if we will keep sinning then how can we turn from sin

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luckyd Oct 5, 2006

i was talking to 2 guys today and it turned into this big debate. I didn't want it to, but what happened was i was they were asking me why i dont do the things they do to have fun such as sex and geting drunk. They thought i was wierd and must be a mormon but i told them because my life belongs to christ and i dont want to live in sin. but they kept saying that gods ok with them because hes a forgiving god and that atleast they admit thier sinners...I tried to tel them they cant go to heaven unless they are reborn and let christ change them into a new creation and leave sin behind but they kept saying that im not perfect and if i sin then i obviously havent left sin either...they were true kind of, but i know ive been reborn, i just couldnt explain it anymore because i was getting trapped and all i could do was tell them theres a difference between following jesus and not being perfect and following satan and boasting about thier sin and not having a repentant life...that was the best i could do because i have never met anyone like that before...what could i have done...one of them also said that no one can understand black and white when i tried reading a passage...he basically thought since we are all sinners then god is ok with him because atleast he admits his sin

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roadsign Oct 5, 2006

atleast he admits his sin

Not! He fails to admit that he doesn't want God to be his boss! Rebellion and pride!

what could i have done.

Perhaps you could have asked him on whose terms he is settled with God - his (ie his view of God) or God's.

Really, such sinners aren't ready or interested to think about Christ. Wait till they are begging for pig husks ( like the Prodigal Son)

Times like this you just walk away, or tell a joke - so that they don't have the delight of trampling all over your "pearls" (which they did when they mocked your words and entangled you in an argument).

PS: Have you ever noticed that Jesus never allowed anyone to put him on the defense. He had a clever way of throwing in a twist - like a parable. Yet his goal was always redemptive, never retaliative, and never defensive.

Diane

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kdbutton Oct 5, 2006

Just because you are asked a question doesn't mean you have to answer it.

"And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long [season], because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Then he (Herod) questioned with him in many words; but he (Jesus)answered him nothing."

Jesus discerned Herod was a mocker and insincere in his questions so he let Herod's words just hang in the air. Sometimes I think a fool's words left hanging in the air are the best argument against the evil motive behind them.

K

KindGottes Oct 5, 2006

Our Pastor always said that we should never get into an argument with unbelievers. If someone is trying to argue with us, we should just leave it. So I think the other ones where right by telling you that you should just make a joke about it and stop talking to them.

God bless!

Bea

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roadsign Oct 5, 2006

other ones where right by telling you that you should just make a joke about it

I didn't mean that you would make a joke about the precious things of God, or even about the consequences of sin. Rather - a shrewd comment that silences them or takes the wind out of their sails. Still, silence is likely the cleverest response - it denies them the fuel they want for their offense against you.

Diane

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ginnyrose Oct 5, 2006

luckyd,
You got a lot of good advice here to your question. But I would like to add one more: when you get into a discussion like this, pray in your spirit the LORD would reveal to you what to say because you most certainly don't know. Then do not say anything until the LORD prompts you to speak. If nothing is forthcoming, be silent!

One more observation: when we encounter this type of opposition, we are so eager to win them over to the LORD's side. THAT is the work of the Holy Spirit: we are only tools he may use to assist him. So if you do not see any results, do not fear, you did your job - if your were obedient. Conviction belongs to God/Holy Spirit.

Hope this helps...

ginnyrose

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RobertW Oct 5, 2006

one of them also said that no one can understand black and white when i tried reading a passage...he basically thought since we are all sinners then god is ok with him because atleast he admits his sin

I think it important at times to emphasize the experience of Solomon and the vast multitudes of sinners who, if they were honest, would admit that sin simply ~~[u]~~does not live up to its promises.[/u] Reidhead in "the tragedy of 3rd generation religion" demonstrates that the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life when taken to their ultimate end still cannot meet the need of man. Solomon exclaimed, Vanity, Vanity all is VANITY and vexation of spirit! Feeding the flesh is like feeding a bottomless pit. It is never satisfied and the essence of what man needs is a sense of 'contentment'. Sin breeds more and more dissatisfaction. Was there not an old rock song that said something like that? ;-)

sermonindex Oct 6, 2006

share with them this verse in Luke 19:

26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

27But those mine enemies, ~~[b]~~which would not that I should reign over them[/b], bring hither, and ~~[b]~~slay them before me.[/b]

It clearly show what awaits those who will not let Christ rule over them....regardless of what they say they believe.

sermonindex Oct 6, 2006

I think it is vital that if a preacher is going to preach repentance, he himself must have already repented.

Paul said this.

Romans 2:21-22 "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?"

If a person has any unrepented sin in their life, they don't have any right to tell someone else to get rid of their sin, until they repent and get rid of their own.

We need to make sure that we remove any log that could be in our eye before removing something from someone else. Only once we ourselves are clean are we qualified to preach and to help others get the garbage out of their eye.

K

KindGottes Oct 6, 2006

Hi Diane,

i know what you meant, Diane! ;-)

Bea