John wrote:
>>... what of those "evils" that tend to define us
>>(apart from the influence of Christ but remain
>>even after His indwelling (?)) such as laziness,
>>selfishness, impatience, anger, lust, covetousness
>>and the like and John's statment in I Jo 1:8.
Those evils are the Flesh. Whether or not we walk in them or in the Spirit is a true choice that we have IF we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Whichever path we choose is what âdefinesâ us. Izzy
Yes, of course. But I was asking the question of Bill in the context of his comments on "sanctification." Pride, conceit, selfishness and the like are named as sin in NT scripture. I agree that we have a choice when it comes to sin -- whether event sins or linear evils. I do not have to be a selfish person, or a conceited one, or a bigot, or one who covets ------------- but, sadly I will make choices that find me bound to one or the other. I see these sins in each member of this very forum. And, of course, the biblical message expressly tells me that the possession of sin [to some degree -- hopefully to a decreasing degree] will be a fact in my life. It is not that it HAS to be that; rather, only that it WILL be. At no time in our lives are we without the need for unmerited saving grace. It does not have to be that way -- but it will be that way.
JD
