Replies

Kosta: Protestantism is based on the...theology that God paid our bills we owe to God for sins

Dr. E: Astounding. The fact you dismiss this core belief of Christianity positions yourself outside the church of God and contrary to God's word...again "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." -- 1 Corinthians 6:20

And the Lord said "go, and from now on sin no more." (cf. John 8:11) Yes, He paid for our sins, but we are now obliged to sin no more. Without His sacrifice none had a chance to be saved. With His sacrifice the whole world has a chance to be saved.

For, as soon as He said "sin no more," He adds "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." [ John 8:12 ]

Thank you both for the pings to this sidebar!

Truly, as Dr. Eckleburg has shown, we are purchase of God - bought for a price. Here again is that beautiful passage she posted:

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." -- 1 Corinthians 6:20

kosta50 asserts that one cannot be certain of his salvation, because he will most likely sin again - and presents this passage wrt that belief:

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. - John 8:11-12

My response is that the blood of Christ is sufficient once and for all. We have been reborn in the Spirit and we must walk in His Light, confess our sins and He will forgive us as we continue in that walk and become sanctified in Him.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. - I John 1:5-10

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin. – Hebrews 10:14-18

Further, our words and deeds after being reborn (John 3) will no doubt affect the heavenly treasure we accrue (for good or ill) as we walk with the Lord.

Our first treasure is the Light Himself Who brings forth His own fruit which counts for treasure to us.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. – 2 Cor 4:3-7

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. – John 1:4

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. – Matthew 12:35

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)– John 7:38-39

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

Thus, our good works and good doctrine - for good cause - wrought by Him, through us (John 15) will count for a reward - and all else may be loss:

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. – I Cor 3:13-15

And so everyone will indeed be judged. The ones whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world will suffer the second death. (Revelation 20)

And those whose names have not been blotted out (Revelation 3:5) will receive their reward – their treasure and crown.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. – James 1:12

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me. – Matthew 19:21

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. – Matthew 10:42

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. – 2 John 1:8

BTW, I have meditated on the purpose of such treasure in the new heaven and new earth. Egocentricity laid at the root of all kinds of evil in this heaven and earth (pride, vanity, jealousy, want, greed, complaint, rebellion, theft, murder, adultery, etc.) – so why would we care about treasure there? The answer that I have received is that the treasure is not to horde or "lord" over one another but rather to have something to give.

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. – Revelation 4:10-11

Praise God!!!

Yes, He paid for our sins, but we are now obliged to sin no more.

Is it possible for a man not to sin?

Not as long as he's alive in this world. But the promise of Christ is that He has paid for every sin of His children, even tomorrow's. (Hebrews 10)

His perfect obedience saves us; not our own.

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." -- Romans 5:19