Why is it so tough to follow the rules of the Bible?

[KingJ]

1. But we should also love the Lord (the first commandment).
2. Hating sin isn't enough... we also have to stop practicing sin. ( Matt 7:23; Rom 1:32; Rom 7:15; Rom 13:4;
Gal 5:21; Col 3:9; 1 Jn 3:4; 1 Jn 3:8-9; Rev 21:27; etc.. )
3. If we have ever sinned at all... even only one time.... we are just as guilty as if we broke every law. ( James 2:10; )
So the only way... is to be forgiven of our sins. Forgiven by who? There is only one answer, because
only one person paid the price for our sins.

4. Even Cain hated his sin after he did it. Even Judas hated his sin after he did it. Even Esau was sorry for his sin and
even tried to repent of it. ( Heb 12:17; ) David hated his sin after he did it ( 2 Sam 12:13-14; Psalms 51; )

5. Hating sin isn't enough to save us. We have to go further...we have to repent of sin. We have to confess
Jesus as our savior, and we need to ask for forgiveness.

1. Of course. Hating what is evil and clinging to what is good is genuine love Rom 12:9. We can't expect any who don't know God's law or yet have a real relationship with Him to grasp properly, matters like idolatry and the first 4 commandments.
2. If you hate sin you strive to stop practicing it.
3. Agreed. But as I have always said. Having sin has never eqauled hell, loving it does John 3:19.
4. I doubt Cain hated his sin. God paid him a visit and his reply was ''am I my brothers keeper'. So God made it clear to Cain that He knew what he did 'the ground by your feet is stained with the blood of Abel''. God excomunicated him. God probably wouldn't have if he repented. Judas definitely showed remorse. He tried to make right his wrong. Remorse isn't always hating sin. I don't know, it is a very difficult matter to discern. He may or may not be in heaven. Esau should be in heaven. David too.
5. Hating what is evil leads to repentance. What else does? Outside of Calvinism, this is Christianity 101.

 

[Bendito]

I kind of put this in the same bin... as why do we suffer?

Did Moses only have one encounter with God?
Did Abraham? Did Isaac? Did Samson? Elijah? Elisha? David? Samuel? Noah? Gideon?
Daniel? Joseph? Ezekiel?

It seems like some Christians think... well I had my "one" encounter with God.. I'm good now.
If we were perfect we wouldn't need Jesus/God. But even after we become saved... we still aren't perfect.
(Yes, we are perfect in/through Him) but that's the point... it's only in Him and through Him.
This isn't a one time thing. This is a continual (taking up your cross daily, dying to sin daily) thing.

If we stop seeing our mistakes... ("sin" is simply missing the mark... the mark of perfection).
Then we stop seeing our need for Him. When we think we no longer need Him... we get into trouble.

This seems to be the theme of the entire old testament... they get in trouble... they need God.
God rescues them from trouble... they no longer need Him anymore (at least they think they don't).
I know many professing Christians to be the same way. I'm saved, I'm good... I don't really need Jesus anymore.

Going through trials and testing is one thing.... we usually eventually recognize we need Him when we're
in trouble. But recognizing that we still sin sometimes... that's another. Sometimes it's harder to see we
need Him in those times also.

Maybe one of the reasons it's so hard to obey "the rules of the Bible", is to help us see... we need Him.
It helps us see how far we are from perfection... from spotlessness, from sinlessness...
Without Jesus... none of us has a chance.

B-A-C What you're talking about here is 'sin consciousness' vs 'righteousness consciousness' We wrestle with sin continually when we are conscious of the fact that we can sin...Yes we need Jesus.....On the other hand if we were more righteousness conscious, we would be leaning in that direction...And toward the source of our righteousness.....ALL of our righteousness comes from our Jesus...He was made to be sin, so that we could be made the righteousness of God in the anointing.
Look at it this way my friend...When you are driving, you will go where you look..If you at the deer that runs out in front of you, you will either hit the deer or you will destabilize you vehicle to the point where you will lose control and wreck....If you continually look at sin as the danger you will much more easily fall into it...Look where you WANT TO GO....and that's where you will go....Physically mentally and spiritually...
We are NOT sinners, we ARE the righteousness of God in the anointing....

 

[B-A-C]

B-A-C What you're talking about here is 'sin consciousness' vs 'righteousness consciousness' We wrestle with sin continually when we are conscious of the fact that we can sin...Yes we need Jesus.....On the other hand if we were more righteousness conscious, we would be leaning in that direction...And toward the source of our righteousness.....ALL of our righteousness comes from our Jesus...He was made to be sin, so that we could be made the righteousness of God in the anointing.
Look at it this way my friend...When you are driving, you will go where you look..If you at the deer that runs out in front of you, you will either hit the deer or you will destabilize you vehicle to the point where you will lose control and wreck....If you continually look at sin as the danger you will much more easily fall into it...Look where you WANT TO GO....and that's where you will go....Physically mentally and spiritually...
We are NOT sinners, we ARE the righteousness of God in the anointing....

This is liberalism vs conservatism.
One believes man was born good and learns how to be evil.
The other believes man was born evil and learns how to be good.

Whether we are sinners or righteous... doesn't just depend on what we believe.

1 Jn 1:5; This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
1 Jn 1:6; If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
1 Jn 1:7; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 Jn 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:10; If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 Jn 2:4; The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 Jn 2:5; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
1 Jn 2:6; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

We can say we're righteous in Him all day long.... but if we aren't walking the walk...

1 Jn 3:4; Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 Jn 3:5; You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
1 Jn 3:6; No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
1 Jn 3:7; Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
1 Jn 3:8; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1 Jn 3:9; No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 Jn 3:10; By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

If we just go on living a sinful life like we did before we were saved.... we can say we're righteous all day long, but...

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

We don't fall into sin by being aware of it.. we fall into sin when we don't think about it.

( Heb 4:11; Matt 5:29-30; Matt 18:8-9; John 11:9-10; 2 Pet 2:10; )
Be diligent, be alert, be wary, practice righteousness, so that you don't stumble.

 

[Bendito]

This is liberalism vs conservatism.
One believes man was born good and learns how to be evil.
The other believes man was born evil and learns how to be good.

Whether we are sinners or righteous... doesn't just depend on what we believe.

1 Jn 1:5; This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
1 Jn 1:6; If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
1 Jn 1:7; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 Jn 1:8; If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 Jn 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:10; If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 Jn 2:4; The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 Jn 2:5; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
1 Jn 2:6; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

We can say we're righteous in Him all day long.... but if we aren't walking the walk...

1 Jn 3:4; Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 Jn 3:5; You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
1 Jn 3:6; No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
1 Jn 3:7; Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
1 Jn 3:8; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1 Jn 3:9; No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 Jn 3:10; By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

If we just go on living a sinful life like we did before we were saved.... we can say we're righteous all day long, but...

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

We don't fall into sin by being aware of it.. we fall into sin when we don't think about it.

( Heb 4:11; Matt 5:29-30; Matt 18:8-9; John 11:9-10; 2 Pet 2:10; )
Be diligent, be alert, be wary, practice righteousness, so that you don't stumble.

There is no man born good....'for all have sinned' That's right...We were sinners. Then Jesus died for us..and legally we died with Him, were raised up with Him brand new beings.. Is this not so?
If it is so....Why are we still sinners? If we are truly still sinners then Jesus threw His life away for nothing. It was pointless and accomplished NOTHING...But it was not for nothing....We were raised up the righteousness of God in the same anointing that our Jesus is anointed with...Now its up to us to walk in that anointing. Continue to be righteous in the anointing...
But Father knows we're in training here, and that we'll slip on occasion and sin.....At that point "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

That means we are NOT sinners. Not now, not ever... We were sinners then we were saved by grace through faith.

What I said above is not liberalism vs conservatism (whatever that is) Its simply a proper way to look at ourselves and what God has done in us.

 

[KingJ]

What I said above is not liberalism vs conservatism (whatever that is) Its simply a proper way to look at ourselves and what God has done in us.

I don't believe this is a very simple discussion at all.

We can't teach complacency from the pulpit 1 Cor 10:12. BAC's bolded scriptures make this very clear.

But then we also can't teach people to not have confidence in Christ and not know who they are as you say 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 3:18.

I think comparing it to marriage helps solve the dilemma. Don't focus on the fear of one-day cheating / being cheated on. But if you are in that type of sin, be very afraid of divorce.

Hence my belief is geared more toward mortal sins. Be righteousness focused. But if we are in a mortal sin, don't be naive. We can easily be Christ focused but yet still hate Him. We only fear divorce if we are cheating. We should not fear it for any lessor evil.

 

[Bendito]

I don't believe this is a very simple discussion at all.

We can't teach complacency from the pulpit 1 Cor 10:12. BAC's bolded scriptures make this very clear.

But then we also can't teach people to not have confidence in Christ and not know who they are as you say 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 3:18.

I think comparing it to marriage helps solve the dilemma. Don't focus on the fear of one-day cheating / being cheated on. But if you are in that type of sin, be very afraid of divorce.

Hence my belief is geared more toward mortal sins. Be righteousness focused. But if we are in a mortal sin, don't be naive. We can easily be Christ focused but yet still hate Him. We only fear divorce if we are cheating. We should not fear it for any lessor evil.

Wow! KingJ Who said anything about complacency? We have to be vigilant! As I said above, we will go in the direction that we focus our attentions...If you focus on sin, you will get entangled by sin...If you focus on the fact that you ARE the righteousness of God in the anointing that is how you will live and sin will not be a problem....Colossians 3:1-3 (CJB)
3 So if you were raised(from the dead) along with the Messiah, then seek the things above, where the Messiah is sitting at the right hand of God 2 Focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.
You died to sin..You were raised up a new creation, the righteousness of God in the anointing...Why do you insist on calling yourself a sinner...That sinner you died...

Be diligent, be alert, be wary, practice righteousness, so that you don't stumble.

Isn't this what I'm saying?! Focus on your righteousness in Him! Not on the fact that you were a sinner.

 

[KingJ]

You died to sin..You were raised up a new creation, the righteousness of God in the anointing...Why do you insist on calling yourself a sinner...That sinner you died...

Paul tells us too (Phil 2:12, 1 Cor 11:31, 1 Cor 10:12). In the event we think we are a Christian and are not. We must be confident in Christ. But must also daily examine ourself to ensure we in fact are in Christ. Many want to be a Christian today. Get power, riches and eternal bliss. All you have to do is repeat some magical lines and daily brainwash / convince yourself that you believe without doubting. No better deal exists.

 

[Bendito]

Paul tells us too (Phil 2:12, 1 Cor 11:31, 1 Cor 10:12). In the event we think we are a Christian and are not. We must be confident in Christ. But must also daily examine ourself to ensure we in fact are in Christ. Many want to be a Christian today. Get power, riches and eternal bliss. All you have to do is repeat some magical lines and daily brainwash / convince yourself that you believe without doubting. No better deal exists.

To be not in Christ does not mean you are not a Christian...Simply get back into Christ....Christ means 'the anointed One and His anointing'. You are anointed with the same anointing as Jesus is..So if you step out of that anointing you can simply step back in...Walk in the anointing of Jesus.

 

[KingJ]

To be not in Christ does not mean you are not a Christian...Simply get back into Christ....Christ means 'the anointed One and His anointing'. You are anointed with the same anointing as Jesus is..So if you step out of that anointing you can simply step back in...Walk in the anointing of Jesus.

I don't disagree with this. I agree with you. This all applies to a Christian. But today it is so difficult to teach this from the pulpit. We actually have to qualify it today. Perhaps 30 years ago before the GLBT movement was in regular church attendance with no desire to change, we could preach like this.

 

[Waggles]

But today it is so difficult to teach this from the pulpit. We actually have to qualify it today.

No. Our pastors and elders call it out for what worldliness is - sin, wickedness, disobedience, self-will, the road to perdition.
This is necessary so as to identify and preach God's righteousness, as opposed to what is sin and offensive.
If people don't like it, tough luck. But to compromise on the Word of God would also bring condemnation on those who preach a false gospel
(like ex-bishop John Shelby Spong, who preaches to homosexuals that Jesus loves you as you are, no need for repentance, stay gay).
He and others are simply leading these fools, like lemmings, over the cliff to their slaughter.
it is our duty to preach righteousness, whether the world wants to hear it or not...
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing,
but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

 

[KingJ]

No. Our pastors and elders call it out for what worldliness is - sin, wickedness, disobedience, self-will, the road to perdition.
This is necessary so as to identify and preach God's righteousness, as opposed to what is sin and offensive.
If people don't like it, tough luck. But to compromise on the Word of God would also bring condemnation on those who preach a false gospel
(like ex-bishop John Shelby Spong, who preaches to homosexuals that Jesus loves you as you are, no need for repentance, stay gay).
He and others are simply leading these fools, like lemmings, over the cliff to their slaughter.
it is our duty to preach righteousness, whether the world wants to hear it or not...
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing,
but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Completely agree. This is what I am trying to say. Someone like Shelby Spong would tell the GLBT's in attendance:

You are anointed with the same anointing as Jesus is..So if you step out of that anointing you can simply step back in...Walk in the anointing of Jesus.

 

[B-A-C]

who preaches to homosexuals that Jesus loves you as you are, no need for repentance, stay gay

It seems the reason you don't need to repent, is because they believe this is no longer a sin.
You don't need to repent if you aren't sinning.

Isa 5:20; Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

 

[rag4aCrown]

"if any(one) come after me, let him forsake all and follow me; Jesus said.

we can "walk in the Spirit" (in the fullness of God) right now (in heavenly places); just as Jesus did; but we must forsake ALL and follow HIM.

Harder said then done. No "one" has done it, but Jesus.
No one has left home, or mother, or father, or children, or wife, or husband, or this life's affairs behind. Even Jesus disciples were scattered, when they took Jesus into custody; some returned to the past life they had known because they were stricken with fear of being killed also; and silence began. Stephen, who was not silent, pushed on to reach the mark of his higher calling (to be with HIM where He is) and Paul consented to his death and guarded the clothes of those who stone Stephen to death.

As long as we hang on to any part of this world we are in bondage to it; doing the same as everyone else; yielding ourselves to the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Unless there be a falling away, sin would not have been made known. We all fall short of the glory of God. He keeps us humble, that we not think more of ourselves then we ought to. Forgive me Lord, a sinner.

I praise God for my Jesus and the blood He has showered upon me washing me, cleansing me, ministering to me these truths. HE separates us from this world, because HE is in us, and has received us unto Himself. My sins are blotted out in HIM, and God remembers them no more.

In our shortcomings, we are enlightened by HIS strength. For when we are weak, HE is strong. Amen
All praise, glory and honor be unto God. Amen

 

[Bendito]

I don't disagree with this. I agree with you. This all applies to a Christian. But today it is so difficult to teach this from the pulpit. We actually have to qualify it today. Perhaps 30 years ago before the GLBT movement was in regular church attendance with no desire to change, we could preach like this.

Where did Jesus ever moderate His teaching to meet the politically correct mindset? Jesus spoke God's Word...That is what all Christians are to speak. Simple as that.
What you say we have to do is like a man standing on the shore or the boat and telling the man who is floundering in the deep water, "I don't want to offend you but you're drowning because you can't or won't swim..I would toss you this life ring but you don't like the color so I'll toss you this anvil which is the right color..."
Tell the truth! "Catch this life ring, dummy. Complain about the color later, when you're alive and not dead"

 

[rag4aCrown]

Be Christ like... if we love them as Christ loved us, we would speak the Truth He has spoken to us. We know we offend many, but woe to him who is offended. If they be offended, just accept wrong and move on, shake the very dust from your feet. I praise God for His Truth that works in my life; we have nothing to prove, just speak the Word of God. Amen. Speak to the spirits, don't get stuck in a rut with the flesh (gotta be right). God is right. Amen. He got us. He got our battles.

 

[KingJ]

Where did Jesus ever moderate His teaching to meet the politically correct mindset?

Agreed. This is exactly what I am trying to say. It seems we are talking past each other.

 

[Curtis]

Pleasant greetings brothers & sisters in Christ.

I have often said "If we all followed the Bible there wouldn't be the problems we encounter today".

The 10 commandments are plain.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols. (
   
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
   
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (make up stories about someone to make yourself look better)
   
10. You shall not covet. (obsess over wanting something someone else has)

These 10 are the beginning of the rule book. There are many other rules of the Bible so I wonder often.
So why then is it so tough to follow simple rules? I have some idea but I ask what others think.

Thank you in advance with this question.

1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
1Ti 1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

The law along with all it's rules where given to prove, and show that man could not keep them. It's purpose was to "expose" sin in man, and to show man that he needed a savior.
Jesus perfectly kept the law, and when a person comes to Jesus as their savior the rewards for keeping the law is given to them. "We have bee redeemed from the "curse" of the law by Christi becoming a curse for us..." We are recipients to what Jesus did for us, and the only requirement for us is to let the Love (God, for God is love) to live his life through us. As it is written......

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

 

[Julie.S]

Honor your father and your mother.

The problem with this one I think is that sometimes the mother and father for some people are abusive to their children. To them this rule would seem terrible as their mother and father are the ones causing them pain.

That's just an example.

 

[rag4aCrown]

Honor your father and your mother.

The problem with this one I think is that sometimes the mother and father for some people are abusive to their children. To them this rule would seem terrible as their mother and father are the ones causing them pain.

That's just an example.

Even in honoring an abusive master, are we not honoring the Father laying down our life to serve the (Father) and the abusive master?
I have this issue and have cried and grieved over it terribly. I hear things like "God is evil, or I will be rid of you the day I pull my last breath" and much more. However I can go away and she prays I return and God brings me back to serve my wicked, negative, doubtful master.
I hear the spirit that speaks.
So do I continue to be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever or shake the dust and move on?; or honor her in her last years?