RE: (David Smith (31 May 2012)
"To Patti C RE: "HOW BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS SHOULD RELATE TO HOMOSEXUALS")
Dear David,
I would like to answer your question about temptation. All Christians are tempted; as you recall even Christ, himself, was tempted in the wilderness. We cannot escape being tempted, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, which Christ sends to us when we are born again, can anyone overcome temptation.
The only way to overcome temptations is to be in Christ through the Holy Spirit. We are all tempted, and even if we act on our temptations in a moment of weakness, we can confess our sin and be forgiven. Only Christ is perfect, and only with His strength can anyone overcome the temptations of life, in this world.
Therefore, all those who overcome temptation are still saved, and grow stronger in Christ with each temptation they overcome, in His name. When we are born again, Christ gives us the strength to overcome, and provides the way in which we can overcome. He never gives us more than we can bear.
Here are some quotes from the New Testament about this issue:
1Cr 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].”Jam 1:12 ¶ “Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”Jam 1:2 ¶ “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Jam 1:3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jam 1:4 but let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”1Pe 1:6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”1Pe 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
2Pe 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished:”I hope that this helped to answer your question.
May God bless you with His strength!
TO HIM IS ALL THE GLORY!!
Your sister in Christ,Patti C.
############(David Smith (31 May 2012)
"To Patti C RE: "HOW BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS SHOULD RELATE TO HOMOSEXUALS")To Patti C RE: "HOW BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS SHOULD RELATE TO HOMOSEXUALS"As I told John this was a wonderful loving post based on scripture. You wrote:
“WE POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS, ALWAYS; WHETHER THEY ARE ALCOHOLICS, THIEVES, LIARS, OR HOMOSEXUALS. WE POINT THE WAY, AND JESUS WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE!! OUR JOB IS TO SHOW THEM WHO CHRIST IS, NOT TO JUDGE THEM!!!”
I certainly agree. Do you Patti or anyone else on the board believe that if an alcoholic repents and stops drinking he/she is saved even if alcohol still sometimes entice them but they controls the temptation? The same with a converted thief who is tempted but manages to restrain themselves , or a former liar who sometimes almost slips up but catches themselves, or a homosexual who is drawn to that awful sin but contains themselves and never sins? Can these people still claim to be saved if they still sometimes feel inclined to sin (temptation) even though they never cross the line and sin or can a person only be considered saved if he or she is never tempted after repenting and being converted?
This would have me greatly is I could get some of your opinions.
Blessings,David Smith
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