Our "Fallen" state

So many Christians strive for a fulfilling life in our world today without realizing how contrary to following Christ that is.  What will surprise people even more is why such a life is contrary to the Christian message.  Even though Christ truly has accomplished our salvation, we remain trapped in a perspective that is inescapably attached to our fallen state!  Because of which, there is so much more to a Christian life than simply abstaining from sin in so far as we understand our own sins.  We must also repent our sinfulness, which can only be fully understood by recognizing the perspective that results from our fallen state.

In our fallen state we seek pleasures for their own sake, rather than reserving them to the intended purpose for which God gave them to us.  Using sex as an example: We are motivated for sexual activity by our desire for the pleasure experienced from the act, rather reserving the pleasure of sexual activity exclusively to the sacred interior motion of facilitating the complete and mutual surrender of hearts to form a oneness that was never intended to be breached in any way, much less compromised by multiple partners, or worst yet broken by divorce.  As a consequence, the "fallen perspective" sees sex as the object where its pleasure is sought as the fulfillment as if that were its purpose, rather than seeing it as the means for delivering us to the emotional oneness that accomplishes the complete mutual surrender of hearts, out of which new life becomes. 

Because we are trapped in this "fallen perspective," we are called to make of our lives a living sacrifice.  As Paul says, "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.  Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."  (Rom. 12: 1-2)  We are to endure the suffering associated with denying the acquisition of these fallen values.  It is in the very sufferings of this specific kind of self-denial that we accomplish making our own life into a living sacrifice for the Lord, and have our eyes opened to perceiving the kingdom of God. 

The only solution to this "fallen perspective" is entering the kingdom of God.  However, in order to realize that we must becoming born of Spirit.  As Jesus says, "Amen, amen, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.  What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit."  (Jn. 3: 5-6)  For that to have actually been realized by the individual believer, that person must have arrived at the state of not being capable of sinning.  It is only by entering into the kingdom of God that we are able to penetrate the mire of the fallen perspective, though without ever becoming exempt from it's influence; for because we are fallen we remain subject to temptation.

This entrance into the kingdom of God is the perception of life that will never end.  It is by living according to this new perspective while battling tirelessly against the influences of the world that, as Jesus said, "whoever keeps my word will never see death."  (Jn. 8: 51)  This is the road that leads to life.  Due to its lack of appeal and the great measure of endurance required to sustain such a way of life, few indeed will find this road.

And so, I pose the question: Are you up to the quest? 

For help read: "A Layman's Journey: In Search of Spirituality."

Why we need to repent our sins

Question:
Why do we need to repent our sins if we are justified by faith (See Rom. 5:1), and only need to believe in Jesus Christ to obtain eternal life (See Jn. 3:18)?

Some might say we must repent our sins in order to validate one’s self as a believer. However, the example Christ gave us for validating one’s faith in him pertains to performing works of mercy, illustrated by his parable of separating the sheep from the goats (Mt. 25:31-46). Those who gave food, drink, clothed, etc., to the least of his brothers are invited to enter the kingdom of God because they did those things unto him, and those who did not do those things neglected him and are denied entrance into the kingdom. If repentance were the means for substantiating one’s faith in him his parable would have at least mentioned the need for our repentance; of which there is none.

Consider this; if repentance of our sins was necessary for one to receive eternal life wouldn’t that compromise the belief that we are justified by faith? It would seem that such a condition believes the work of redemption accomplished by Jesus was incomplete because having faith isn’t enough to obtain forgiveness for our sins. The Church has always maintained all the way back to the apostles that the work of forgiveness for our sins was accomplished completely by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross; yet the Church, also back to the apostles, consistently preaches the need for repentance of sins.

Consider as well Paul’s dialogue in Romans, chapters 3 - 8. He goes to great length to try and explain; though we are justified by faith we cannot just continue sinning (Rom. 6:1-4). Why would Paul experience the need to exert so much effort to teach the need to avoid sin if his teaching about salvation, which gives all the credit for our justification and salvation to the work accomplished by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, wasn’t misinterpreted by the people of his time as giving them the freedom to sin? A misunderstanding many people still make even to this day.

And so I pose the question: Why did the Lord command us to repent our sins?

Visit: "A Layman's Journey: In Search of Spirituality" for my view.