Replies

I read the 11, and if this were a True-False test, like in grade school, some of my answers would be the “T” with an extra line under the crossing top line, in an attempt to obfuscate. Didn’t work in grade school either.

I believe I am saved by faith in God. The indwelling Holy Spirit (with all the power, and promise of God) will change me.

Now, do I see those changes? When I do, I praise God! for his Love and Faithfulness.

When I do not, I pray for forgiveness, and repent, and trust God to hold up his end.

Any change in me is the Power of God, working in me. I can do nothing to ‘force’ the issue, earn my way, stress to be better, etc. Problem is, someone looking at me from the outside may see a lazy sinner, who is not trying enough. Or (on a good day) see a Christian, who is doing God’s will. The “works” I do are those things the Holy Spirit shows me to do, and as I obey (and the HS produces results) it may appear that I am a Good Christian. (And I may still appear lazy or hypocritical to an observer from the world or be judged by a Christian.)

I have to continue to believe God is saving me as I appear as lazy, or even good. Especially when I am judged by others, or by even myself. (Sometimes the face I see in the mirror is not a nice guy.) Now, even as I type, I want to repent of my view of myself, and look at myself with the Forgiveness and Love of God.

Disclaimer= = This is not just feel good ideas out of my head. This is the life of Christ that has been formed by years of believing, fellowship, and Bible reading. I could find scriptures to support much, and they flitted through my head as I typed, but I am relying on the HS and the Mind of Christ in other Christians to hear them from the HS also. (And too much time to find and quote and cut and paste for accuracy.)

"Being CONFIDENT of this very thing, that HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST." Philippians 1:6.

There is no check list to check over. It is the Holy Spirit working in us and through us believers until the day Christ comes for us. Everything else that needs to be "checked off some list" are WORKS, performed by man to pat himself on the back with and once again FEEL worthy of God's acceptance.

You hit that one spot on! Well done!

I have to continue to believe God is saving me as I appear as lazy, or even good. Especially when I am judged by others, or by even myself. (Sometimes the face I see in the mirror is not a nice guy.) Now, even as I type, I want to repent of my view of myself, and look at myself with the Forgiveness and Love of God.

Let me take just a slight bit of issue with the "even myself" part.

Paul says in 2 Co 13: 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?