The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Gospel truth

The modern church avoids this Old Covenant truth; they are today's Pharisee.

"And there you shall(earnestly)remember your ways and all your doings with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil deeds which you have done. And you shall know, understand and realize that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for My names's sake, not according to your corrupt doings. O house of Israel."(Amplified Version)Ezekiel 20:43-44

Friends of truth loathe themselves, true?

Yes and no. Those who have been regenerated by the Spirit are given a glimpse into their own hearts which is enough to loathe themselves and flee to Christ for the remission of sins. However, this loathing is not a constant, unrelenting thing where it becomes morbid introspection as is taught by a few known individuals in the past. Methinks Paul speaks most directly to this 'balance' between knowing oneself to be a sinner and yet there is much to rejoice in and joy floods one's heart knowing that God has set His eternal love upon you and brought you into union with Christ which cannot be broken. The section I'm referring to is in Romans 7:7-8:39.

Yes, you are right, nothing can separate you from the love of God. However, although being in Christ you will have the Spirit until the day you die, you'll never in this life rid yourself of the flesh. And although, God in covenant, will cast your sins away and never remember them, he will not let you forget your previous wicked life. Grace becomes a true grace prayer only when it is accompanied by a consciousness of sin, an ever-knowing sense of unworthiness. The Publican pleaded for mercy that only Christ supplies; the Pharisee saw no need outside himself; no sincere need for a redeemer.

Matt. 9:13 "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

IF by "he will not let you forget your previous wicked life" you mean in this PRESENT life, you are correct. However, IF by that statement you mean this present life and life ETERNAL, this is incorrect.

Revelation 7:17 (KJV) "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Revelation 21:4 (KJV) "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Furthermore, even though in this present life, one's knowledge of their sinfulness, not just sins committed, continues and increases, there is unspeakable joy and peace knowing that the LORD Christ has by His passive obedience; vicarious substitutionary death whereby all penalty for sins and guiltiness before God is removed, and by His active obedience; His perfect righteousness imputed to the elect believer.

Romans 8:1-4 (ASV) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The ''gospel summary'' is one of the best and clearest understandings of the work of His grace that I have read I shared this work with so many and have received many well and thankful feedbacks!!