fhansen
Oldbie
Not at all. I've probably emphasized the change- both the scope of it and the profundity of it- more than either of us. The problem is that you fail to recognize that a believer can still fail to appreciate that change and return to the flesh/the world. failing to remain in Him, to persevere. We cannot come to Him unless He draws us, but we can still walk away from Him, shown by refusing to do His will. God ultimately forces Himself upon no one. IOW, man is and remains a morally accountable being while working out his salvation with He who works in us.Like I said, "There is a large contingent within "Christianity" which does not recognize or understand the change of nature that occurs when Jesus comes to live in a person's heart." You are making my point for me.
Peter continues on after 2 Pet 1:4:When Peter wrote, that through the "exceedingly great and precious promises" we "may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Pe 1:4), he was writing about the glories associated with becoming one spirit with God through union with Christ.
"5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Then Peter continues on in the very next chapter, expounding on what can happen to those who've "escaped the corruption that is in the world":
"If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” 2 Pet 2:20-22
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