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Christianity for dummies? - 7/19/2008 10:02:43 AM
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nova86
Posts: 17
Joined: 10/6/2007
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I have been a Christian for about 6 years, yet strangely enough I haven't grasped some of the foundational truths until this summer. One thing I have learned this summer is that Christ's righteousness has been imparted to me. This has the potential to take HUGE amounts of guilt and worry out of my life. . . but I am still wondering something. Why do we have to ask for forgiveness? If God looks at us and sees Christ's righteousness, if our sins won't be counted against us, if we are saved by grace. . . I just don't understand why I am constantly having to ask for forgiveness. Most of my thoughts/prayers/time-with-God revolves around me asking for forgiveness. In fact, the sins I commit probably take up most of my thought life throughout the day. As a result I am fighting to believe the truth I learned a few months ago about imparted righteousness. Okay, maybe I am just stupid. . . but I am apparently not *getting* this whole imparted righteousness thing. If I was, I don't believe I would feel this guilty or stressed out all the time. Can someone who is a more mature Christian please explain it to me??
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/19/2008 10:06:47 AM
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earthless
Posts: 5382
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: where pigeons are getting their sweaters ready....
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Justification is God declaring those who receive Christ to be righteous, based on Christ’s righteousness being imputed to the accounts of those who receive Christ.
Though justification as a principle is found throughout Scripture, the main passage describing justification in relation to believers is Romans 3:21-26:
quote:
"But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight - not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.
Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus."
We are justified, declared righteous, at the moment of our salvation. Justification does not make us righteous, but rather pronounces our righteousness.
Our righteousness comes from placing our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice covers our sin, allowing God to see us as perfect and unblemished. Because as believers we are in Christ, God sees Christ's own righteousness when He looks at us.
This meets God's demands for perfection; thus, He declares us righteous - He justifies us.
Romans 5:18-19 sums it up well: "Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life. Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight."
Why is this pronouncement of righteousness so important? "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1).
It is because of justification that the peace of God can rule in our lives. It is because of the FACT of justification that believers can have assurance of salvation. It is the FACT of justification that enables God to begin the process of sanctification – the process of God making us in reality, what we already are positionally.
I recommend you pick up the book entitled 'Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ' by John Piper.
God bless.
_____________________________
Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/19/2008 10:44:06 AM
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URForgiven
Posts: 788
Joined: 3/22/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: nova86
I have been a Christian for about 6 years, yet strangely enough I haven't grasped some of the foundational truths until this summer. One thing I have learned this summer is that Christ's righteousness has been imparted to me. This has the potential to take HUGE amounts of guilt and worry out of my life. . . but I am still wondering something. Why do we have to ask for forgiveness? If God looks at us and sees Christ's righteousness, if our sins won't be counted against us, if we are saved by grace. . . I just don't understand why I am constantly having to ask for forgiveness.
 You are allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth, I commend you. Continue in Him. He is showing you the truth, and it is the truth that sets you free.
If you are in Christ, you don't have to ask for forgiveness again. In fact, it is an insult to Him and His finished work on the cross to do so. If you are in Christ you are forgiven, that is a present reality, and is the result of Christ's shed blood on the cross; our forgiveness is not based on our begging Him to do what He has already done.
Hebrews 10:14
"because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
We have received Christ Himself, and in Him we have everything we need, including forgiveness.
Colossians 1:14
"in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
There is only one genuine and true response to this, and that is to say, "Thank You Jesus".
Bless you
_____________________________
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/19/2008 12:18:27 PM
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mvic
Posts: 1055
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Here's my view on this, although I admit many will not agree:
When Christ died on the Cross He provided us with the means to achieve forgiveness. He provided the bridge through which we reach God.
Sure, our sins are forgiven. But let's consider this scenario:
A baby is born. He is innocent and does not know right from wrong. Strictly speaking he has no sin; although I admit many believe he has Adam's original sin which has to be washed away through baptism. But let's leave this aside for now.
As the baby grows to adulthood he gets to know right from wrong and he sins. You admitted it yourself: "In fact, the sins I commit probably take up most of my thought life throughout the day."
And that's why we have to ask for forgiveness. Because we sin over and over again.
We can't possibly seek forgiveness once and then go on happily sinning throughout our lives in the sure knowledge that we're forgiven already can we?
No Court in the land punishes an individual once and then gives him licence to commit the same crime over and again.
Why do we expect God to be different?
_____________________________
http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/19/2008 4:00:25 PM
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terryjohn
Posts: 410
Joined: 3/23/2007
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Praise God for grace for it is by his grace that we have faith and that we are saved by them. This righteousness we talk about is not about being all perfect for we all know to be without sin and still not have faith is death. Hence, even good works without faith is sin. What righteousness refers to is being right with God through faith. Now this involves our seeing our desperate need for forgiveness and in doing so the necessity of His grace and ultimately His amazing love. Scripture says without faith it is impossible to please Him. Now I am convinved God could have made us sinless but that would have consequences for there would be no long any need for grace or faith and certainly no deep desire for the things of God. That is without our own very real experience of sin through seperation from God, we too have come to need Him who alone can save us. Scripture also points out that our sins make us worthy of grace and our sins do in our own circumstances magnify the grace given to us. For in this to whom much is forgiven the same loveth much and in love we sin not. For who evers loves his brother or sister can not sin against them knowingly.
You could say faith is by nature not a perfect knowledge of God, but if in this faith we but only desire the things of God how much will recieve that which we seek? Now if we can not in this life but hope for the things of God there is no hope for us and we should die in our sins. But in Christ we have something amazing happen for God did not need anything from men to satisfy His anger for as a father, God feely forgives repentant children for the law has always only ever applied to those who do not belong to God. This means the death of Christ is God himself suffering for our sins not in the sense that God needed to pay himself or any justice system a payment for Christs death was for our own benefit for we crucified God and He let us.
I remember the time when Anraham was asked to sacrifice his son to show his faith in God and after asking him to do it God stopped him. This seems contridictory until God Himself comes back some years later and offers to sacrifice His own son to show His faith in men. We can actually then say there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ for sin and righteousness are not determined by the law but by faith or the lack of it in Christ.
In the end being right with God by faith in Christ does have work it self out in our lives and so we do not have drunkards and murderers and the like having access to the same grace. Nevertheless, even though we have faith we are only too aware that we are still not who we want to be but thank God we are not who we once were. Faith is our saving grace for as Christ said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." and "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".
If it helps,
If a boy damaged a house by setting it alite, what would the owner of the house do on finding the boy?
A. Beat the boy, then call the police and prosecute his parents to the full extent of the law to recover monies lost and have the boy thrown in jail?
B. Forgive him and let him go?
The answer clearly depends on wether the boy is your son or not.
In the end, not all anger is sin for sometimes faith demands it. So faith determines the sinfulness of our actions and actions do not always determine our faith. The defining motivation is love for God in Christ for if we have not love we are nothing. Can we conclude, that if nothing can seperate us from the love of our father, then our sins can also not?
Therefore, there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ.
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/19/2008 7:26:07 PM
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jn1010lf
Posts: 235
Joined: 4/20/2005
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nova86
Know this. Jesus Christ forgave your sins with His shed blood on the cross. When you accepted Him, you came into it. You no longer occupied the position of sinner. Now that you know the Lord, you will fall short simply because you are human.
You say that you've learned that Christ imputed righteousness on us. So why do you feel you have to constantly ask for forgiveness? Is there some besetting sin that you are involved in and can't shake? If so, ask the Lord how He wants you to deal with it.
Do you consider yourself worthy? Read Psalm 139, especially where it says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Now, this may have a bearing as well. What kind of church do you attend? Is it one that considers people sinners even though they are saved? Or is it a church that teaches the blessings of God?
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/20/2008 2:18:41 PM
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jrood
Posts: 12
Joined: 12/26/2007
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I'd say, if you trust Christ as your savor, and that his sacrifice covers over your sins:
You don't need to ask God to forgive you anymore than you would ask your friends to forgive you.
I just ask God to forgive me cause...i honestly just regret the sin that i do, and i ask him to help me stop because...i want to have a good testimony, i don't want to hurt people, and i don't want to feel guilty all the time.
Jesus died for your sins in the past, present, and FUTURE! (woot)
So if you die in a car accident, and you hadn't gotten to ask God to forgive you for a sin...you'll still be saved, and you're name will still be written in the Book of Life, etc...
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RE: Christianity for dummies? - 7/21/2008 5:06:12 AM
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ldunning
Posts: 13
Joined: 7/8/2007
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Dear friend,
Can you define this righteousness that you say was given to you? I know that all those in Christ Jesus possess it,but what exactly is it?
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