glorydaz
Well-known member
I related the following account on here, long ago.
I had just led someone to the Lord through the gospel of our salvation.
I then checked to make sure he had that right, just in case he might later encounter some legalist worker bee.
After I informed him that was what I was about to do, I then asked him 'so now what happens when you sin?'
He responded with "well, Christ died for our sins, so that means I'm forgiven."
But then, just as quickly, a devious smile came over his face (kind of like that devious look of Puddy Tat's, when he looks over at a seemingly helpless Tweety Bird, and licks his chops in anticipation of what he misjudged will be an easy meal).
At which point the guy deviously said to me, "wait a minute, that means I can do whatever I want..."
I thought to myself 'okay, he gets it: he gets eternal security; he gets that grace is unmerited...now it is clearly time for some Romans 6...'
You were wrong. He didn't get it at all. Full stop.
SpoilerRomans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
And we went into that...
For the Scripture does not assume that the love of Christ is going to constrain anyone to either trust in Him for their salvation, nor to express gratitude towards Him for said free gift in their walk and or service.
It just does not. As it should be.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The Corinthians are one of the best examples in all of Scripture that a grace that is unable ri risk its being repeatedly abused, is not the umerited grace of God in His Son.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
The fact is that many a Believer is an ungrateful Believer.
Due to their prior upbringing.
To how strong that might be in each of them whether for good or bad.
And due to the fact that until the Believer gets in and stays in His Word, allowing it to renew his or her mind to the mind of Christ, each Believer remains conformed unto this world's fallen value system of good and bad, and to one extent or another, and that is worse in some than it is in others.
In contrast to the automatically ungrateful Corinthians were the following...
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
The guy I mentioned above, had been the leader of a street gang.
All he had known was to assert his will on others under the threat of a very real violence his having risen to that leadership by force had long since been his life.
All he had known was to take from others.
He still struggles with that to this day.
He still struggles with...
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
These issues are different in degree for each Believer.
Thank God then for Rom. 5: 6-8 - in each our stead.
You can't sweet talk people into believing. The guy was not ready to hear, and you simply talked yourself into thinking you'd convinced him of anything.