On another thread we were posed the question as to whether or not someone has the right to hold past forgiven sins against us. I thought this was a good time to address this here because I realize there are many believers who are being accused of past sin, merely to control them and redirect the target away from the present sins of the accuser.
People can do what ever they want, but the fact is that if someone is repentant they are forgiven by God, no one should rehash it. The only reason to bring up a past sin is to demean and diminish the person who is the target.
Those who bring up past sins or don't bring them up but act superior to us, are merely attempting to control our emotions to cause frustration and even insanity. They are being used of the devil to cause guilt in one who is forgiven. These are acts of the devil, we should not take them seriously.
I never feel guilty for past forgiven sins, everyone....everyone and everyone has past sins, it is the human experience. Those who think they can hold past sin against us must be thinking they never had any of their own. If they believe they never had sin that needed forgiving, then perhaps their sin is unrepented and they remain in their guilt.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Ephesians 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"
Matthew 6:14-15
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Here is where judging is a sin, when we judge others based on past forgiven sins, for the purpose of elevating ourselves and demeaning another.
Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Saturday, December 23, 2017
The Way We Think
The way we think determines our actions. We cannot separate our thinking process from the way we operate in life.
The unsaved are deeply invested in self esteem teaching which colors every single thing way they think and the things they do.
In Judges 17 we can see what happens to a nation when there is no king or God in the lives of the people.
Without God there is no ability to do what is right, there are no rules and standards. We see this right now in our country. All moral standards of God are mocked while the relativity of human moral standards are changing every day, based merely on the desires of radically selfish human beings.
Those who follow Christ know that proper way to raise children, but the world is allowing the children to raise the adults.
When we follow Christ we see the need to defer to others in unimportant matters to be helpful to those around us.
The world fights for their rights tolerating nothing while asserting their right to be tolerated. Worldly thinking is irrational at best, it defies God's standards of righteousness that are actually better for us, that bring emotional, spiritual and even financial advantage.
Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways” .
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” .
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” .
Those who fight to have their own way, mocking and demeaning the ways of God, will see destruction and miss many blessings!
Those who love the ways of God will be prosperous in their spiritual growth and wisdom. They will not be led astray by foolishness.
Psalm 119:100 “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts”.
Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life”.
The unsaved are deeply invested in self esteem teaching which colors every single thing way they think and the things they do.
In Judges 17 we can see what happens to a nation when there is no king or God in the lives of the people.
Without God there is no ability to do what is right, there are no rules and standards. We see this right now in our country. All moral standards of God are mocked while the relativity of human moral standards are changing every day, based merely on the desires of radically selfish human beings.
Those who follow Christ know that proper way to raise children, but the world is allowing the children to raise the adults.
When we follow Christ we see the need to defer to others in unimportant matters to be helpful to those around us.
The world fights for their rights tolerating nothing while asserting their right to be tolerated. Worldly thinking is irrational at best, it defies God's standards of righteousness that are actually better for us, that bring emotional, spiritual and even financial advantage.
Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways” .
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” .
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” .
Those who fight to have their own way, mocking and demeaning the ways of God, will see destruction and miss many blessings!
Those who love the ways of God will be prosperous in their spiritual growth and wisdom. They will not be led astray by foolishness.
Psalm 119:100 “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts”.
Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life”.
Friday, December 22, 2017
Emotions Ignore Them
When emotions drive actions and reactions, then there is much error and even further brokenness.
Forget the Excuses and Repent
Ezekiel 18:19-21
"19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"
So you see, our home environment is not responsible for the way we turn out. The choices we make prove our own hearts.
"19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"
So you see, our home environment is not responsible for the way we turn out. The choices we make prove our own hearts.
The Pavlov Dog Experiment Doesn't Work on Humans
I am convinced that narcissists make choices and decisions in how they will respond to life.
Some very good people raised in terrible homes do not become narcissists. AND, some bad people were raised in good environments do not become narcissists.
We are not animals who respond to stimuli, we are human beings who make our choices based on our inner heart.
There is no formula, it's a matter of choices people make in response to their life situations.
I have met bad people who were given good family environments who blamed the standards of the family on their "strict" homes, for their choices to act badly. I saw those homes and they were not "too strict", they were merely normal caring parents who had boundaries for their children.
One child in a good environment will rebel and live horribly, while others in that same family choose righteously and well.
When we attempt to apply principles from psychology based on evolution of "cause and effect", we make a very grave mistake. This mentality tends to coddle evil doers, thinking they are in pain when they are not only, not in pain, they are the abusers who cause pain.
Everyone is responsible for their own choices and responses to life. Sadly many people who do act like animals, losing control over the unkind treatment in our culture, or perceiving something as unkind when it was not, give themselves excuses.
Our Lord teaches that we are to ignore our feelings that are natural, never executing revenge. God tells us not to treat others badly in response to their ill treatment of us. We can tell the truth, explain the need to stop abusing others, even give consequences but we are never to exact revenge on anyone.
Romans 12:18-20 "…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We have God's permission and even a command to remove ourselves from those who act badly and are not sorry for their actions. Those who are not sorry will continue causing trouble whenever they can get away with it.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “Difficult Times Will Come” 3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Truth and consequences only work on those who have a conscience. When there is no conscience present for bad behavior, then there will be revenge on the part of the narcissist. Their goal is to punish us so that we will end up acting badly, thereby excusing themselves for their own evil behavior.
As believers we have all the necessary instructions in the Bible to help us know how to handle those who are disobedient and rebellious against God.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will help us to respond in a godly manner to all the circumstances around us rather than reacting to the manipulations of others.
Some very good people raised in terrible homes do not become narcissists. AND, some bad people were raised in good environments do not become narcissists.
We are not animals who respond to stimuli, we are human beings who make our choices based on our inner heart.
There is no formula, it's a matter of choices people make in response to their life situations.
I have met bad people who were given good family environments who blamed the standards of the family on their "strict" homes, for their choices to act badly. I saw those homes and they were not "too strict", they were merely normal caring parents who had boundaries for their children.
One child in a good environment will rebel and live horribly, while others in that same family choose righteously and well.
When we attempt to apply principles from psychology based on evolution of "cause and effect", we make a very grave mistake. This mentality tends to coddle evil doers, thinking they are in pain when they are not only, not in pain, they are the abusers who cause pain.
Everyone is responsible for their own choices and responses to life. Sadly many people who do act like animals, losing control over the unkind treatment in our culture, or perceiving something as unkind when it was not, give themselves excuses.
Our Lord teaches that we are to ignore our feelings that are natural, never executing revenge. God tells us not to treat others badly in response to their ill treatment of us. We can tell the truth, explain the need to stop abusing others, even give consequences but we are never to exact revenge on anyone.
Romans 12:18-20 "…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We have God's permission and even a command to remove ourselves from those who act badly and are not sorry for their actions. Those who are not sorry will continue causing trouble whenever they can get away with it.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “Difficult Times Will Come” 3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Truth and consequences only work on those who have a conscience. When there is no conscience present for bad behavior, then there will be revenge on the part of the narcissist. Their goal is to punish us so that we will end up acting badly, thereby excusing themselves for their own evil behavior.
As believers we have all the necessary instructions in the Bible to help us know how to handle those who are disobedient and rebellious against God.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will help us to respond in a godly manner to all the circumstances around us rather than reacting to the manipulations of others.
MacAruthur in Serious Error
Many years ago I collected a number of books by John MacArthur and listened to him on the radio often. His sermons seemed good and I never heard anything I disagreed with......until recent years.
Over the years as I grew in the Lord I became aware that he believed some things that the Lord never taught in His word, things that will lead people astray.
I thought the doctrine of "election", in which no one had a choice in their salvation, nor could anyone understand anything unless they first had the Holy Spirit after salvation, was a mere disagreement. Now I see just how serious is this teaching.
I thought these things sounded off to me, but thought perhaps I had misunderstood him. Then over the course of a few months I saw that he was becoming more outspoken on these matters, as though he knew many years ago that most people would not accept these things so he waited until the culture was more receptive.
Now I realize he believed these things all along but seemed to be hiding them to remain popular with mainstream Christianity.
Lately he has been openly teaching that no one has a choice in their salvation and that a person in the tribulation could still be saved when they take the mark of the beast.
It makes no sense at all, in light of our understanding of the character of God, that He would make people unable to choose Him and then punish them in hell for not choosing Him. That is not the compassionate and loving God Who would send His own Son to die for the sins of the world.
I am throwing out all of his books!
Revelation 14:11. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. Day and night there will be no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
John 1:2 " 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world."
2 Peter 3:9
"9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
Over the years as I grew in the Lord I became aware that he believed some things that the Lord never taught in His word, things that will lead people astray.
I thought the doctrine of "election", in which no one had a choice in their salvation, nor could anyone understand anything unless they first had the Holy Spirit after salvation, was a mere disagreement. Now I see just how serious is this teaching.
I thought these things sounded off to me, but thought perhaps I had misunderstood him. Then over the course of a few months I saw that he was becoming more outspoken on these matters, as though he knew many years ago that most people would not accept these things so he waited until the culture was more receptive.
Now I realize he believed these things all along but seemed to be hiding them to remain popular with mainstream Christianity.
Lately he has been openly teaching that no one has a choice in their salvation and that a person in the tribulation could still be saved when they take the mark of the beast.
It makes no sense at all, in light of our understanding of the character of God, that He would make people unable to choose Him and then punish them in hell for not choosing Him. That is not the compassionate and loving God Who would send His own Son to die for the sins of the world.
I am throwing out all of his books!
Revelation 14:11. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. Day and night there will be no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
John 1:2 " 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world."
2 Peter 3:9
"9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
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