Answer: False. Grace does include forgiveness; but must also include a restored heart. Otherwise, we have stunted grace: much like a prisoner who is pardonned and his debt paid; yet the prisoner remains the same person who committed the crime -- unable to relate well and to live well. He's technically free, yet functionally bound. Unless he's transformed, his pardon won't help him.
Grace requires restoration. That's the offer of Jesus. Your heart was restored (the old was removed and a new one put in its place) when you said 'yes' to him.
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Answer: False. Because of Jesus' work on the cross and resurrection, your heart (true self) is absolutely pure. The old was removed. (Because of the flesh, you can still sin -- but that's not who you really are any longer.)
God can look directly upon you - without Jesus glasses - because you're actually good and holy now, not simply 'positionally' holy. God is not pretending.
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Answer: True. Jesus gives us nothing less than his own heart and goodness. Your true nature is his nature. You now want and have the capacity to love as he did.
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Answer: False. Though the flesh remains, it is no longer you. It is like a thorn lodged in your body - it can cause pain, but it isn't actually you. You no longer have a divided heart. Your heart and flesh are diffferent things: The heart is the real you.
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Answer: False. This might surprise many of you. It is certainly true that Jesus lives in you. However, he doesn't need to stand between you and the Father (like Jesus glasses). You are actually good now. Today. He made you so by giving you his own goodness.
Any goodness in you is now your goodness - coming from the new heart Jesus gave you. He certainly is the source of that goodness; but that purity is now your own. It is borrowed, but nevertheless your own. His righteousness has become your righteousness: It's the result of your union with him through his work.
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Answer: False. Discipleship is cooperating with the Holy Spirit as he strengthens and releases the new desires and goodness of your new heart. Habits flow from heart. Otherwise we end up with behavior-management.
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Answer: False. This is also surprising to many.
Acceptance alone will not restore a person. Only restoration restores. We are indeed fully accepted by God; yet we needed something more -- a new life and power to love well. Otherwise, what you have is a fully-accepted dead person: much like pardonning and accepting a corpse. The corpse needs life.
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Were you surprised, even troubled, by any of the answers? Do you agree with them?
Article originally appeared on author jim robbins (http://www.robbinswritings.com/).
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