jpbg33 said
That is how we know we can be saved not how we know we are saved.
even sinners know all of that.
this is what John said
1Jhon 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
What John is referring to is the fact that God give Christians the power to overcome the world. This is something that is given to Christians only. Sinners do not have the power to overcome.
knowing that Jesus die on a cross is good but even sinners know that. So I could know that and still be a sinner, but a sinner can not live right only Christians can do that.
It is like this. If God gives you power to do something then you will esaly be able to do it. So if God give you the power to overcome the world and you don't then you can't really love God because you are not doing the easy things. I know that times can get hard but if we believe in God we can easily get through hard times.
look at the three Hebrew Children that were thrown into the fire. That had to be hard to do but they easily did it because they believed in God
look at Peter walking on the water that has got to be hard to do but as long as he had his eyes on Jesus he easily did it. It wasn't until he got his eye off Jesus that he started to sink
the same is true for us today as well the bible says if we walk after the spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It isn't we might not it is we will not.
OSAS like to say we are not under the law any more but that is not exactly what the bible says. It is close but not exactly. What the bible say is Galatians
5:18 "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.". So according to the bible if we are not walking after the spirit we are under the law.
It really comes down to this if you are not overcoming then you are not believing and if you are not believe than you are not saved the bible says who so ever believeth in him. That is a present belief in God. everlasting life is for those that believe not for those that believed.
Romans 3:9-10
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
You make this distinction between sinners and Christians
I have a news flash for you;
WE ARE THE SINNERS
Along with everyone else.
What does the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector mean to you?
What do you think the message was?
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Both these men were believers.
One cocky and self-righteous looking down at everyone for being sinful and the other pretty pitiful, a man struggling with sin.
It was the tax collector who found favour with God.
Why are you so concerned with the sin of others?
Should you not be more concerned with your own downfalls.
