Comments on: Is God Angry With Believers When They Sin?

By: Denise Brown

Denise Brown — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:18:51 +0000

Thank you, so much, for providing this information online.

You have no comprehension how deeply this has helped me on this particularly dark day of repentance [as a true believer for 45 years] for me.

Incredibly, I fell into an area of sin for about two months—it was a nightmare. Unbelievable.

However, earlier this weekend, I *truly* repented and was finally able to ask The LORD for help.

He has been very gracious and patient with me, and I know without a doubt, He led me to your site to read this article, “Is God Angry With Believers When They Sin?”.

Again, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

By: John Fonville

John Fonville — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:29:51 +0000

HI Eric. You are exactly right. God’s discipline is not easy to take. That is why the author of Hebrews writes, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” (v. 11). We are all poor in our sanctification (see Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 62, 114). Thus, the reason why need the continual reminder of Christ and His Gospel. It is only by sola gratia, through sola fide in solus Christus that we are right with God (see HC, Q. 60). Gospel blessings!

By: Eric Verby

Eric Verby — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:56:16 +0000

I understand this truth, at least theoretically. But my weakest point is in actually responding in obedience to God’s fatherly chastisement. I can be very poor in being trained by God’s discipline (Hebrews 12). Again, I understand that I am free from God’s vindictive wrath, but that doesn’t make God’s discipline easy to take.

By: Christine Dattilo

Christine Dattilo — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:02:06 +0000

Shaun, Good question. Yesterday I was having this exact same discussion with my Pastor’s wife. It seems experientially that once one has glimpsed the glories of Christ – the charge of antinomianism disappears. As imprecise as this answer seems – I think the answer is, it’s not grace, it’s not holiness, it’s not forgiveness that we declare – it’s Christ.
God is the Gospel (Piper) has been helpful. The problem is I can’t seem to get the message across in small soundbites. My pastor’s wife was challenging me on how I avoid portraying, “Let go, and let God” or an antinomian message.
I hope to read more at this blog on how to avoid the message of antinomianism.

Chris

By: Shaun Marksbury

Shaun Marksbury — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 06:30:53 +0000

And so we must always return to Christ for salvation and power and freedom and the Father’s love. There is nothing we can find in ourselves to curry the Lord’s favor; our righteousness apart from Christ is filthy as are our fleshly attempts to please God after coming to Christ!

But here is a question: in the realms of both salvation and sanctification, legalism/neonomianism and antinomianism are errors and distortions of the truth and grace of the Gospel, neither of which glorifies God and may challenge a person’s eternal condition. However, my study of the issue makes it seem that antinomianism is an error in far closer proximity to the true Gospel (a la Romans 6:1-2). Piper said that presenting the Gospel in its full splendor would always bring this charge. So, (my question now) how do we avoid imprecision in our message to avoid this error, as well?

By: Frenchie Smalls

Frenchie Smalls — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 06:23:04 +0000

This is a problem that I have dealt with time and time again in my past, and still struggle with today. Thank you for the reminder: it was most definitely a blessing! I posted a link to this on my blog so that my friends may be blessed as well.

I also posted a similar item this morning, a excerpt from Piper’s The Passion of Jesus Christ:

“The death of Christ secures our freedom from condemnation. It is as sure that we cannot be condemned as it is sure that Christ died. There is no double jeopardy in God’s court. We will not be condemned twice for the same offenses. Christ has died once for our sins. We will not be condemned for them. Condemnation is gone not because there isn’t any, but because it has already happened.”

We should never take for granted what our Savior has done for us, but should relish daily in the ever-abundant grace of imputed righteousness that is ours as heirs to the Kingdom!

By: Mike Sears

Mike Sears — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:42:29 +0000

Awesome John!! Oh the power of GRACE is so much greater than the power of the law. If we could just stop bowing to the law and stand in HIS magnificent grace that gives us power in our weakness!! Very encouraging!