Leveling of Adulterous and Same-Sex Attraction

There is an attraction a man can have towards a woman who is another man's wife. That can lead him to covet his neighbor's wife (Exodus 20:17) or "lust after her", which is also (already) the sin of adultery as Jesus pointed it out (Matthew 5:28). That coveting or lusting after that woman is an evil desire leading to sin being committed in the heart already. The attraction, even though "fatal", is not the sin. It comes out of a corrupt heart and when it is accepted as "good" in a process of calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) and then is united with a desire for that woman who is another man's wife, that is an evil desire that gives birth to sin that brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

Same-sex attraction works the same way. It is potentially fatal in its outcome but it is not in itself a sin. It's the expression of a corrupt heart. When that attraction is accepted as "good" in a process of calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) and then is united with a desire to be ultimately joined sexually with a person of the same sex, that is an evil desire that violates "let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2b), which establishes marriage as the acceptable context for sexual relationships. That is because if husband is male, which he is, wife has to be female, which she is. There is no pairing of the same sex in the commandment. So, the transgression of the commandment gives birth to sin that brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

The corruption of the heart is what Jesus addresses in offering salvation to the world. It's a path for a person's soul to be restored (Psalm 23:3), for one to have that healing of the soul that the Gospel promises through Jesus' call to sinners to repent (Luke 5:31-32; Isaiah 53:5). Salvation is about escaping the corruption and power of sin that enslaves and destroys:

2 Peter 1:2-4
2  Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3  seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; 4  by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

The grace of God that brings salvation is power to walk in the will of God (Titus 2:11-14), loving God and neighbor out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5; James 4:8). Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love does not harm a neighbor (Romans 13:10), including a neighbor one would be involved in consensual sin with. That love is what Jesus calls us to.

So, anything proceeding out of a corrupt heart (out of darkness) and that is not love can only be falsely so called. Anything that puts or keeps a person and his/her partner on the broad path to destruction (Matthew 7:13) is not love. The simple truth and bad news that the wages of sin is death must be received. Then the Good News from God can bring salvation to those who repent and put their trust in Jesus, that is, who faithfully follow Him as the light of the world (John 8:12).

Anyone who believes in God must also believe that He is powerful enough to enable a person who is 100% willing to do his will to be liberated (saved) to do just that and not be hindered in any way by contrary and conflicting desires. That's how faith works to bring supernatural transformation by the grace of God. He gives a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). It only takes the agreement of a heart that is ready to obey Him (love Him, serve Him, do his will, live for Him). That's the basis of the relationship one enters into with God, beginning with being reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 5:6-11) on the basis of the forgiveness of past sins when one repents.

Matthew 12:33
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.

James 1:21-22

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.

Galatians 5:19-26
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, worldy jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, wilful restrain: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Titus 2:11-14
11  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12  instructing us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13  looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14  who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

 

Saved From Greed - Testimony

Few people are talking about the silent killer that is the love of money that apparently doesn't hurt anyone. But I have been hurt by it using my own hands and it—the love of money— is a sin as vile as any other. It may not have man's laws against it, or have society frown upon it as "immoral," or even be likely to cause a "scandal" in a church—if at all it is mentioned, but heaven is not rejoicing over anyone being entangled in that sin that breeds other sins (1 Timothy 6:9-10). 

When Jesus looks at people's hearts and sees that greed monster, He sees that no place has been made for Him. He says, "Purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8) and that's his call to repentance.

I am Giscard Nazon and this is my testimony:

Saved from Greed

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_oGZPgDg30)

Be blessed and please share as you are led. Peace to you!



See also:

My books

Unexpected Position

 

Connecting with God through Jesus

 

The Day I Shouted "HalleluYah!" 

 

Other resources:

Gambling and Greed (video playlist)

 
The Idolatry of Serving Mammon

 

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

 
Has Jesus Promised to Make His Followers Rich?

 

 

 

 

Giscard Nazon · Connecting With God Through Jesus, written by Giscard Nazon, narrated by Colin Porter

Log:

Remporarily unavailable 9/10/2023

Restored 1/25/2024

Stand Against Witchcraft

If you're in agreement with witchcraft that does not look wicked, you will have peace in your ignorance as you are submitting to a wicked agenda of the devil. He is a liar and a deceiver and will use you as a willing agent to destroy your own self and others. But the moment God reveals that same witchcraft to you and you choose to renounce having any part in it, you will suffer its attacks. You will see its ugly side once you're no longer in agreement with it.

You will know by close experience that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

1 Samuel 15:23a
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Seek God's ways in all then. Make sure you are not rebelling against God in the way you think of anything or in anything you do. Pray for that guidance about everything in your life. That's what surrendering your life to God means. He has a say in everything and desires also to be your light in all. Seek his voice and be obedient to Him. Follow his ways of righteousness and holiness. Come out of the world and be separate as God's servant. Whatever you have to suffer for that, choose God because you love Him above all. Trust that his ways are good and better than any other. Don't follow the world and its lusts. Allow no idols in your heart.

1 John 2:15-17
15  Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love is not in him. 16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father’s, but is the world’s. 17  The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Seek purity of heart which is pleasing to God. Be in agreement with your Father in heaven about all things. Call evil evil and call good good. Don't love anything that God hates. You must be actively seeking God every day. That is how you live. If you are his, you want to live for Him, you want his approval and blessing over every area of your life. So, have no tolerance for ignorance or indifference that would make you be happy following your own ways. Seek the wisdom that God gives, ask for it and you shall receive it (James 1:5).

1 Peter 1:22-23
22  Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from a pure heart fervently: 23  having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding Word of God.

You are called to be an overcomer of evil with Jesus in you.

1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

Luke 10:19-20
19  Look, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will in any way hurt you. 20  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

May Jesus bless you!

Call to Repentance

 

"Our own righteousness is as filthy rags"

That is like a mantra constantly repeated to Christians by preachers to keep their minds on the reality of their unrighteousness (that in the first place should not be), while conveniently offsetting it with the righteousness of Christ supposed to be transferred to them as a cover or a robe that again supposedly makes them appear as righteous to God while deliberate sinning goes on.

God forgives sinners but also because of Jesus’ sacrifice saves them from being enslaved to sin and unable to do anything that pleases God. The Gospel does not keep someone stuck in a place where he/she is unable to please God because all he/she does is as filthy rags. That is no Good News at all. That idea of filthy rags comes from here:

Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Back up one verse and see that God does delight in righteousness that is not as filthy rags, and that all righteousness is not "as filthy rags” before God.

Isaiah 64:5
You meet him that rejoices and works righteousness, those that remember you in your ways: behold, you are angry; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 

The writer is speaking about people who have sinned and need to get saved (v. 5), people who are at the time taken away by their iniquities (v. 6). That is not applicable to the new creature in Christ. But the idea from that passage is systematically applied to Christians who are "saved by grace".

How can a Christian who is led by the Holy Spirit and empowered to walk in God’s will by his grace be inserted into that context?

How can a saved believer be taken away captive by sin, when salvation is synonymous with freedom in Christ, being set free indeed from the bondage of sin (John 8:36)?

How can a place that is like when a dog returns to its vomit or a sow that was washed returns to wallowing in the mire make any sense and be worse than before a person got saved (2 Peter 2:20-22), when righteousness that is as filthy rags is understood as what is normal? It's not because hypocrites exist that righteousness has to be a dirty word. The Bible certainly does not make that point especially concerning the followers of Jesus. Repentance that comes from godly sorrow and that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10) results in a deep change at the core with a heart that is “circumcised” (Colossians 2:11), softened and ready to obey God in all, so one can serve Him with clean hands (Isaiah 1:16-20). 

Why use a text that does not apply to how born again Christians should walk to put a veil on the light of Christ that should shine forth out of them?

What does Jesus have to do with righteousness that is as filthy rags? He came as a light to set people straight so they understand that what they call their "righteousness" that is as filthy rags is unacceptable to God, and so they can get right with God through repentance and faith in Him.

When a person promotes the idea of the Christian's righteousness being as filthy rags, that person also puts the Gospel out of sight, because there is no Good News in producing that kind of fruit that we can call righteousness that is as filthy rags.

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

The idea from Isaiah 64:6 is used out of context to address Christians (followers of Jesus) who love Jesus and follow Him, that is, obey his commandments (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3, 1 John 5:3). Isaiah 64:6 does not describe them and should never be applied to them. Their obedience to the Lord Jesus out of a faith that works by love (Galatians 5:6) is what establishes for them a path of righteousness which is not as filthy rags.

Romans 6:16-20 speaks of what a saved person does: Obedience that leads to righteousness rather than sin leading to death.

Righteousness that is as filthy rags is not righteousness at all, so it is sin and darkness. But there is no such darkness in God. There is no such darkness in those who are in Christ, or they could not be called the salt of the earth or the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

1 John 1:5-7
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.

The grace of God that nobody misses should be so understood (but it is not, in practice):

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

That grace of God, if not received in vain, in no way enables a person to bring forth corrupt fruit (Matthew 12:33).

So, the apostle asks, for anyone who is not sure how the grace of God correlates to sin:

Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

And the danger remains for anyone who believes that grace and sin go right alongside each other to produce "righteousness" that will be as filthy rags, so no righteousness at all as far as God is concerned. Note that being dead to sin (1 Peter 2:24, Romans 6:5-7) must also be a reality.

And Jesus does expect that his followers will be righteous and have a righteousness that is theirs and not as filthy rags:

Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your (own) righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

1 John 3:7-8
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He [Jesus] is righteous. 8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Righteousness that is as filthy rags is unacceptable to God and is sin, and the grace of God is not given for that. Many false teachings have attempted to destroy the fact that Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil like falsely called righteousness that is as filthy rags, and at the same time obscure the way to walk in the righteousness that He did come to establish in the lives of those who are saved to serve God (no longer to serve sin). These are those in whose lives He has destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

This calling here is a far cry from righteousness that is as filthy rags:

Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

This speaks of a cleansing by the word, just like here:
John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Why isn't the cleansing happening? May true repentance, true faith and true grace be preached. That will make a difference.

Until then many will go on believing that Christians remain filthy and get clothed in the righteousness of Christ "transferred" to them. That’s something that does not make sense even in the light of Jesus judging the works of 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3 and finding 5 out of 7 of them in trouble and in need to repent or suffer the consequences of not standing right before Him. Why doesn’t He just see his righteousness that (supposedly) had been transferred to them?

If we believe that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7) and purges our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14), who then has an interest in Christians identifying as sinners whose righteousness is as filthy rags before and after they get saved? The purpose of the Gospel “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18) is getting hijacked somewhere. And that righteousness that is as filthy rags is just another way to admit what is commonly called "self-righteousness" without having the appearance of hypocrisy. A Christian should have nothing to do with any righteousness which is not the righteousness that God delights in. In repentance, in calling upon the name of the Lord, people are to depart from unrighteousness.

Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are his. And, Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.

Revelation 19:7-8
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [righteous acts] of the saints. 



See also: 

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?

Struggle with Sin and Double-Mindedness

The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)

Are we all sinners?

Problem in the Church: Isaiah 64:6

Problem in the Church: 1 John 1:8

Problem in the Church: Romans 7

Call to Repentance

 

The Fear of God (Two Ways)

Job 28:28

To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”

The bible speaks of fearing God in two ways. It's the exact same word used in both cases but the meanings are different based on the contexts. It depends on who is being referred to and what is that person's standing with God at the time (either being obedient or disobedient).

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather 👉 fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

That is the fear you should always have (2nd part of the verse),  not the fear of man (1st part of the verse). You should have this fear of God not because you think Jesus could return for you any minute and then get you thrown into the lake of fire. But because (hopefully), you understand the way that you should be walking with God — in obedience to Him, which shows your love for Him (John 14:15). So, you are walking that way precisely and your heart does not condemn you (1 John 3:20-21). You are not double-minded (James 4:8), following the crowd and confused about which road you're walking on. Whether you are asleep or awake, you are ready for Jesus' return. You are remaining in his love (John 15:9-10; Hebrews 12:28; 2 Corinthians 7:1).

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has to do with punishment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

Here John is speaking to people who are actually born again in this part of his letter (1 John 5:13). And here that fear is the one you should have whenever you have purposed to go outside of the will of God (sin willfully). God never gave you a pass to sin after He has saved you/set you free from sin on the merit of Jesus' precious blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins (cf. John 8:11). So, you should be diligent to make things right with God if you are his servant and have sinned. But you should not be having that fear if you are walking in perfect love/obedience to God. If you are abiding in that love, you cannot sin presumptuously (John 15:9-10, 1 John 3:6, 9).

In summary:

The first fear is wisdom and you should always have it. It is akin to reverence (cf. Hebrews 12:28) and it is a deterrent that will keep you from thinking sinning is a joke or that just going and having some sinful pleasure occasionally is alright (that's like cheating occasionally on your spouse). And can we even speak of having a true relationship based on love and trust then? That fear keeps you from trouble. It should be in you to check you but it's love that should lead you (not fear that should "drive" you or direct your daily conduct). And the second fear is one to have because you have already crossed the line and are actually in trouble because you have disobeyed God. So, you should fear the punishment if you don't have it in your mind to make things right with God right away (because they aren't). If you have sinned presumptuously, you have disregarded the power God has given you to walk in his ways and keep yourself from sin. That power is his grace (Titus 2:11-14). It's an insult to God's Spirit of grace to sin willfully after having come to the knowledge of the truth - Jesus (Hebrews 10:26-27).

We can consider a final illustration of the two:

1) A worker who never takes breaks longer than what he is expected to. 
He is doing what is right, so, he is not terrified about being caught or fired for taking long breaks. But you can say he has a fear of his boss and, by implication, a fear of doing what his boss would not be finding acceptable (while other people may care less). It can be said otherwise that he respects his boss, his workplace, his job and himself, too. He is working "as unto the Lord" (Colossians 3:23-24); there is no terror in him about doing that because he is remaining committed to doing what is right.

2) A worker comes to her workplace early and sprays graffiti all over the place in her boss' office, then goes to sit at her desk. 
Did anyone see her go in? Were any cameras running? Will the police show up? These are questions that can keep running in her head while she still has not been caught or suffered any consequences for her actions. But she knows that what she did was wrong and her time may be running out. If caught, she knows she would have no excuse; so, she fears the punishment she may get.

In both cases then, one who fears God is in a better place than one who does not fear Him and does evil (sins) and does not care. That is foolishness, not wisdom. A person may find forgiveness from God for coming clean with Him and desiring to mend the relationship, but He looks at the heart and can't be fooled. There is nothing hidden to people that will not be revealed (Luke 8:17), and there is nothing that is hidden from God who "will pay back to everyone according to their works" (Romans 2:6-8; Hebrews 4:12-13).

And when it is too late for anyone to repent and get right with God, the Bible says this:

Revelation 22:11-12

11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “Look, I am coming quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.


See also:
Freedom From Sin

Call To Repentance

Are We All Sinners?

Exercise: use a bible app to look for all the verses in the bible that mention 'sinner' (or 'sinners') and see what the word is saying. Then look for all the verses in the bible that mention the 'righteous' and see what the word is saying. Pray before you begin. Read whole passages to get their context (as opposed to reading isolated verses and risk taking them out of context). 

We have all sinned and been sinners in our life (1 John 1:8). But the Good News is that we are called to repent and be converted into whom the Bible calls the righteous (ex-sinners who have been made right with God by the blood of Jesus and remain faithful to Him and his ways till the end.) Consider what the apostle Peter must have understood when He wrote this:
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18).

Sharing the truth from the bible that has a lot to say about the righteous (not "self-righteous") vs. the sinners. These are a few scriptures:

1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 15:7
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Proverbs 11:30-31
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise. 31  Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be justified [declared righteous] by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

There are many more.

A sinner who receives this message and obeys it becomes righteous.

A conversion happens:
(from) sinner ➡️ (to) righteous

Has that conversion happened for you?


If we are all sinners and can only be called sinners at all points in our lives, who is Jesus talking to here, making a contrast with sinners?

Luke 6:32-35
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

John 15:3
Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.

Acts 10:15
... “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”

1 Corinthians 9:11
Such were some of you [unrighteous/sinners], but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:3-7
3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of everlasting life.

+++

Malachi 3:16-18
16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD listened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared the LORD, and who honored his name. 17 They shall be mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.


Study diligently. May God be with you!



See also:
Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

Distinction Between the Righteous (Saints) and the Wicked (Sinners)

Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?

Salvation From What?

Repentance According to the Bible

Crucify the Flesh (YouTube playlist)

Problem in the Church: Isaiah 64:6

Problem in the Church: 1 John 1:8

Problem in the Church: Romans 7


ADDENDUM
Luke 18:13 may show a sinner's prayer, but it's not what you are likely to find practiced today in churches. That man was repentant, which is key. And no one led him to repeat any words. He spoke to God from his heart as the weight of his sin was heavy upon his heart. He understood that he wasn't right with God and needed to be forgiven / saved / made right with God. Anyone who is truly repenting speaks to God, pleading for his forgiveness (ex: David in Psalm 51). So, whatever is said could be called a sinner's prayer. But no one should assume there is a formula for a sinner's prayer that works for all and leading people to say the prayer is the way to get them saved (that's certainly not taught from the Bible). Also, what would follow a sinner's prayer made from the heart is someone who is justified/made right with God/reconciled to God (on account of Jesus' sacrifice), so not a sinner still (cf. Galatians 2:17, Romans 5:6-11). Anywhere the generic sinner's prayer is being practiced, the people are likely to also embrace false teachings like "we are all sinners," before and after salvation, which begs to question the salvation they would speak of. Many are being forced to believe they are saved when that's not reality because teachings of men have been preferred to Jesus' teachings. 

Salvation From Sin

 
Call to Repentance

The Goal of Repentance

Struggle with Sin and Double-Mindedness

Submit yourselves therefore to God. #ToDo Resist the devil, #ToDo and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, #ToDo and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, #ToDo you sinners; and purify your hearts, #ToDo you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)

Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. (James 1:21-22)

No Israelite God had taken out of Egypt was still under the orders of an Egyptian master as a slave, but some kept the ways of Egypt in their hearts, even desiring to go back at some point (Numbers 14:4) and that displeased God. They had been set free to serve Him (ex: Exodus 7:16). Christians today who perpetually struggle with sin struggle with hating sin and loving God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength as Jesus has commanded. It's a sad double-mindedness because no one can serve two masters as Jesus taught (Matthew 6:24). Either God is one's master or sin is. Either one is a servant of God or the servant of sin. Either one has wholly surrendered his/her heart to God or he/she has not. Double-mindedness is at the root of constant struggles with sin.

The relationship believers have with Jesus is likened to a marriage. "I do" to Jesus means "I die" to my (old) self and "no more" to sin (but faithfulness to Jesus).

Mark 8:34-35
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 

The old, defeated life "sold under sin" (Romans 7:14) is lost because of the cross that destroys it. The born again Christian is not the "wretched man" of  Romans 7:24. Note that readings of Romans 7 must continue until at least Romans 8:2 for the conclusion! It's the law of sin and death that had Paul bound (Romans 7:23) before he came to be "in Christ Jesus" and under no condemnation, no longer walking according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-2). That struggle in Romans 7 wasn't the pattern of his entire life. And Romans 6 shows his foundation as a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ).

Romans 6:4-7
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.  

The apostle says "if" (v. 5), so it's a way to check what is and what should be and not have doubts needlessly. That is the devil's plan. The world is a mess and the word is a means of troubleshooting one's walk to ensure one is doing the will of God. And what is described in the above passage must happen for one to have the freedom and the hope that comes in Christ, and have true fellowship with Him in the light:

1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Jesus gives instructions to his followers when He forgives their past sins as they come to Him with a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17, Psalm 34:18), totally tired with sin and helpless (fully understanding their need of a Savior). No one can condemn them once Jesus wipes their slate clean and says, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11). It's a command, so the reality is that a struggle to "sin no more" is a struggle to love Jesus, and it's a struggle to trust that his ways of righteousness and holiness are good and better than any way of sin; and therefore it's a lack of faith in being delivered from sin by taking up one's cross to follow Jesus. If one does not hate his/her sin like God hates sin, that person is not in agreement with God and is possibly double-minded about approaching God for his deliverance (salvation by faith in Jesus). The Good News of salvation from sin that Jesus brought to the world must indeed be a "good news" to anyone who will call upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:9). God sees the hearts of all. Any remaining love for sinful pleasures must be understood for the evil that it is and forsaken as God commands to those who will call upon his name to be saved (2 Timothy 2:19). It may feel like "dying" to never again indulge in some sin, but God rewards those who will give up sin to live for Him. That's giving one's life to Him and not trying to "save" it. Jesus says it like this: "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35). When such cry out to Him in their brokenness, seeking his forgiveness for their past sins and a new life, He will hear and heal them.

John 14:15, 21 
15 If you love me, keep my commandments. (Jesus says)
21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

How do we know that we love God? 

James 4:8 
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

If sinners do not believe who Jesus said He is, the Savior of the world who came out of heaven to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Him (Acts 26:18), then they can be complacent in sin and darkness and call it the (or their) Christian life. They have not believed the Good News actually. The grace of God is power to walk in the will of God, loving God and neighbor out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5; James 4:8). That is what Jesus calls us to.

Jesus responds to the heart that is ready for that walk with Him with his saving grace:

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying (saying 'No' to) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

And God's word must be in a believer's heart to produce the transformation promised in the Good News. 

John 8:31-36
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32  You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33  They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’” 34  Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35  A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:16-18
16  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17  But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were servants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18  Being made free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

1 Peter 4:1-5
1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2  that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for human desires, but for the will of God. 3  For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. 4  They think it is strange that you do not run with them into the same flood of debauchery, blaspheming: 5  who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

2 Timothy 2:23-26
23 Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid discussions, because you know they breed arguments. 24 A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong, 25 and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth, 26 so that they might escape from the devil’s snare, even though they’ve been held captive by him to his will.

1 John 3:7-10
7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother.

Ephesians 4:17-24
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; 19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ that way; 21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old self, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.


“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)


See also:
Struggling with Sin - YouTube playlist

Crucify the Flesh - YouTube playlist

Jonah called the city of Nineveh to repentance FF

Out of Egypt and Out of Sin

Repentance According to the Bible

Connecting with God through Jesus (Book)  

Who is the man struggling in Romans 7?

Romans 7: The Last Refuge for Sin Exposed - Brother Micah Armstrong

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart FF

Are we all sinners?

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)

Sinners don't have a sinful nature but evil desires they act upon

By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11) - YouTube playlist

Romans 10:9 Salvation

You Are Accountable to Repent - YouTube video

  

 

 

Resist Temptation & Break Free from Addiction

 

 

 

Call to Repentance

 

Having it both Ways, Serving two Masters