Not By Works
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I guess it depends on why someone is considering another person unsaved. Calling someone unsaved because they don't agree with your doctrine, or because they don't like being called out on their sin aren't good reasons to say you consider a person an unbeliever. But it is clear in scripture that we are not to be deceived that the person who does not live for God is not born again.
"make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil"-1 John 3:7-8
And yet so many in the church claim this is 'judging'.
"make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil"-1 John 3:7-8
And yet so many in the church claim this is 'judging'.
Hi Magenta! Great to see you.
Let me go a little deeper beneath the surface of my comment.
I believe people say that because they think their understanding (and acceptance) of their unworthiness makes them worthy. They falter in understanding grace. So they try to show people how unworthy they are. Because they themselves feel unworthy. This isn't to say we are worthy by our own merit, but it is to say that it leads us to understanding the goodness and purity of grace. But many will not look at the freedom found in grace because of fear they might be mislead. We however are not given a spirit. But one of love, power and a sound mind. The one who fears is not perfected in love. Look at the tone of people's posts and listen for fear or for adoration for God. This will reveal the spirit they are listening to. And this isn't just about others. I often listen to my own words to see what my heart is believing. Am I speaking from a place of fear or from assured faith in God's goodness?
Let me go a little deeper beneath the surface of my comment.
I believe people say that because they think their understanding (and acceptance) of their unworthiness makes them worthy. They falter in understanding grace. So they try to show people how unworthy they are. Because they themselves feel unworthy. This isn't to say we are worthy by our own merit, but it is to say that it leads us to understanding the goodness and purity of grace. But many will not look at the freedom found in grace because of fear they might be mislead. We however are not given a spirit. But one of love, power and a sound mind. The one who fears is not perfected in love. Look at the tone of people's posts and listen for fear or for adoration for God. This will reveal the spirit they are listening to. And this isn't just about others. I often listen to my own words to see what my heart is believing. Am I speaking from a place of fear or from assured faith in God's goodness?
I don't know...peter and I were working on this all day. It was very pleasant and respectful, and we both somehow began to come closer to agreement. I saw some of what he was saying and he saw some of what I was saying before he left for the day.
I do agree that anger is temptation and only becomes sin if we advert to the temptation rather than crying to God that our feet are slipping. It becomes sin if we advert to it and sink down into it. I just have seen that I am fully capable of sinking into it and roiling in it inwardly but with no outward show of what my heart is doing. In that case, I believe it to be murder that I am trying to hide.
I do agree that anger is temptation and only becomes sin if we advert to the temptation rather than crying to God that our feet are slipping. It becomes sin if we advert to it and sink down into it. I just have seen that I am fully capable of sinking into it and roiling in it inwardly but with no outward show of what my heart is doing. In that case, I believe it to be murder that I am trying to hide.
Christian Living: Epheasians4:25-26
25) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26)“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27) and do not give the devil a foothold.
28) Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need."
Be Honest now don't you you really have anger issues.
25) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26)“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27) and do not give the devil a foothold.
28) Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need."
Be Honest now don't you you really have anger issues.
IMO this is about judging their doctrine, not about judging the person. The focus is on making sure they are not deceiving you to be like them. Remember John says, I write to you so that you may know you have eternal life, little children. If we don't accept this verse all the rest won't have a place to land on. God builds precept upon precept.
The moment we read John, we are invited to let this rest in our hearts. Okay, I have eternal life, I am His child. So what does that look like? John continues to teach what life as a child of God looks like.
But what I have seen is misguided people automatically assume other people are living sinful lives because they say and teach we are free in grace. They believe they must have some crazy sin and thats why they teach this.
But I have personally found the exact opposite. It's the who believe they are free in grace that live more loving lives than those who believe they can never be free. Why? Because it is in our freedom that we can freely love others. And this comes from believing we ourselves are loved.
But this continual focus on sin, does not inspire freedom, it enslaves because what we focus on we become like. Doesn't Scripture itself say numerous times to remain focused on heavenly things? If so, then why focus on sin because sin is not found in Heaven for sure.
The moment we read John, we are invited to let this rest in our hearts. Okay, I have eternal life, I am His child. So what does that look like? John continues to teach what life as a child of God looks like.
But what I have seen is misguided people automatically assume other people are living sinful lives because they say and teach we are free in grace. They believe they must have some crazy sin and thats why they teach this.
But I have personally found the exact opposite. It's the who believe they are free in grace that live more loving lives than those who believe they can never be free. Why? Because it is in our freedom that we can freely love others. And this comes from believing we ourselves are loved.
But this continual focus on sin, does not inspire freedom, it enslaves because what we focus on we become like. Doesn't Scripture itself say numerous times to remain focused on heavenly things? If so, then why focus on sin because sin is not found in Heaven for sure.
Okay. 
Why do you think the penalty for murder is the same penalty for anger? What are your thoughts on why?
Why do you think the penalty for murder is the same penalty for anger? What are your thoughts on why?
James 4:1-3 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
[SUP]2 [/SUP] You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Romans 1:28-32 (HCSB)
[SUP]28 [/SUP] And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong.
[SUP]29 [/SUP] They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
[SUP]30 [/SUP] slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
[SUP]31 [/SUP] undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.
[SUP]32 [/SUP] Although they know full well God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
Matthew 5:22 (NKJV)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
You have cracked me up TT!
First of all if I do get angry I ask myself, am I an angry person or did you provoke me to anger. Anger can be both a positive and a negative emotion such as, sometimes we need to get angry at our sin, (yep I'm not perfect yet, shock!). Such as being angry at a besetting can help to overcome a sin issue, with the guidance of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.....