He had the opportunity to teach self defense and Taekwondo and explain why his students needed to know Jesus Christ -- preparing for sharing the Gospel this week and discipling new believers next week onward. There were 2 groups of high school students with about 50 in each group and another group of about 10 students. The 2 morning classes were ... See More1-hour-long each to students without formal martial arts training. The afternoon class was 2-hour-long to students with 4 months to 4 years of Taekwondo training already. He will post selected photos and videos soon.

Interesting quote. The scripture says the opposite, that God's grace opens the door to being aware of how impure we are. Ephesians 2:3-5 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desire of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of ... See MoreHis great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),... our awareness of sin produces a greater hatred for sin and thereby a greater purity in our hearts by the dying to self. Maturity is manifest in good works that were prepared beforehand by the Spirit of God. Good stuff.

But Brother Philip Yancy didn't say what's against God's Word in the quote in my status update although I can see why it can be very easily misunderstood as so when it is taken/interpreted out of context. Please read the whole article and the context of the article would clarify it. Please notice that the word pure is under quotation mark.

The ... See Morepoint this Our Daily Bread article is trying to make is not that true purity/holy living/fruit of the Spirit/good works produced by the Spirit for true believers of Jesus Christ is not a sign of spiritual maturity but that outer good works in public can be deceiving like the Pharisees’ whose hearts lacked love for God and people (Matt 23:23).

True purity/holy living/fruit of the Spirit/good works produced by the Spirit should be from inside out not just outside alone.

So, according to Phillip Yancey's theory would you say I can be an immoral person, and idolatrous person, or a drunkard, who practices a life of sin, but is aware of the sinfulness of my condition and still be regenerated by the spirit of God and in fact be a mature believer? The scripture is clear that it is NOT only our sensitivety to sin, but ... See Moreour Holy life that declares we are Christs and only a life that displays true repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. You can be aware of your sinfulness everday and never have turned to Christ.

Is this Lordship Salvation?

1 John 3:4-10 (New American Standard Bible)
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. ... See More
By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Clearly the scripture states that there is nothing subtle about practicing sin. The word "obvious" rules out subtlety.

"No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother."
... See More
In fact the original greek uses the word "revealed" for "obvious". Practicing good works does not save us, but they reveal who we are, either a child of the devil or a child of God.

All sins are satanic in nature. There is no place for sin in a Christian's life, period. There is NO excuse for Christians to sin. I believe we can agree on that.

My question is- Is John saying a child of God
1) cannot commit even a single sinful act ever?
2) doesn't habitually sin as a way of living? ... See More
3) Both? Neither? Others?

These are the subtle diferences I was suggesting. Both 1 and 2 are sins but not equal. That's why I suggested going beyond the translated text if we want to dig deeper on what sin John was saying.

Thanks for all your comments! Since the comments are getting extremely long, and the issue being discussed involves thorough, extensive and well-rounded examination of scriptural evidences, please send message to my facebook inbox instead.

There will be another long day ahead in the mission field and I need to rest to get ready. The links I ... See Moreposted should help understand the views from both camps. A prayerful and humble heart with proper exegesis, interpretation and well-rounded understanding of theology will reveal the truth. Before then let's keep an open mind. The task of exegesis, interpretation and theology is not an easy one because of our limited wisdom in understanding our infinitely wise God.

But we are still brothers in Christ who can agree to disagree and still respect and love each other after sharing each other's view on controversial theological issues.