Originally Posted by Pilgrim
Hmmmm, I'm contused! confused Can you help me out here? Are not the "marks of grace" that which are perceptible, i.e., they can be discerned by ourselves and in many cases by others? (Matt 7:16, 20) So, in one sense, aren't we called to examine ourselves to see if Christ (Holy Spirit) is truly in us by seeing some evidence of transformation? (Jam 2:24-26) To be sure assurance is obtained by several factors, e.g. our love for God and Christ evidenced in our desiring after righteousness, good works performed, the testimony of the indwelling Spirit that we are children of God, etc. So, isn't it legitimate for a professing believer to examine his/her life to see if there is spiritual fruit on the tree?

Did I not say, as we look into the Word of God we see that we truly are the children of God, what is so confusing about that? What is your standard that you go by to see if you are truly a child of God? confused

Originally Posted by Pilgrim
Secondly, this REALLY caught my attention: "I always tell people "don't try" to be good, allow God to make you good." I am going to assume, rightly or wrongly, that you are not simply redressing that old Antinomian byword which was so popular back in the '70s, "Let go and let God!". crazyeyes There are so many biblical passages which come to mind which contradict that type of Antinomianism:

That is just plain being silly. Why do you say I am saying let go and let God? ai yi yi, do you not understand? How are we changed? Isn't it that our attitudes and desires are changed? For it is out of the heart that proceeds all evil. Can you change this in your own strength? If you can, then you are better than all. The things of the soul are changed by the word of God not by our wills. As the word of God impacts us, we do change, from the inside out. The verses you mentioned support what I said, that we look into the perfect law of God and we see that we "DO" keep His commandments. The fruit is the product of the light that is within us, not something we produce on our own. Must we look into the word of God to know what is right or wrong? Isn't the law written on our hearts? I stand by what I said. Maybe that is the problem with people, they are getting in the way of what God is trying to do, did you ever think of that? I don't know why people tend to make everything so difficult.

In Christ,
Hisalone

Hisalone
Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV