tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755209147403169584.post5365721965517728465..comments2020-11-24T23:25:08.346+11:00Comments on Jasmine Ruigrok: Sinful Slave or Saved Saint (of fleshly misconceptions and holy possibilities)Jasmine Ruigrokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976708690026168727noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755209147403169584.post-84841901739226472602018-01-15T10:10:32.548+11:002018-01-15T10:10:32.548+11:00I continue to be amazed by God. And, this is one ...I continue to be amazed by God. And, this is one of those times. I thank God that He has revealed all this to you.<br /><br />The interesting thing is what it means to live like we are righteous. <br /><br />My first reaction was "Why don't people just ask Him?" There is a lot of discussion over who we are, what Jesus has done, what does this scripture mean, and what does that scripture mean, is it necessary to know the original languages ...<br /><br />His sheep know his voice. We can ask (like a little child), and He will respond, and guide us into all truth by Holy Spirit. I learned this slowly. I surrendered my life to Jesus when I was 21. I am now 63. When I was in my early 30s, I heard for the first time someone who was in an area of persecution who surrendered his life to Jesus, and since it was dangerous for the man to seek out someone to teach him of Jesus, Jesus came to him. Every night. For 2 years. And taught Him about himself.<br /><br />I remember what it was like when my son was small (he is now 22). I knew what he needed to learn. I knew that many things would have to be repeated. There was a lot of practice in everything that he learned. That didn't bother me. I knew the goal that I had. He would learn. He would grow. He would experience success and failure. He would know grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He would learn how deep my love is for him, and he would learn that God's love is way deeper. Every day was an adventure. When we read that we call Him Abba, and that Jesus says that we need to receive The Kingdom as a little child, why do we think that we have to "figure it out", or prove to others what we are talking about. A little child has no such cares. A little child also has no inhibitions about asking "Dad" or "Mom" a question, or to explain something. Well, maybe no inhibitions is too strong in this fallen world. But, as a dad, I delighted when my son asks/asked questions.<br /><br />So why not ask Him? Does He believe that we have 2 natures at war in us? What is His plan for us to walk in the Spirit, today, now, ... How does His righteousness change us? How does He feel when we sin?<br /><br />That last question also takes us deep into knowing God. We have emotions because we are made in the image of God. He has emotions (though, I think that Calvin subscribed to the timeless/emotionless God theory, though I may be wrong). He has emotions. Which could lead me down a rabbit trail of what emotions are for, and why He gave them to us, but I think that it is better to instead just suggest that you ask Him.<br /><br />A lot of people fear that when we sin, or when we are called to account in heaven, that we will be shamed. "After all I have done for you ..." I think that I will be shedding tears of joy at His love and mercy.<br /><br />The bottom line is that this is an amazing insight (God has revealed it to you, entrusted you with it) for a 25 year old. I know my own story, and how boldness to receive His goodness came so slowly. And I worked for so many years for God, instead of *with* God. There is a lot of parent/child imagery in Ps 127:1. I keep encountering it in fresh ways, whenever He calls me to do something with Him. Even Jesus did this (Jn 5:19-20) Our Abba still does this with us.Grateful4GodsGracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02318794174020562933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755209147403169584.post-60315919289434799862017-09-10T08:19:31.949+10:002017-09-10T08:19:31.949+10:00Exactly right, Ariel! I strongly believe if we pre...Exactly right, Ariel! I strongly believe if we preached more about who we became when we were saved than who we were before that, people would live so much free-er. So glad to have your input! I love finding your comments. Jasmine Ruigrokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976708690026168727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755209147403169584.post-46581580781471826812017-09-07T11:32:16.315+10:002017-09-07T11:32:16.315+10:00This is fantastic! What a thorough and thoughtful ...This is fantastic! What a thorough and thoughtful explanation of why this mindset is dangerous. I really appreciate what you've written here. It is amazing how what we believe influences how we act. Our mind is a powerful thing. Thus the importance of renewing our minds continually...<br />It reminds me of the oft-quoted phrase... We do not live this way in order to become children of God. We live this way because we ARE children of God. There is certainly much to be said about the need for the emphasis of our new identity. I have too often heard sermon upon sermon that emphasize our sinfulness far more, and hardly touch on our new identity except at the end of a sermon to reassure us we're not going to hell. (if you know what I mean)<br /><br />In other news, somehow I stopped getting notifications for your blog. I will have to catch up! :DAriel Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00247906706179181467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755209147403169584.post-59645379646498188652017-08-08T21:30:07.985+10:002017-08-08T21:30:07.985+10:00I find that philosophy to not only be inconsistent...I find that philosophy to not only be inconsistent with Scripture, but also a mindset that perpetuates the very sinfulness those who hold it are striving against. I once heard it said that within every human soul, if they are told "thou shall not", something rises up in them that says "bless God, I shall!" The truth is, the quality of our lives will only rise to the level of our thinking. <br /><br />If we believe we are sinners, we will be. Equally, if we believe that we are righteous, we will live like it. Jasmine Ruigrokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976708690026168727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755209147403169584.post-39808335970035330152017-08-04T20:47:38.201+10:002017-08-04T20:47:38.201+10:00refreshing, even as Paul's pen to those saints...refreshing, even as Paul's pen to those saints at Rome doesn't trail off at chapter 7. From 12:2, Paul writing "μεταμορφουσθε" [transformed; 'metamorphosis'] as in the passive-voice of koine Greek. "transformed to the renewing of your mind" not as something we are to doing [active-voice], not as something we help God get done in us [middle-voice], but-rather as something [only] He can do in/for the child who would otherwise remain a slave to sin.<br />Last year while meeting with missions and campus ministry leaders, they unanimously were confirming a life of sin for saints of God. my heart felt heavy to hearing their theme and resolve. Some of all behind the 'sinful natured saved man' confusion so marked in the video linked below (44 minutes). I thank God He has held open your spiritual eyes, Jasmine, to seeing the work of God; to believe!<br />http://worthyhouse.info/docs/InMyEars.mp4Marshallhttp://water2fire.worthyhouse.info/noreply@blogger.com