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Chosen said:
When Jesus said that if we believe we have eternal life, the word is, if I understand it correctly, an on going and future sense.
Well, yes and no, <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> it all depends upon the text. Scripture often speaks of things as "already, but not yet", i.e., there is a present reality but also a future reality. Thus we read that those who believe will have, eternal life, i.e., something to anticipate in the future. (cf. Jh 3:15; Rom 2:7; 1Tim 6:19; Titus 3:7; Jude 1:21) And, yet believers now have/possess eternal life. (cf. Jh 6:54; 10:28; 1Jh 3:15; 5:11, 13)

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Chosen also said:
You are right, the ideal is that what is inside the cup should be reflected by what is outside. But the inside has already been cleaned, "You are already clean by the word that I have spoken to you." There is no more cleaning of the inside of the cup that has to be done, it has been done for us in Christ. The only thing that is being cleansed is the outside.
Here we are in disagreement. That "already clean" (Jh 13:10; 15:3) that Jesus spoke of to His disciples is in reference to justification and not sanctification. (cf. Rom 5:1) The context of the chapter 15 passage bears this out for Jesus continues in His exhortation by telling the disciples that they must abide in Him and by doing so they will "bear much fruit", aka: sanctification. Again, Scripture teaches an "already but not yet" sanctification, i.e., there is a "Definitive sanctification" and a "Progressive sanctification". The Lord Christ is our sanctification. (1Cor 1:30) Yet, and also, we are to be sanctified by the putting of the old man/nature. (1Thess 4:3, 4; 2Thess 2:13) Believers are gradually being conformed, on the inside and which is reflected on the outside, into the image of Christ. (1Cor 1:9, 10; Rom 6, 7; 1Pet 2:2; 2Pet 1:4; 3:18)

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Chosen then said:
I have heard this many times, that the outside is indicative of the inside and I am always reminded of the sinner in the temple. The Pharisee looks at the outside and judges wrongly. I do not believe that there are no changes in a believer, but if we reduce our sanctification to what we can see, we will find ourselve again in bondage to the flesh, now excusing, no accusing.
There is some truth to this. However, "fruit", which is observable, is indicative of the tree that bears it. (Psa 1:3; 92:13, 14; Matt 7:17, 18; 12:33-35; Lk 13:6-9; Gal 5:22-24; Phil 1:11) There is a direct correlation between what a man thinks and how he acts, albeit not always consistently. (cf. Prov 23:7)

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And lastly, Chosen laments:
I have no clue as to how to get around on these here new fangled puters. Maybe you could give me some references or helps to how you import quotes and edit and so forth. These little windows are really hard to move around in! Any good sites that might help me learn what all these buttons do!
There is lots of help available to you. First of all, as mentioned in the "Welcome" PM (Private Message), which you received when you first logged in here, there is relevant information to be found in the FAQ section (see the link at the top of every page). And, likewise in the User Guide. Further, there are quite a number of thread chock full of instructional information about many of the special features of the Board to be found in the New Features Forum. And lastly, you can always post questions in the HELP Forum. There is also a forum specifically provided where you can try out some of these features, e.g., inserting a "Smiley", adding "Quotes", either manually or by clicking on the Quote item found in the "Advanced UBBT Code" box (click the down arrow on the bottom right column of features), etc., called the TESTING 1, 2, 3... forum. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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