I wonder if there are many believers who do not know the guiltlessness of their status in the Lord Jesus. If there is not the knowledge that Christians are never judged, and are completely absent of guilt, there cannot be much spiritual growth in the faith!
There will be “chastisement” when believer’s sin but there is permanent forgiveness, and it is from the love of the Father for our “growth up unto Him (Christ) in all things” (Eph 4:15; Pro 3:12; Heb 12:6); and we begin the lifelong lessons of the Word through its Author and Teacher (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21; 1Co 2:13).
The difference with sins between the saint and sinner is whether or not the sin is intentional or nonintentional! Christians are not viewed as sinners, as there are no Scriptures that relates a saint as a sinner (1Pe 4:18); the sin-source (old man; sin nature; flesh) is in us, but we are not in it (Rom 8:9). The eternal life of the believer is not that of the Holy Spirit, but of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:4; 1Jo 5:12)—by the power of the Spirit (Jhn 3:5, 6, 8).
There is never a time when believers are not forgiven. God knows, more than anything, that saints want to please Him, as this is the very attribute He “works in you” (Phl 2:13). Christians have permanently been “blessed us with all spiritual blessings” (Eph 1:3) and have been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2Pe 1:3).
Believers have all that God can give, thus it’s just a matter of learning what the Father desires to teach us concerning everything, so we can appropriate (“reckon)” and share them (doctrines) with one another. Of course it’s all about love, God’s love; and His is not the same love we have. Man’s love without His love can at best be conditional—“love others as we love ourselves”—which is Law, but love from grace is to love as Christ loves (Jhn 15:12). It’s been well said that, “love does not function according to the quality of its object, but according to its nature!
There will be “chastisement” when believer’s sin but there is permanent forgiveness, and it is from the love of the Father for our “growth up unto Him (Christ) in all things” (Eph 4:15; Pro 3:12; Heb 12:6); and we begin the lifelong lessons of the Word through its Author and Teacher (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21; 1Co 2:13).
The difference with sins between the saint and sinner is whether or not the sin is intentional or nonintentional! Christians are not viewed as sinners, as there are no Scriptures that relates a saint as a sinner (1Pe 4:18); the sin-source (old man; sin nature; flesh) is in us, but we are not in it (Rom 8:9). The eternal life of the believer is not that of the Holy Spirit, but of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:4; 1Jo 5:12)—by the power of the Spirit (Jhn 3:5, 6, 8).
There is never a time when believers are not forgiven. God knows, more than anything, that saints want to please Him, as this is the very attribute He “works in you” (Phl 2:13). Christians have permanently been “blessed us with all spiritual blessings” (Eph 1:3) and have been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2Pe 1:3).
Believers have all that God can give, thus it’s just a matter of learning what the Father desires to teach us concerning everything, so we can appropriate (“reckon)” and share them (doctrines) with one another. Of course it’s all about love, God’s love; and His is not the same love we have. Man’s love without His love can at best be conditional—“love others as we love ourselves”—which is Law, but love from grace is to love as Christ loves (Jhn 15:12). It’s been well said that, “love does not function according to the quality of its object, but according to its nature!
