Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapped
I don't read those verses that way at all. You think there are genuine, regenerated believers in Christ, who have the life of Christ in them, who are still....
...continuing in sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexual relations, thieving, greed, drunkenness, verbally abusive, and cheating people?
That would be false believers if I ever heard one!
Paul's point is that they WERE those things, BUT then they got saved.
In the preceding chapter, Paul says:
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
"claims to be a brother but is [list of sinful actions]....." In other words, claims to be saved but the fruit of his life shows he really isn't.
We can associate with sinful people who acknowledge they aren't regenerated, but not people who claim they are brothers but really aren't, but live as if they aren't.
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The point is their behavior is from the old nature/flesh. This is regardless of whether they are regenerated or not. I think Ohio made the point that those who continue practicing those things on an ongoing basis are the ones in question here.
I certainly know of ones who are absolutely 100% regenerated, who after being zealous for the Lord have turned their back on Him, to go fully into the world and their flesh (whether "good" flesh or "bad" flesh). They are still reborn, as you can't be unborn. But their behavior is little different than an unbeliever, and essentially all testimony of Christ appears nonexistent. However,
Christ is still in them as they are still His children, right?
You might call them "false believers,' but once the life of Christ gets in them they are sons of the most high - maybe not very good sons, but sons nonetheless. It's not outward behaviors that gets us regenerated in the first place, and it's not outward behaviors that makes us continue as sons. To be born of Him is a matter of life . . . not behaviors.
However, there is accountability - It is these ones, regenerated but practicing those fleshly behaviors, which will have the most to loose at the Bema judgment.