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Walking in the Spirit.

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by 1689Dave, Nov 28, 2021.

  1. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Paul says if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Galatians 5:16. How does this work out for you?

    Here's my approach to walking in the Spirit.

    “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5) (KJV 1900)
    We censor every impure thought or imagination. And change the channel in our thinking on any thought that does not conform to obedience to Christ. (Just temptation so far, no sin yet)

    And we replace it with:

    “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

    Knowing Jesus is God and God is love, Jesus is Lord of our lives when love rules our thoughts and actions.

    This is my approach. How do you walk in the Spirit?
     
  2. Reformed1689

    Reformed1689 Well-Known Member

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    Paul also said he fails too....
     
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  3. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Where? He complains about how wicked He is, just the same as I do. But He also says if we walk in the Spirit, we will not FULFILL the lusts of the flesh. Do you make excuses for sin? I don't.
     
  4. Reformed1689

    Reformed1689 Well-Known Member

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    Ever read Romans?
     
  5. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Paul was speaking about his experience as a carnal-minded Jew under the Law.
     
  6. Two Wings

    Two Wings Well-Known Member

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    Romans 7 ...

    ~"I do the very thing I hate and I don't do the very thing that I love." That wasn't "before I was this way, then I met Jesus and now I'm completely different." That's the struggle we continue to have in crucifying the flesh every hour of every day ...e.g. continually.

    That's being caught in the flesh vice walking in the Spirit. I reckon he'd know.

    My experiences with the Spirit haven't been as miraculous as Paul's ... I'm still unpublished in The Word. :p

    I think @1689Dave has a great OP.

    take a watch of this little series I did for my MasterLife group a few years ago. Production values are NOT high, and I discovered it to be a greater challenge than I anticipated simultaneously being the narrator, illustrator, camera operator, & sound engineer. If you can get past all those deficiencies of mine and receive The Word, I think it will bless you in your continued efforts to pursue Jesus with everything you have.
     
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  7. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    How do you reconcile Romans 7 with Paul telling us if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Do you sin when tempted? He says you can overcome temptation before it turns into sin. Making excuses?
     
  8. Two Wings

    Two Wings Well-Known Member

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    or acknowledging reality.

    Can you sin without first being tempted at some point?

    It's called sanctification. It happens over the course of one's breathed-back-to-life span. As I note in my video series, we'll NEVER be perfect but can be a LOT closer than we were. That in itself is a product of the Amazing Grace which saved us in an instant and produces fruit from there.

    Avoid getting hung-up on "making excuses." If one thinks they're gonna be sin-free they're fooling themselves and actually setting up for ... guilt. Which is NOT of God but that other guy.
     
  9. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Will you sin if you walk in the Spirit? Paul says NO. Are you full of sin as a believer? Yes. But it is only temptation that you need not yield to if you walk in the Spirit.
     
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  10. Two Wings

    Two Wings Well-Known Member

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    I think we're talking around each other.

    Yes, if you're in the Spirit, there's no sinning ... but we need to understand we cannot remain in the Spirit while we are in the corruptible body.

    I liken it to assessing anti-aircraft threats ... from rock chunkers, through small arms fire, mobilized AAA artillery, manpads, radar guided telephone poles.

    If you stick around long enough, get that "one more reattack" on the target area, the rock chunker is gonna get ya. If we don't flee from the temptation, we WILL sin. Not if, might or maybe ... WILL. That remains the nature of this corruptible body and our soul (mind/will/emotion) is affected by it.

    we need to remember the promise of 1 John 1:9 ... avoid self-deprecating guilt ... and PRESS ON. Another illustration I've used is on the golf course. As a hacker ... duffs are part of the game, but even the PROS miss one every now and then. The difference is ... when the pro misses, it STILL goes 100 yards down the fairway ... I'm in the weeds searching for the ball. As I improve, my duffs are increasingly "recoverable."

    As I mature in my faith, I realize sooner sin took me farther than I wanted to go, kept me longer than I wanted to stay, and costs me more than I wanted to pay ... 1 John 1:9 ... and get back into sync with The Spirit.

    Does a parent ridicule their 12 month old for falling down when trying to start walking? NUPE. There's great celebration with every step. I believe this is our picture for our spiritual walk with Jesus, too. Is there condemnation for that 9 year old boy who does a header into the dirt? NOPE. There's reassurance. Such as it is with God.

    Don't focus on the failures. Focus on The Master ... and the failures become fewer, farther between, and the headers aren't quite as deep into the ground. Sanctification.

    Thanks @1689Dave ... great topic.
     
  11. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Who is claiming to be sin-free? I begin every day in prayer asking God to forgive me for what I am. But at the same time I know it's my fault if I yield to temptation. Paul says you can quell temptation before it turns into outward sin. Sinful imaginations can also be quelled if you want.

    Notice;
    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1 (KJV 1900)
     
  12. Two Wings

    Two Wings Well-Known Member

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    No one it’s making excuses for sin sir but if we will not recognize we will and we will continue to need that same wonderful amazing grace which Jesus offered of the same grace we need to grow up from being spiritual babes who can consume only milk.

    the temptation of “i got this” is the seed for pride …. Which as we know comes before the fall.

    cheers
     
  13. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    That's what I'm saying. I pray mainly for the forgiveness of sins of the imagination. Seldom if ever do I sin outwardly. That's why Paul says, we cast down imaginations.
     
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  14. Reformed1689

    Reformed1689 Well-Known Member

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    Knowing that it is reality that no Christian, not even you, walks in the spirit 100% of the time.
     
  15. Reformed1689

    Reformed1689 Well-Known Member

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    There is no evidence that he is speaking of life before converstion.
     
  16. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Why do you think that John says IF we sin, and not WHEN we sin?
     
  17. Two Wings

    Two Wings Well-Known Member

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    regarding romans 7 ... he didn't say

    I used to do the things I hate
    I used to fail doing the things I love.

    he wrote:

    I DO the very thing I hate and I do NOT do the very thing that I love

    that was present tense. When he wrote it. Post Conversion ... Post discipling by Ananias. He'd already written 1/2 Corinthians, 1/2 Thessalonians, Galatians ... perhaps more ... before he wrote Romans.

    to your question above: I don't know. I'll ask The Author that one day. Perhaps nothing more than a translation error ... perhaps something I'm simply missing right now. But no where did Jesus say we'd be perfect in thought, word, and deed after becoming a new creation, not while we're in this corruptible body.

    Having that expectation not only is a setup for guilt and condemnation ... but calls God a liar. in one of my favorite way of Paul's writing from the prior chapter ... 6. "may we go on sinning so grace abounds? MAY IT NEVER BE"

    All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. ... 1 Cor 10: (20something)

    Do not GO ON sinning in your mortal bodies .. Romans 6 also.
     
  18. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Has ANY besides Jesus ever been perfect. in a sinless perfection state?
     
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