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How many "good' people are there on earth?
"As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one". Romans 3:10
The Apostle Paul expresses the human dilemma:
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me". Romans 7:18-20
Why did Paul say that man in his natural condition cannot please God?
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God". Romans 8:7,8
What happens if we allow our sinful nature to control us?
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". Romans 8:6
Did Paul find deliverance from his sinful nature?
"O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin". Romans 7:24, 25
Faith in Christ enabled Paul to live a successful Christian life:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me". Galatians 2:20
How did Jesus describe the conversion experience?
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God". John 3:1-3
Did Nicodemus (a prominent Jew) understand what Jesus told him?
"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" John 3:4
How did Jesus explain to Nicodemus that he could be born again?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again". John 3:5-7
How does God accomplish this change (conversion) in our lives?
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit". John 3:8
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God". Romans 8:14
How does Paul describe the "born again" person?
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new". 2.Corinthians 5:17
How does God give us the knowledge and desire to obey Him?
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure". Philippians 2:13
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them". Hebrews 10:16
Will the new Christian continue to live a life of sin?
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life". Romans 6:1-4
Can we expect forgiveness if we sin after we have been born again?
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous". 1.John 2:1.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". 1.John 1:9
Thought Promise:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Philippians 4:13
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