CONVICTED BELIEVERS?
I have heard the Holy Spirit convicts everyone of sin. Those that still need Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior definitely receive some form of conviction because they still need to make a decision to repent and follow the ways of Christ Jesus instead of continuing on a path of destruction.
Are Believers convicted in any way? Does the Holy Spirit convict Christians? I immediately think of Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,". However, for "those who are in Christ Jesus", the "no condemnation" refers to judgment. This judgment from God is eternal death for your sin past, present, and future, which has been taken care of by Christ on the Cross at Calvary.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
With that being truth what about another Scripture from James that says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other" (5:16)? James says to "confess your sins". How can one confess a sin unless his heart, mind, and soul has been notified or convicted of it? But wait we are Believers, we are not suppose to be convicted anymore are we?
I have a question for you - As a Believer are you perfect in your body on this earth? No. So, Christians still need the help of the Holy Spirit in prompting them when they have done wrong or are heading in the wrong direction, but be encouraged, the mistake you just made that the Holy Spirit prompted you about has been covered by the COMPLETE WORK of GRACE and FORGIVENESS on The Cross of Calvary.
God is NOT holding any sins against you or keeping a record of your wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5; Hebrews 10:17-18) - His Son Jesus, the perfect expression of love, bore all of your and my mistakes on His body while on the Cross! Hallelujah! When you slip up and sin, God is not waiting to clobber you over the head with guilt or condemnation. Guess who does that? - Satan. When we make a mistake against God, Father God is going to point you to His Son and say, "Paid In Full". That is Grace. That is Mercy. That is Forgiveness. That is the Complete Work of Christ for us. That is the God I love and serve!
The idea (spurred on by Brother Kerry Crespo) is that the Believer's mind, body, and spirit has been redeemed or paid for, in blood, by Jesus Christ. Upon acceptance of Christ's salvation, (1) our spirit is reborn (John 3:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17) , (2) our mind has been renewed (Romans 12:2), but (3) our body has not yet manifested the restored aspect that was paid for by Christ (Romans 8:23; Matthew 26:41; Romans 8:10).
Reborn Spirit
We, as Believers in Christ, world-wide today, need so badly to walk in The Righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3:9)! Put another way, we need to truly believe, speak, and live the Forgiveness and Grace that Jesus paid for with His life's blood. Too many Christians seem to be living as if they have to somehow pay for their present mistakes. They accept His purchase of their past sins, but have a "sin-block" on the present and possibly future shortcomings. They also feel like Christ did not cover the particular circumstance they are going through. There are a whole host of reasons our minds can conceive to explain away Christ's Complete Work of Salvation, but listen - Christ does not need to and will not die again and again for each of your sins.
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. - Hebrews 10:12-14
Are Believers convicted in any way? Does the Holy Spirit convict Christians? I immediately think of Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,". However, for "those who are in Christ Jesus", the "no condemnation" refers to judgment. This judgment from God is eternal death for your sin past, present, and future, which has been taken care of by Christ on the Cross at Calvary.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
With that being truth what about another Scripture from James that says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other" (5:16)? James says to "confess your sins". How can one confess a sin unless his heart, mind, and soul has been notified or convicted of it? But wait we are Believers, we are not suppose to be convicted anymore are we?
I have a question for you - As a Believer are you perfect in your body on this earth? No. So, Christians still need the help of the Holy Spirit in prompting them when they have done wrong or are heading in the wrong direction, but be encouraged, the mistake you just made that the Holy Spirit prompted you about has been covered by the COMPLETE WORK of GRACE and FORGIVENESS on The Cross of Calvary.
God is NOT holding any sins against you or keeping a record of your wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5; Hebrews 10:17-18) - His Son Jesus, the perfect expression of love, bore all of your and my mistakes on His body while on the Cross! Hallelujah! When you slip up and sin, God is not waiting to clobber you over the head with guilt or condemnation. Guess who does that? - Satan. When we make a mistake against God, Father God is going to point you to His Son and say, "Paid In Full". That is Grace. That is Mercy. That is Forgiveness. That is the Complete Work of Christ for us. That is the God I love and serve!
The idea (spurred on by Brother Kerry Crespo) is that the Believer's mind, body, and spirit has been redeemed or paid for, in blood, by Jesus Christ. Upon acceptance of Christ's salvation, (1) our spirit is reborn (John 3:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17) , (2) our mind has been renewed (Romans 12:2), but (3) our body has not yet manifested the restored aspect that was paid for by Christ (Romans 8:23; Matthew 26:41; Romans 8:10).
Reborn Spirit
- Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. - John 3:5-6
- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2
- we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. - Romans 8:23
- if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. - Romans 8:10
- "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Matthew 26:41
We, as Believers in Christ, world-wide today, need so badly to walk in The Righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3:9)! Put another way, we need to truly believe, speak, and live the Forgiveness and Grace that Jesus paid for with His life's blood. Too many Christians seem to be living as if they have to somehow pay for their present mistakes. They accept His purchase of their past sins, but have a "sin-block" on the present and possibly future shortcomings. They also feel like Christ did not cover the particular circumstance they are going through. There are a whole host of reasons our minds can conceive to explain away Christ's Complete Work of Salvation, but listen - Christ does not need to and will not die again and again for each of your sins.
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. - Hebrews 10:12-14
Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. - Hebrews 10:17-18
Notice our standing with God is in Jesus. Our right standing or righteousness is in Christ and that is how Father God sees the Redeemed - in right standing through and because of His Son. Our holiness or our life separated unto God, is a work in progress. Our thoughts, actions, words, and character are all being shaped to fulfill the command of 1 Peter 1:16 and many other supporting Scripture - "for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" (others - Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Thess. 4:17; Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15)
Therefore, the Believers part is to (1) recognize the wrongdoing, (2) submit a sincere apology to God, (3) request help not to do that again, and (4) offer up a statement of thanks for Christ's forgiveness of that mistake many years ago. If you want true freedom and want to walk in it daily, get a hold of this truth about His Grace and Forgiveness.
Christ has paid for it all! Christ has paid for it in full! I want to and will walk in His Grace and Forgiveness. I want and will live for Him because of it! Hallelujah!
Notice our standing with God is in Jesus. Our right standing or righteousness is in Christ and that is how Father God sees the Redeemed - in right standing through and because of His Son. Our holiness or our life separated unto God, is a work in progress. Our thoughts, actions, words, and character are all being shaped to fulfill the command of 1 Peter 1:16 and many other supporting Scripture - "for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" (others - Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Thess. 4:17; Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15)
Therefore, the Believers part is to (1) recognize the wrongdoing, (2) submit a sincere apology to God, (3) request help not to do that again, and (4) offer up a statement of thanks for Christ's forgiveness of that mistake many years ago. If you want true freedom and want to walk in it daily, get a hold of this truth about His Grace and Forgiveness.
Christ has paid for it all! Christ has paid for it in full! I want to and will walk in His Grace and Forgiveness. I want and will live for Him because of it! Hallelujah!
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