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The corruption of the old man precludes any ability to improve myself apart from the work of the Spirit. I cannot of my own reason or holiness believe in Christ Jesus or grow in knowledge or obedience but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightens me, and keeps me in truth faith and repentance. True growth and true assurance, therefore, are works of the Spirit not by-products of self-improvement efforts.
Who said ANYTHING about self-improvement? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratch1.gif" alt="" /> A Christian has repented have they not, or do you think the Holy Spirit repents for them? Think about it for a moment, if you are not repenting and acknowledging the truth of God then you are not in true communion with God. I repent continually and am able to acknowledge God's truth as I am a recipient of His grace. Is your failure to acknowledge God's truth related to this truth of Scripture?

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2 Tim 2:25-26 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.

Reformed and Always Reforming,