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   alt.religion.christianity      Christianity general discussions      141,674 messages   

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   Message 140,913 of 141,674   
   fool for Christ to All   
   "How can we overcome the sinfulness that   
   21 Dec 23 15:36:15   
   
   XPost: alt.christnet.calvinist, alt.christnet.christianlife, alt   
   christnet.evangelical   
   XPost: alt.christnet.theology, alt.religion, alt.religion.christian.biblestudy   
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   alt.religion.christian.pentecostal   
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   "How can we overcome the sinfulness that is already firmly established   
   within us? We must use force. A man labors and struggles, and so by the use   
   of force he escapes from destruction, always striving to raise his thoughts   
   to holiness. We are not forbidden to resist force with force. If in any   
   ascetic task we exert force, however slight, then, 'remaining in   
   Jerusalem', we can wait for the 'power from on high' which will come down   
   upon us (cf. Luke 24:49). In other words, if we persevere in unceasing   
   prayer and the other virtues, there will come upon us a mighty force,   
   infinitely stronger than any we can exert. This force cannot be described   
   in human language; in its great strength it overcomes our worst faults of   
   character and the malice of the demons, conquering both the sinful   
   inclinations of our soul and the disordered impulses of our body. 'There   
   came a sound from heaven as of a rushing violent wind' (Acts 2:2); and this   
   force from heaven drives out the evil that is always forcing us into sin."   
      
   St. John of Karpathos.   
      
   "A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of   
   friends."  Proverbs 16:28   
      
   Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)   

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