Acer2009

I cannot respond in a better manner than "pickledilly". Well said fellow Christian!

Q4. (1 John 2:1-2) What assurance does John give us if we do sin? > How does this comfort us? How does it make us want to avoid sin? THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT IF WE ARE OVERCOMERS WE WALK IN GOD'S LIGHT AND THERE IS NOTHING TO MAKE TO MAKE US STUMBLE. THAT IS JUST AWESOME - THE JOY ONE EXPERIENCES WHEN YOU CAN FEEL GOD CLOSE TO YOU AND YOU KNOW DEEP DOWN INSIDE OF YOU THAT GOD HE HAS YOUR BACK. IF GOD IS FOR YOU,WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU!

Q3. (1 John 1:9) How would you define "confession"? Why is > confessing our sins so important? What happens to us if we stop > confessing our sins? What are the promises given to us if we do > confess our sins? How is forgiveness of sins different from > cleansing? CONFESSION IS DEFINED AS "ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GUILT/SIN". CONFESSION THEN WOULD DETERMINE ONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SIN IN ONE'S LIFE AND TO BRING THAT SIN/WEAKNESS BEFORE THE LORD. SHOULD ONE STOP TO CONFESS SIN - YOUR HEART BECOMES HARD AND YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE BECOMES STAGNANT. MATTHEW 5:8 TEACHES THAT "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD". I UNDERSTAND THAT FORGIVENESS COMES FROM GOD BUT CLEANSING (BY THE CHOICES WE MAKE) IS A CONCERN OF THE HEART - WE CAN PLACE OURSELVES IN A FAVOURABLE POSITION WITH GOD BY PUTTING/CLEANSING OUR HEARTS. >

Q2. (1 John 1:5-7) What is the result when a Christian walks in > darkness, that is, continues willfully to do what he or she knows > to be wrong? How does this involve self-deception? What is the > result, according to verse 7, when we walk in the light? How do we > get back into the light if we sin? WHEN ONE CONTINUALLY AND WILLFULLY SINS - GOD WILL DISCIPLINE YOU BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US. HE IS A FORGIVING GOD BUT WE CANNOT KEEP ON SINNING SO GOD'S DISCIPLINE IS INEVITABLE. IF WE WALK BY FAITH DECLARING THAT WE HAVE OVERCOME THAT PARTICULAR SIN, GOD IS FAITHFULL AND WE WILL OVERCOME. 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS".

Personally,I am of the view that surface relations amongst Christians are caused by selfish motives, wrong teachings and being uneducated in the word of God... immaturity. A deeper level of fellowship in Christ can be obtained by sharing one vision with other Christians and that vision would stem from the universal commandment given to us by our Father, to build His Church. That would require a unity amongst fellow believers, working towards a common goal and going out into the community and sharing the word of God, trusting and stepping out in faith that God will add the lost to His Church.