Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Rom.9:19 You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?" 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"{Isaiah 29:16; 45:9} 9:21 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 9:23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, 9:24 us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?

Why would brothers and sisters of the anointed, that is, God's children answer back to their Father? Yes, that is Paul's point that he is making here? Some thought God was angry at them and punishing them and like children they were smarting back to God!

Heb.12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.
12:9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

In other words, despite all that a perfect man suffered in his flesh for them, Christ Jesus they had fallen into the trap that they would not have to suffer in their flesh. They were chosen, special, and should live a blessed life on earth the preparation for ruling with Christ came only from the world causing them suffering, and not from themselves, that is, their own flesh.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?

Not understanding they were in a vessel fit for destruction (flesh), and also in a new vessel for God's glory (Christ) this is why they were asking God the ultimate question: “ are you still finding fault with me?”

James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."{Proverbs 3:34} 4:7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

No! God was not, they had been misled by laws of the flesh, works of law that demand perfection from a vessel that cannot be perfected. That is the context of Roman's; ones anointed still trying to be perfect in their flesh by rules and laws invalidating the life of Christ which perished for them.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Rom.7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death. 7:6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

The process they did not understand and refused to grasp because of a fleshly legal mind. Subsequently, they punished themselves, and/or each other because of lack of faith in what Christ merit purchased them from, and what was that? The judgment of their vessel fit for destruction their flesh! Hence, they answered back to God YHWH, and why not the flesh justifies its self by actions, works, works of law what it has done to prove its worthiness to whom? God, does it not?

Rom.7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin. 7:15 For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do.

Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

Gal.5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

However, God was not justifying their flesh, or their fleshly thinking in fact both stood condemned by his righteous laws. In others words, the process of flesh against Spirit was instituted by Christ indwelling them, they must suffer in death from their the fallen flesh, and be made alive by God's Spirit (daily). God was not like false religion co-mingling flesh and Spirit into a new more gentler religion easier on the ears and pallet. Nor was God instituting a religion that got its righteousness by harsh treatment of the flesh something put to death in Christ.

Gal. 4:1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 4:3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 4:5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. 4:6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba,{Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for "Father" or "Daddy" used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.} Father!" 4:7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Ephesians 5:29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

The process was for God's anointed to understand the Spirit in them what they had been freed from, and to walk in love. On the other hand, the process of the flesh they were still in was to kill the Spirit by lusting against it boasting in its own self-righteousness by works of law. The flesh does not compare itself with the Spirit it cannot, but it does compare itself against other flesh, beating it, punishing it, to prove its is superior or in a better position by works of law.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

Righteousness for those born again by Spirit comes from Christ and not works of law, and the only way a person can stay in Christ is by faith, that is, an ultimate trust no matter what evil comes out of our flesh or vessel made fit for destruction that God is a perfect Father whom only gives good gifts to his children.

James 1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
1:6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

See also: www.nu-truth.com