashah (new covenant) describes it? Let's take a look at a few other witnesses. We see in the following passage the Sha'ul is describing the state of a carnal man... "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." - Romans 7:18 So, if this is the state of a carnal man, than what happens in the transition of the spiritual man? Before there was nothing good, but now for us there is a change in which we do indeed have something good in us...and that is Mashiach, and His Spirit. For we can truly do nothing without Him (unless the following was said in vain)... "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." - John 15:4-5 For truly it is no longer us that doeth it, but Messiah in us... I am crucified with Messiah: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Messiah liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of G'd, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galations 2:20 We must submit to His Spirit in us because we can quench it (1Thesalonians 5:19). So, in this case we make a choice. But, we do not have the power in, and of ourselves to accomplish that which is holy, just, and good... "YHVH looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek G'd. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. - Psalm 14:2-3 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."- Isaiah 64:6 But...I would not say that Messiah's works in us, and through us are as dirty rags. This is why we -must- be filled with His Spirit, and have His written on our hearts...for there is no other way. Shalom, v'ahava b'HaShem Yeshua HaMashiach, (Peace, and love, in the name of Yeshua The messiah) Reuel |
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Post by alon on Apr 5, 2013 22:50:42 GMT -8
So, long story short: we have free choice. If we choose to follow Yeshua, to become more like Him, the Father has promised His Ruach will help us. It's a partnership that cannot fail unless we step away from His grace. Phillipians 2:12, when it said "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" didn't mean salvation by works, but to work through the process of sanctification with God's help. James 2:20 says "faith without works is dead" and in the Parable of the Sower Yeshua explains the ways ha shatan comes and steals the Word, which is life, from those who receive it without a willing heart. But ya'lls long posts was good too. Dan C |
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Post by Micha'el on Apr 8, 2013 16:59:24 GMT -8
Shalom All,
His Word tells us in Lev 11:45 "For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, (Egypt) to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Adonai does expect us to be holy and set apart. How else are we going to look different from the rest? We need to encourage one another towards the goal of sanctification, not further acceptance of sin.
Micha'el
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on our heart? And, finally did we indeed cause ourselves to keep His statutes, and judgments. Or, is it truly as the above description of the Brit Hadashah (new covenant) describes it? Let's take a look at a few other witnesses. We see in the following passage the Sha'ul is describing the state of a carnal man...
