To Barry Amundsen re: "David, So you believe that attempting to keep the law helps us from sinning again."

 

Barry wrote: "Right here is where we disagree because I believe that to try to keep the law is to remove us from the free gift of complete righteousness. Now, to address your concern about this, does this mean that I believe that I am free to go out and steal for example? Of course not"

You’re right, you are not free to go out and transgress the law and here you fully acknowledge that. But you do it somehow thinking you are different then others who are out there NOT stealing, lying, murdering or disobeying other commandments. In your first sentence above you say we should NOT try to keep the law but then you say you can’t transgress the law. It’s like you’re saying, be obedient to the law but just make sure you’re not trying too hard to keep the law.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;

2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts.

1Pe 2:11 Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Lu 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate.

I disagree with you for I think it is wise to strive to be obedient. Don’t get into positions where temptation is empowered. Avoid places where sin is celebrated. Flee from situations when you began to feel tempted or trouble is brewing. Abstain from invitations where you know Satan will be lurking. Mortify the weaknesses in you leading to impurity, undue passion and unhealthy desires.

1Co 9: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; 27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Sounds to me like Paul is striving to enter in at the straight gate. He’s running the race to win the prize, he’s exercising self-control and beating his body (more like restrain even though he uses hupopiazo) into submission lest he sins. And listen to Peter -

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Barry wrote: “Our flesh cannot be righteous as our new man cannot sin. Trying to reform the old man will not work but allowing the new man place to become all that he is meant to be by faith will result in the fruit of the Spirit to manifest and remain in your life.”

The old man is dead so you cannot reform him.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
 

But we are not alive (as far as the law is concerned) but have died in Christ and owe the law nothing. The law sees a big stamp over us, “Set free - Paid in full.”

 

Laurie Hane letter put it beautifully: “For those sins we commit following salvation that we don't put under the blood  through confession and turning away from, we will suffer the wrath of God's judgment during/following the judgment seat of Christ.  There is no other sacrifice for sin!”

Blessings,

David S