Already Delivered

[netchaplain]

Many Christians are unaware that they are forgiven for all their sins! Otherwise Scripture could not state that we are already like Jesus (1Jo 4:17). Not in His sinlessness but in His guiltlessness! He knows you don’t want to sin, as Paul was delivered from desiring sin (Rom 7:15, 16, 19, 20, 21), he did not want to sin.

Such is the Christian, already delivered from all sin, because God knows we do not want to sin, but “please” Him (Phl 2:13). If God is not “working“ this “in you,” you aren’t saved yet—you have not been “born again” yet.

Once we are saved God starts “conforming” us to the “image” (walk) of the Lord Jesus (Rom 8:29). This means everyone saved will mature and grow in Christ in the way they live! When we sin we need not ask for forgiveness but instead thank Him for His permanent forgiveness (Heb 10:12). All His “forgiveness” was given at the point of rebirth (1Jn 1:9). He doesn’t have to keep forgiving over and over, it’s “once for all” (Heb 10:10).

There is never a time we aren’t forgiven. This of course concerns only not sinning “willfully” (Heb 10:26). If we intentionally sin it manifests we are unsaved, and do not want to give up the sin. God knows we want to “please Him,” and living without intentional sin is His goal for us. Living this way doesn’t gain salvation—it is a free gift of God (Eph 2:8). He will have only holy believers living for Him!

It of course is the most marvelous thing that we do not owe God for salvation. The Lord Jesus’ sacrifices makes us deserving and “worthy” (Col 1:10; 1Co 11:27; Rev 3:4; 16:6). Remember, Christians have everything the Lord Jesus has, for they are continually being “conformed to Christ’s “image.”

 

[Yurii]

Many Christians are unaware that they are forgiven for all their sins! Otherwise Scripture could not state that we are already like Jesus (1Jo 4:17). Not in His sinlessness but in His guiltlessness! He knows you don’t want to sin, as Paul was delivered from desiring sin (Rom 7:15, 16, 19, 20, 21), he did not want to sin.

Such is the Christian, already delivered from all sin, because God knows we do not want to sin, but “please” Him (Phl 2:13). If God is not “working“ this “in you,” you aren’t saved yet—you have not been “born again” yet.

Once we are saved God starts “conforming” us to the “image” (walk) of the Lord Jesus (Rom 8:29). This means everyone saved will mature and grow in Christ in the way they live! When we sin we need not ask for forgiveness but instead thank Him for His permanent forgiveness (Heb 10:12). All His “forgiveness” was given at the point of rebirth (1Jn 1:9). He doesn’t have to keep forgiving over and over, it’s “once for all” (Heb 10:10).

There is never a time we aren’t forgiven. This of course concerns only not sinning “willfully” (Heb 10:26). If we intentionally sin it manifests we are unsaved, and do not want to give up the sin. God knows we want to “please Him,” and living without intentional sin is His goal for us. Living this way doesn’t gain salvation—it is a free gift of God (Eph 2:8). He will have only holy believers living for Him!

It of course is the most marvelous thing that we do not owe God for salvation. The Lord Jesus’ sacrifices makes us deserving and “worthy” (Col 1:10; 1Co 11:27; Rev 3:4; 16:6). Remember, Christians have everything the Lord Jesus has, for they are continually being “conformed to Christ’s “image.”

Dear netchaplain,

Thank you so much for your post, "Already Delivered"! Your reflections on the complete forgiveness we have in Christ are truly important and encouraging. I especially appreciate your emphasis on how God knows our desire to please Him and live without willful sin.

Your post touches upon a very important topic that I believe is worth exploring a bit deeper, namely: the risk of antinomianism. As you rightly pointed out, the emphasis on already granted forgiveness can be misunderstood. There's a danger that someone might think sin loses its seriousness or has no consequences for the believer since we are already forgiven.

I believe it's crucial to balance the truth of God's unconditional grace and complete forgiveness with the necessity of holy living and personal responsibility for our actions.

Here are a few thoughts on this balance:

• The consequences of sin remain: While our sins are forgiven by God, they can still have real consequences in our lives, in our relationships with others, and even in our spiritual growth. Sin wounds us and those around us.
• The Holy Spirit as the driving force: It is the Holy Spirit, who lives within us after salvation, who gives us the strength and desire to live a holy life. This is not just an external adherence to rules but an internal transformation of our hearts and minds.
• The believer's responsibility: We are called to actively cooperate with God's grace, reject sin, and strive for holiness. This includes being vigilant over our thoughts and actions, praying for strength to resist temptation, and being willing to confess our mistakes.
• Love as motivation: Our love for God, gratitude for His forgiveness, and desire to please Him should be the primary motivation for holy living, not the fear of punishment.

Thank you again for your thought-provoking post. I hope this discussion will be beneficial for all of us in our growth in faith.

Sincerely,
Yurii

 

[netchaplain]

Your post touches upon a very important topic that I believe is worth exploring a bit deeper, namely: the risk of antinomianism. As you rightly pointed out, the emphasis on already granted forgiveness can be misunderstood. There's a danger that someone might think sin loses its seriousness or has no consequences for the believer since we are already forgiven.

I think most will understand that one must be reborn to have forgiveness. Concerning "antinomianism," it should be understood that the moral law (Ten Commandments) is separate from Christianity, and that there are many unbelievers that "do by nature the things contained in the law;" (Rom 2:14) and this is apart from Christians doing God's will, for all Law has been "taken away," (Heb 10:9) to bring in the New Covenant of Christianity. (for some reason the color tool will not change the texting back to light black)

I believe it's crucial to balance the truth of God's unconditional grace and complete forgiveness with the necessity of holy living and personal responsibility for our actions.

Here are a few thoughts on this balance:

• The consequences of sin remain: While our sins are forgiven by God, they can still have real consequences in our lives, in our relationships with others, and even in our spiritual growth. Sin wounds us and those around us.

The less mature we are in the Word, the more we lack the maturity God brings to the hungry soul in Christ. The most useful Scriptural teachings I have found for the last 25 years of my 50 year Christian walk is two books from Miles J Stanford, "None But the Hungry Heart," which I share with the non-personal articles I post; and the book "The Complete Green Letters," which both books complement one another in Paul's 13 spiritual growth Epistles.

• The Holy Spirit as the driving force: It is the Holy Spirit, who lives within us after salvation, who gives us the strength and desire to live a holy life. This is not just an external adherence to rules but an internal transformation of our hearts and minds.

True! Holy living will come from being "holy" first; because as you say, It's not the "external adherence to rules" that makes us holy, but being holy as each Christian is at rebirth.

• The believer's responsibility: We are called to actively cooperate with God's grace, reject sin, and strive for holiness.

It's my understanding that holiness isn't something to have to strive for, because everyone reborn is as holy as they will ever be, which is in the same degree as Christ (1Jo 4:17); for He is our "Life" and "holiness." Col 3:4; "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification (holiness), and redemption."

• This includes being vigilant over our thoughts and actions, praying for strength to resist temptation, and being willing to confess our mistakes.

Confessing our sins is admitting we have sinned. "confessing sins" means to admit our wrongs to God, for "He is faithful to forgive us," which is a forgiveness that is always present.

• Love as motivation: Our love for God, gratitude for His forgiveness, and desire to please Him should be the primary motivation for holy living, not the fear of punishment.

Amen, and of course "love," God's love in us towards others is the pinnacle of all things, for "How can we love God whom we haven't seen when we do not love our brother whom we have seen?

 

[Yurii]

I think most will understand that one must be reborn to have forgiveness. Concerning "antinomianism," it should be understood that the moral law (Ten Commandments) is separate from Christianity, and that there are many unbelievers that "do by nature the things contained in the law;" (Rom 2:14) and this is apart from Christians doing God's will, for all Law has been "taken away," (Heb 10:9) to bring in the New Covenant of Christianity. (for some reason the color tool will not change the texting back to light black)

The less mature we are in the Word, the more we lack the maturity God brings to the hungry soul in Christ. The most useful Scriptural teachings I have found for the last 25 years of my 50 year Christian walk is two books from Miles J Stanford, "None But the Hungry Heart," which I share with the non-personal articles I post; and the book "The Complete Green Letters," which both books complement one another in Paul's 13 spiritual growth Epistles.

True! Holy living will come from being "holy" first; because as you say, It's not the "external adherence to rules" that makes us holy, but being holy as each Christian is at rebirth.

It's my understanding that holiness isn't something to have to strive for, because everyone reborn is as holy as they will ever be, which is in the same degree as Christ (1Jo 4:17); for He is our "Life" and "holiness." Col 3:4; "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification (holiness), and redemption."

Confessing our sins is admitting we have sinned. "confessing sins" means to admit our wrongs to God, for "He is faithful to forgive us," which is a forgiveness that is always present.

Amen, and of course "love," God's love in us towards others is the pinnacle of all things, for "How can we love God whom we haven't seen when we do not love our brother whom we have seen?

Dear netchaplain,

Thank you so much for such a comprehensive and detailed response to my previous comment. I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and understanding of Scripture. Our conversation is actually prompting some very serious thought and analysis of the Holy Scripture, and this is incredibly beneficial as this kind of deep exploration allows us to grow in our knowledge and faith.

I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding the necessity of being "born again" to receive forgiveness. This is a fundamental truth of the Christian faith.

Regarding the issue of antinomianism and the role of the moral law, your perspective on separating the moral law from Christianity is interesting. I understand your reference to Hebrews 10:9 about the removal of the "first." However, doesn't it seem that the moral principles reflected in the Ten Commandments still reflect God's unchanging character and can serve as a guide for Christian living, even if we are not saved by adhering to them? How do you understand Jesus' words in Matthew 5:17-20, where He says He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, and that even the least commandment will have significance?

Your point about the understanding of the consequences of sin depending on spiritual maturity is well-taken. Thank you for recommending the books by Miles J. Stanford. Perhaps you could share which specific aspects of these books you find most relevant in the context of our discussion about the balance of grace and responsibility?

I also agree with you that holy living is a result of internal transformation, not just external adherence to rules. Your point that every Christian is holy at rebirth is an important aspect of our identity in Christ (positional holiness). However, do you not also see in the New Testament a call for believers to "pursue holiness" (Hebrews 12:14) and to grow in it (2 Peter 3:18)? How do you reconcile this with the assertion that we are already as holy as Christ (1 John 4:17)? Doesn't this verse perhaps speak more to our confidence before God, similar to Christ, rather than our current level of holiness in earthly life?

Regarding the confession of sins, I fully agree that God is always ready to forgive. But do you not believe that the act of personally acknowledging our mistakes also plays an important role in our spiritual growth, helping us to realize our dependence on God and fostering the healing of our relationship with Him?

I sincerely share your view on love as the primary motivation for Christian living. The words from 1 John 4:20 are a powerful reminder of the inseparable link between loving God and loving our neighbor.

Thank you again for this valuable discussion, which compels us to delve deeper into Scripture and grow in faith. I look forward to further exchange of thoughts.

Sincerely,
Yurii