@diver
Yeah it's easy to come down hard on ourselves at times. I constantly have to fight on letting go of a bunch of junk from my past and not letting go of guilt of ones I hurt.
We have had some really good encouragement from our meetings about learning to forgive ourselves about things we've done. Jehovah has made it very clear that when we ask for forgiveness, he is serious about listening. The bible says that when we ask him for that and we are sincere, he will forgive but better yet that is forever, It also says he will never bring it back up in mind. That doesn't mean we aren't going to possibly mess it all up again. But his son Jesus told us to forgive not just a few times to ones who sin against us but to do it without number. So that is how his Father is even more...
-Removed-I kinda dont think that there is any virtue in self-condemnation. There is virtue in doing the right thing and in keeping the commandments.
So here is what sometimes happens. A man under the influence of these churches, spends lots of time praying, asking for forgiveness, and in boasting that he is a sinner. They boast and applaud the fact that they are filthy sinners. God is not impressed with that. God loves people who keep the commandments, and do the right thing without complaining or boasting that they are sinners.
It is a given that all people are sinners. Boasting or even mentioning the obvious is worthless nonsense, but unfortunately many Churches are obsessed with preaching to their followers to do it.
@Rajk999 saidIt is the grace of God, nothing else, that we come to God with He is the just and the justifier; nothing about us earns God's righteousness. We indeed obey the Lord; if we love Him, we will obey Him. That is, out of love for Him, we obey Him, not to earn something He has already given us: His love, grace, and redemption.
I kinda dont think that there is any virtue in self-condemnation. There is virtue in doing the right thing and in keeping the commandments.
So here is what sometimes happens. A man under the influence of these churches, spends lots of time praying, asking for forgiveness, and in boasting that he is a sinner. They boast and applaud the fact that they are filthy sinners. ...[text shortened]... s nonsense, but unfortunately many Churches are obsessed with preaching to their followers to do it.
From Romans 3
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
@galveston75 saidWho is 'we all'? If you don't mind, I won't join this collective guilt - trip.
I'm in that same boat buddy. Actually we all are.....
@Suzianne saidYou saying it sounds good to me!!!!!
"May the Good Lord be as lenient with you as you are."
Cannot for the life of me remember who said this.
@Rajk999-I notice everything to do with "GOD PLANS"for humanity and individuals you know all.Does god tells you of his plans personally or you just full off s###.
@galveston75 saidWhat category is that? We are all frail people, but dwelling on that fact is not a virtue. Jesus and the Apostles preached about rising above that and about trying to excel and to live righteously, stuff you barely hear from church Christians.
@Rajk999 An awful lot of politicians fall into that category too.