And when read, some of those prayers that have come from someone else’s heart seem inconsistent when compared to another’s experience. Spoken in old English and with formal structure these prayers are often viewed as great spiritual literature rather than the secret closets of the spiritual proletariat spoken sincerely in today’s parlance. I am usually put off by the “he can pray a good prayer” type of attitude since to me it emphasizes the person’s literary ability rather than the sincerity of his heart which can only be discerned by God.

This particular phrase and thought seemed to me to be one of those phrases that is at variance with the blogger’s own orthopraxic demonstration:

“I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace…”

Yea, right.

For some light reading on the topic here is a PDF file on what I am talking about…

There is there renewing of the mind and I do not deny that… yet to repent over and over is to crucify Jesus and over…

Hebrews 6 is clear as to that if one comes to faith in Christ it is impossible to repent again as it is crucifying Jesus over and over.

Now I am not into being legalistic over words but that is the biblical teaching… The sacrifice was once and for all not over and over for each person. In fact Tozer taught as I am saying here. http://articles.christiansunite.com/article5586.shtml

We are to live a confessional life, meaning that we live in agreement with God that He is Right and when we are wrong we confess that… and then learn from it and grow from it.

So if you disagree with that, then the bible and Tozer and many great men of God throughout the history of the church are all wrong.

I do allow people to misuse the word repentance as some use it to mean confession, yet there is a distiction between the two according to the bible.

I don’t care if you agree with me, but consider what the bible teaches as you are opposing it. And it is that kind of error that can stunt or harm someone in their growth as a believer.

iggy

Many Christians walk in bondage to their sin and never enter into the freedom that is in Christ. They use 1 John 1:9 like a bar of soap or a proxy priest for forgiveness and never walk in the forgiveness that is in Christ.

We are call to trust in God’s forgiveness and walk in the newness of life… and sadly most stop at forgiveness and never find the newness of life.

I am not saying one is not saved, just lacking in their experience and power as a believer. I am one that believes in confessing but that repentance is a one time thing… and I see that by repenting over and over we in affect crucify Jesus over and over… it is the difference between the a perpetual sacrifice, the one sacrifice of perpetual efficacy.

And it seems at times PB fits that to a tee and is one that believes in perpetual sacrifice in his words and actions toward others.
.

iggy

Thanks for the advice, but despite the fact that I know my sin is under the blood, and I am redeemed, and have new life in Christ, I still grieve over my sin when it happens because it breaks the heart of God. But the joy comes out of that brokeness as I get the forgiveness of God!

Are you saying that you don’t think PB is a christian?

Its alright, Bo and Iggy, I know very well the wretch that I am. My sin is ever before me, and I know more than anyone the grace and mercy of God is the only thing that keeps me alive.

Seriously this could be the core of your issue… you have not exchanged your life for His… and you still dwell in the belief that your sin is yours and it has not been transferred to Jesus who became sin for us.

Jesus became our sin and sin died on the Cross… with the resurrection we now have become new creations in Christ and having been reconciled we have new identities.

Yes, we still sin as sin dwells in our mortal bodies, yet now we are not condemned nor will we lose the Holy Spirit as sin was already dealt with and God is not surprised by our mortality… in the end we will be fully regenerated and clothed in immortality and with the imperishable…

So if one dwells in this life focused on their sin and lives life in remorse and not the joy that comes form forgiveness then they miss the abundant life that comes with Christ and the New Identity we have in him.

So my prayer is that you stop starring at the darkness that you seem to have embraced and come into the light of Christ and though you may still sin at times… sin in the light and knowledge that God’s love covers our sin.

I highly recommend Classic Christianity by Bob George or any books by Maj Ian Thomas to help you come ot a fuller understanding of your new identity in Christ.

iggy

Its alright, Bo and Iggy, I know very well the wretch that I am. My sin is ever before me, and I know more than anyone the grace and mercy of God is the only thing that keeps me alive.

Sure, pastorboy. You say one thing, and then do another.

It’ll be, at most, three more comments before you write something directly at odds with that. I’m neither a prophet nor a song of a prophet, its just what you do.

Ministers are not allowed to make mistakes, lose their temper, have bad days, or sin. ~ From the OP

So some create alternative personalities online that they can attack others with becoming multiple personalities themselves…

There you go….

all fits right into the OP peice nicely.

iggy