What I mean is can we experience the miracle of rebirth before we have completely crucified our old man moral habits of sin? Which is not to imply born again believers cannot resurrect the old man and revert back to sin. But can a believer,
who is walking in the Spirit and mind of the new man, possess and practice known or unknown moral defects of character?
What does it mean to be a converted Christian? Are we truly converted if we are still living a life of moral sin? Is someone considered a converted Christian, in the eyes of God, if his life is a mixture of unconquered sin and righteousness? Can we be converted on this and that moral imperfection and unconverted on others and still be called a converted Christian?
2 Corinthians 5
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away [note: not passing away]; behold, all things are become new [note: not becoming new].
Galatians 5
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1 John 3
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
[ May 13, 2002: Message edited by: Mike Lowe ]