tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13150515.post6196373051714209453..comments2023-10-22T01:36:57.272-07:00Comments on Sonkissed: The Golden Rulefrvrchangedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10462203511568653046noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13150515.post-60341297647981731972008-12-16T09:10:00.000-08:002008-12-16T09:10:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Born to be Mrs. Beeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10186370322714278012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13150515.post-41700731265082842412008-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:002008-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:00Nikki W:Oh my...I love one simple phrase in your c...Nikki W:<BR/><BR/>Oh my...I love one simple phrase in your comment:<BR/><BR/>Christ came to set us free from our vices; not to feed them! <BR/><BR/>I will remember that forever! - StaceyBorn to be Mrs. Beeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10186370322714278012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13150515.post-63896852781951710512008-12-10T16:24:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:24:00.000-08:00Thanks for your blog address, Julie C! I totally ...Thanks for your blog address, Julie C! I totally agree with what you said about all of us being sinners saved by grace. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:8. But I also think that what you said about not continuing to live in sin so that we could "get closer with God" (isn't that how you put it?)is equally as true. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" -Romans 6:1-2 Christ came to set us free from our vices; not to feed them! Even though sanctification is an on going process to increase in Christ-likeness that will NEVER be completed on this side of heaven, we are set free from sin's reign over our lives RIGHT NOW and we no longer have to live in the wallowing of our own sinfullness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9 When we wallow in our own sinfulnness, we are basically telling God that we don't believe that the power of His death and resurrection was enough to completely cover our sin and that His grace isn't enough to change our desire to sin into a desire for righteousness. But the Bible tells us that once we confess Christ as savior, God no longer sees our sin when He looks at us. He sees us as pure and holy... NOT because of anything that we did but because of what HE did on our behalf. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 I guess what I'm trying to say is that I agree with you in that we ought to be extending grace to one another as well as to ourselves, NOT because we are hopeless sinners who can never reach Christ-likeness, but because we are now marked by grace, and not by sin! "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14 What freedom there is in seeing ourselves the way Christ sees us! What hope for a better tomorrow! So, to agree with your main point, let us DEFINITELY extend an abundance of grace to ourselves and each other NOT because we are all no good sinners, but because we are humble and grateful for all Christ has done for us and hopefull for all He can make us to be!NikkiWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309318413180226933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13150515.post-85687898406666774482008-12-10T09:22:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:22:00.000-08:00Good Post Jules- I too respect the writings of Phi...Good Post Jules- I too respect the writings of Philip Yancey- he has some good stuff.The Unlikely Pastor's Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06299720318570154628noreply@blogger.com