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i can't see that sanctification by faith is legalism. Exodus 31:13 "I am the Lord that doth Sanctify you." What the Lord does for us and in us is not legalism. but when i depend on my works for sanctification then it is legalism. i cannot view my own works or behaviors as assurance of my sanctification... i am too easily self deceived. i am too easily self satisfied with my wonderful good deeds....

What's the motive behind women who wish to be Pastors? Motive is everything. They are either motivated by agape because they are resting in Christ's finished work or they're after position to bring glory to themselves, i.e, a "fair shew in the flesh". The same is true of men. A man practicing homosexuality, as a lifestyle, once he has become a Christian is ultimately a self-righteous act. How so? God's law calls sexual acts with a man sin. If the believing homosexual rejects God's appraisal and persistently practices this as a legitimate lifestyle then that believer's distance from God is growing until finally he commits apostasy. Ellen White: The poor publican who prayed, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13), regarded himself as a very wicked man, and others looked upon him in the same light; but he felt his need, and with his burden of guilt and shame he came before God, asking for His mercy. His heart was open for the Spirit of God to do its gracious work and set him free from the power of sin. The Pharisee's boastful, self-righteous prayer showed that his heart was closed against the influence of the Holy Spirit. Because of his distance from God, he had no sense of his own defilement, in contrast with the perfection of the divine holiness. He felt no need, and he received nothing.—(Steps to Christ, 30, 31.) The publican didn't reject what God's law mirrored. He saw that he was a sinner in need of Christ's imputed and imparted righteousness. The Pharisee's self-righteous prayer proved his heart was closed. He was boastful, arrogant and sought to bring glory to himself. These sins he daily practiced. Because of his distance from God he didn't realize his own defilement. 1 John 3:8 "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil" Gal 5:21 "those who practice such things (see verses 19 to 21) will not inherit the kingdom of God"

Very good.... Here's the evidence that Jesus, as the son of man, handed the independent use of His Divinity over to His Father's care: In order to save myself time, let me quote Jack on this point:

Here is an interesting system that you can find in Norway: Norway's "free" prison system

Sins done in ignorance - also called unconscious sins - were covered by the continual (daily) sacrifice. They are "covered" by the blood of Christ UNTIL such time that they become "known". When the person becomes aware that he has sinned against the Law of God, then he must confess his sin and repent (turn away from sin, to the way of the LORD).

There is a lot we could learn from the Scandanavians, if we would just set aside our American arrogance. The products of our prison system should tell us they are doing more harm than good, that they simply are not working. if we would just seriously consider these successful methods of reformation and restoration (sounds like. Biblical idea!) and try to reform our own ways, I think we would be surprised at the results. Another area of prison reform that I researched for a criminology course in law school was the value of serious job/work skill training. Those prisons that have the goal of making productive employable citizens with real life skills required by society had dramatically lower recidivism among those released from their job trading programs.

Mary needed to be conceived "without sin" so that Jesus could be born "without sin". [Not Bible] This because "sin" is passed on to every human being from Adam - the original sinner. [Not Bible] This is the DOCTRINE of "original sin". It seems that "sin" is transmissible from Father to sons and daughters. Which means we all inherit sin. This is the reason for infant baptism, to "bestow initial sanctifying grace" - to cover the "sin" inherited by the infant, from Adam. [Not Bible] The "baptism" is by effusion (pouring water over the forehead of the infant). [Not Bible] When that baptized person actually sins a "mortal sin", he loses most of that grace, and the "Sacrament of Penance" becomes necessary in order to restore lost grace. [Not Bible] COMMENT: It makes one think that "grace" is something pumped out - like gas at a filling station. At each step Catholic DOCTRINE differs from Bible doctrine.

Matthew 7:22, 23. Self-righteous acts camouflaged or disguised in the name of Christ are exposed in the judgment and clearly identified as works of iniquity (i.e., works motivated by self-love). All Christians must consider this text seriously. Do our works originate from Christ and therefore motivated by agape, or are they the “fair shew in the flesh” [Galatians 6:12]? Are our works the result of a genuine relationship with Christ (i.e, works of faith) or are we working in His name but we really don’t know Him? [See also Luke 13:25-28.] [Jack Sequeira]

The danger has been presented to me again and again of entertaining, as a people, false ideas of justification by faith. I have been shown for years that Satan would work in a special manner to confuse the mind on this point. The law of God has been largely dwelt upon and has been presented to congregations, almost as destitute of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His relation to the law as was the offering of Cain. I have been shown that many have been kept from the faith because of the mixed, confused ideas of salvation, because the ministers have worked in a wrong manner to reach hearts. The point that has been urged upon my mind for years is the imputed righteousness of Christ. I have wondered that this matter was not made the subject of discourses in our churches throughout the land, when the matter has been kept so constantly urged upon me, and I have made it the subject of nearly every discourse and talk that I have given to the people. FW p 18

"He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross." - Colossians 2:14 NET The word χειρόγραφον (ceirografon) used here is a technical term, it refers to a "legal bond", a "certificate of indebtedness". It's clear that it wasn't the law itself that was nailed to the cross, but the "ceirografon", the document of our debt.

while history can and does repeat itself, if we only look the past to predict the future, I think that sets us up to miss other relevant facts and happenings ..

How are these Obama's policies? For most of those years, the Republicans controlled the House of Representatives.

So much hate, so little truth.

I drive by the U of H campus just about every sabbath. I think the issue has long been forgotten. Was it solved? I doubt it. There are many unresolved problems facing humanity. If racial issues in the USA was the last and only issue plaguing humans I would be more concerned. Truth is there are many problems just as bad or worse that humans have no clue how to fix. The only solution I can think of is live for God, live each day, each moment as if it is your last. Only the Lord has an answer for the problems of this world.