meaning of MAKE EVERY EFFORT (or strive) to enter in through the narrow gate.
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What do you say about Romans 8.12, 13? There is a very strong warning here about living according to the flesh. "If you are living according to the flesh, you must die!" NASB. What does 'die' here mean? Is it in the sense of Rom 6.21b - 'the outcome of those things is death'? What death? Eternal death? (as in Rom 6.23).
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:12-13 (KJV)
No, it's not eternal death (as in go to hell). It's addressed to fellow brethren who, with Paul, are eternally secure. That seems to leave physical death, as in 1 Corinthians 11:30.
No, it's not eternal death (as in go to hell). It's addressed to fellow brethren who, with Paul, are eternally secure. That seems to leave physical death, as in 1 Corinthians 11:30.
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I agree with you. Entirely.
But the old commentators,
Matthew Henry: 'If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess.'
Barnes: 'For if you live ... - If you live to indulge your carnal propensities, you will sink to eternal death; Romans 7:23.'
Matthew Poole: 'If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; viz. eternally, and never partake of the glorious resurrection before spoken of. The godly themselves need this caution; they must not think, that because they are elected and justified, &c., that therefore they may do and live as they list.'
But John Gill clarifies, as seen in https://tebeth.wordpress.com/2021/05/22/gills-exposition-of-romans-8-13/
But the old commentators,
Matthew Henry: 'If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess.'
Barnes: 'For if you live ... - If you live to indulge your carnal propensities, you will sink to eternal death; Romans 7:23.'
Matthew Poole: 'If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; viz. eternally, and never partake of the glorious resurrection before spoken of. The godly themselves need this caution; they must not think, that because they are elected and justified, &c., that therefore they may do and live as they list.'
But John Gill clarifies, as seen in https://tebeth.wordpress.com/2021/05/22/gills-exposition-of-romans-8-13/
Then the Promises have not happened to you as of yet . . .
If "you" are walking in the flesh, meaning that a person is living in and by the Sinful Nature, then God has not performed His Holy Operation of Faith upon "your" unregenerate heart.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 KJV - "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."
Jesus Christ is a fulfillment of this prophecy. . . for Jesus is the only one who Cuts out and Removes the Sinful Nature. It is as clear as a bell, for this is the Purpose of the Bible . . . to Redeem.
Colossians 2:11-12, 14-15 KJV - "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Whoever has not received the Circumcision of Christ, their Father remains to be the Devil. The Bible affords no alternative.
If "you" are walking in the flesh, meaning that a person is living in and by the Sinful Nature, then God has not performed His Holy Operation of Faith upon "your" unregenerate heart.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 KJV - "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."
Jesus Christ is a fulfillment of this prophecy. . . for Jesus is the only one who Cuts out and Removes the Sinful Nature. It is as clear as a bell, for this is the Purpose of the Bible . . . to Redeem.
Colossians 2:11-12, 14-15 KJV - "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Whoever has not received the Circumcision of Christ, their Father remains to be the Devil. The Bible affords no alternative.
Precious friends, seems to me any New-born babes listening in, are
certainly going to have problems with the Confusion of the following, eh?:
Salvation by faith + works? OR: GRACE Through faith?
or: reconciling BOTH together?
God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels
Distinctions In God's Two Different Programs: Prophecy vs Mystery!
Is there a BIG Difference Between God's Relationship With us, And
our fellowship with HIM!? God's Simple Will
remission of sins by water baptism? OR: ONE Baptism BY The Holy Spirit?
or: combo of Both? 12 baptisms ....... OR: ONE Baptism
judgment of "the spirit" of others? OR: "Only God Knows the heart"?
(Romans 14 : 10-13 KJB!) .................. OR: (Acts 15 : 8; Romans 8 : 27 KJB!)
Confusion of whether God's Salvation is only "temporary" OR: Is Eternal!?
God's OPERATION On All HIS New-born babes In CHRIST!
+
Salvation is 100 Percent Free but Eternal Rewards are 100 percent Earned!:
God's FREE Gift of ETERNAL Life!
Precious friends, Please Be Very Richly Blessed, And Approved Unto God,
in all your Diligent studies!
certainly going to have problems with the Confusion of the following, eh?:
Salvation by faith + works? OR: GRACE Through faith?
or: reconciling BOTH together?
God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels
Distinctions In God's Two Different Programs: Prophecy vs Mystery!
Is there a BIG Difference Between God's Relationship With us, And
our fellowship with HIM!? God's Simple Will
remission of sins by water baptism? OR: ONE Baptism BY The Holy Spirit?
or: combo of Both? 12 baptisms ....... OR: ONE Baptism
judgment of "the spirit" of others? OR: "Only God Knows the heart"?
(Romans 14 : 10-13 KJB!) .................. OR: (Acts 15 : 8; Romans 8 : 27 KJB!)
Confusion of whether God's Salvation is only "temporary" OR: Is Eternal!?
God's OPERATION On All HIS New-born babes In CHRIST!
+
Salvation is 100 Percent Free but Eternal Rewards are 100 percent Earned!:
God's FREE Gift of ETERNAL Life!
Precious friends, Please Be Very Richly Blessed, And Approved Unto God,
in all your Diligent studies!
First of all there's no such thing as the "Sinful Nature"; it's the flesh - sarx.
The flesh of a born again Christian has not been redeemed, and every born again Christian still has their unredeemed flesh and will have it until physical death. The reason we're told not to walk after the flesh is because we can.
The flesh of a born again Christian has not been redeemed, and every born again Christian still has their unredeemed flesh and will have it until physical death. The reason we're told not to walk after the flesh is because we can.
it’s about hearing what he said and pressing toward it acknowledging your imperfection but having this mind in you
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Philippians 3:12-15 KJV
it’s about
reaching forth unto those things the gospel sets before us like lovong our enemies
because we believe in Jesus Christ who taught us those things perfection is found when we can be merciful to someone who offends us , understanding imperfection is none and there’s so each of us need to receive mercy for whatever our transgressions were and also give mercy when others transgress against Us
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Philippians 3:12-15 KJV
it’s about
reaching forth unto those things the gospel sets before us like lovong our enemies
because we believe in Jesus Christ who taught us those things perfection is found when we can be merciful to someone who offends us , understanding imperfection is none and there’s so each of us need to receive mercy for whatever our transgressions were and also give mercy when others transgress against Us
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Ok. So that's what Paul is talking about in Colossians. Here it is below:
Colossians 2:13 KJV - "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses . . ."
So, you're saying that the "flesh" that is quickened together with Christ, as He descends to the grave, is the physical foreskins of men?
Colossians 2:9-15 is the clear description of Jesus cutting out, removing forever, the "sinful state of a person" . . . .which is Sarx. What we are discussing is the Core Doctrine of the Bible. We can't afford to be wrong . . . here.
Colossians 2:13 KJV - "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses . . ."
So, you're saying that the "flesh" that is quickened together with Christ, as He descends to the grave, is the physical foreskins of men?
Colossians 2:9-15 is the clear description of Jesus cutting out, removing forever, the "sinful state of a person" . . . .which is Sarx. What we are discussing is the Core Doctrine of the Bible. We can't afford to be wrong . . . here.
So you don't believe that the Uncircumcision of your flesh is referring to the sinful state of humanity . . . the Adamic Curse? You don't believe that this is what Jesus is putting to death? He did not take the Curse away from us and become that Curse as He hung on His tree?
Galatians 3:13 NLT - "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
How is Gal 3:13 not a reflection of what is taking place in Colossians 2:9-15?
Galatians 3:13 NLT - "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
How is Gal 3:13 not a reflection of what is taking place in Colossians 2:9-15?
consider just what Paul is saying to the church there
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:
and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.”
Philippians 3:12-17 KJV
the apostle Paul is actually explaining the right mind for a Christian to have the right mind set “ I’m not perfect yet but my aim is on perfection “ he says it again here
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:5, 7-8 KJV
Christians should have a mind like that because true faith requires this belief
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
If we believe we will seek God and that’s all it takes but the whole doctrine built on single phrases plucked from the context of Paul’s long explaination about “ good works aren’t for you “ is not a good doctrine
we need to become folks who are obedient and love doing good works because we’re going to be judged by the good and bad we don’t repent of
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:
and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.”
Philippians 3:12-17 KJV
the apostle Paul is actually explaining the right mind for a Christian to have the right mind set “ I’m not perfect yet but my aim is on perfection “ he says it again here
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:5, 7-8 KJV
Christians should have a mind like that because true faith requires this belief
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
If we believe we will seek God and that’s all it takes but the whole doctrine built on single phrases plucked from the context of Paul’s long explaination about “ good works aren’t for you “ is not a good doctrine
we need to become folks who are obedient and love doing good works because we’re going to be judged by the good and bad we don’t repent of