How does the one new man, new creation being, born of Holy Spirit, dead to what was before, now alive to God....can live in iniquity? And the very righteousness of God in Christ Jesus imputed to us because of the great love our Father has for us, and for all the world....where is iniquity?
Either you don't know what you have received, or you just have Head knowledge. Am sorry to say this, but you better get to studying studyman.
That is an excellent question. How does a man, who has repented from his ways and turned to God's Ways in repentance and humility, reject God's Instructions? The answer? They don't.
These in Matt. 7 were deceived by "Many" who come in Christ's Name, who preach that Jesus is truly the Christ, just like Jesus warned about. They "Believed" helping their fellow man in Jesus name was a righteous work. That "preaching" a doctrine in Jesus name was a righteous work. But they had actually created their own religion, and rejected God's Instructions as did the Pharisees, and Jesus rejected them for it.
Were they born doing this, or did they repent and "change" and go to this church, or become part of this religion that calls Jesus Lord, Lord? I would say "many" changed, became a "new man" when they changed from their "Old Self" to a religious person who did all things in Jesus Name. I'll bet you every one of them would have said they were filled with the Holy Spirit if you had asked them. The Whole point of this story is that they were "Deceived" into believing something about themselves that wasn't true.
You see, because I believe EVERY Word God/Jesus inspires, and not just the teaching of a huge organized religion that calls Jesus Lord, Lord, I have considered these questions years ago.
The Bible doesn't teach me to go from a lifestyle that Transgresses the commandments of God by my fleshy traditions, to a religion that Transgresses the Commandments of God by their religious traditions. Matthew 7 certainly teaches us that. Just changing which Words of God I reject means nothing.
I get that you probably are not able to understand these Words, but my hope is that you will. Consider the following Question regarding the same Matthew Chapter.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Answer me this; Why would "MANY" want to be on a Path that leads to destruction? If the teachers of this Path stand on a street corner and declare "Follow us on this Path to destruction" would "many" follow them? Of course not. They don't tell the truth about their Path, they deceive. "Come follow us on this Path to eternal Life". Many would follow that path as did those who called Jesus Lord, Lord.
Didn't the serpent do the same thing to Eve?
14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
How do you know you are on this narrow Path? Everyone believes they are on it, but Jesus just said "FEW" find it? Are you somehow immune from deception? Well maybe you are but I'm nothing special. I am not more powerful than the Pharisees or those in Matt. 7 Jesus warned about. So I place my faith and Trust in Him and His Instructions. He has created a FOOL PROOF test for me to know if I am on the right track or not and I believe Him.
1 John 2:
3 And
hereby we do know that we know him,
if we keep his commandments.
Talk about the simplicity of Christ. All I need to do is look in a mirror and using God's Judgment, judge myself.
1 Cor. 13:
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Gal. 6:
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing,
he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Lam. 6:
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
So I am trying to share a viewpoint, a man that has been freed by the Grace of God, from the influence of the "MANY" that come in Jesus Name, calling Him Lord, Lord.
I see differently than you. Only because Jesus is true and He always keeps His Promises. I see a religion called "Christianity" that calls Jesus "Lord, Lord. They have created images of this Lord in the likeness of some long haired men's hair shampoo model, a direct sin against the First and Greatest Commandment.
I see a religion that has rejected God's Sabbath that He created for them, and created their own, just like the Pharisees did.
I see a religion that has created its own great High Days and Feasts unto the Lord, and have taught against God's Own Holy Days.
These are just a few of the man made doctrines and religious traditions todays religions have created, there are many more. Those living in and practicing this iniquity don't know they are in trouble. Jesus is warning us all to snap out of it before "That Day". He doesn't do everything for you SOF. You have to make the choice first.
1 Cor. 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak
this to your shame.
Eph. 5:
14 Wherefore he saith,
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Sadly most people prefer darkness.