Glen,
You are very focused on one aspect of the gospel, which is not healthy because it is easy to get out of balance and not see the other aspects of the plan of salvation. No one is contending with you about overcoming sin. I did not detect anything in Curt's comments that indicated he was making any excuse for sin. He was just stating that when he messes up he is thankful for God's forgiving grace; To realize how much God loves and cares for us and when we fall into sin. God does not treat us with scorn nor does he taunt us by saying "You should have never fallen" This is not God's way.
"We are all fallible, and we need pity, forbearance, kindly consideration, and sympathetic love for those with whom we are connected. We are all unworthy of the love and confidence of God." {That I May Know Him p. 186}
Glen, is this not true for your own life? When you fall or make mistakes or when sin is revealed to, are you not thankful for God's forgiving grace? You stated that your sins are melting away. This indicates that sins must be revealed as you are growing in grace. They can't melt away without you first knowing them and then forsaking them. Are you not thankful for God's forgiving grace so you can repent and be forgiven?
"We are to grow daily in spiritual loveliness. We shall fail often in our efforts to copy the divine pattern. We shall often have to bow down to weep at the feet of Jesus, because of our shortcomings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged; we are to pray more fervently, believe more fully, and try again with more steadfastness to grow into the likeness of our Lord. As we distrust our own power, we shall trust the power of our Redeemer, and render praise to God, who is the health of our countenance, and our God. {1SM 337.1}
This is another aspect of growing in grace. In your personal experience, do you often weep at the feet of Jesus because of your shortcoming and mistakes? Do you fail in your efforts to copy the divine pattern? "But whatever our defects and short-comings, we should not be discouraged. We must see our sins, and put them away; for Christ cannot abide in a divided heart." {RH, August 27, 1889 par. 1}
In your reply to Curt you made this statement
messing up is positively NOT a requirement for us to learn more to understand forgiving grace."
I wonder if you would want to reconsider this comment. The only people who need forgiving grace are those who have messed up. Every child of Adam needs God's forgiving grace. "We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 It might be better to have said that those who mess up absolutely need to know and understand the forgiving grace of God. If anyone needs to learn more about the forgiving grace of God, it is the sinners of whom I am chief.
"Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:31
As far as the prodigal son, it really does not matter if he was born again or not born again in light of the main point Christ was making. As a church, we do not teach once born again always born again. A person in a saved condition can become discouraged and give up the battle against sin. In the Psalms David prayed for restoration because he had fallen into sin "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Psalms 51:10-13
David who messed up big time was very thankful for God's forgiving grace. How is it that when a person can committee adultery and then kill a man that he can be freely forgiven? This story gives many a sinner hope that God will also forgive them of their sins. Are we to conclude that David was never a true follower of God before he sinned? David was the prodigal son he left home for a time, then returned, and fell into the arms of a loving God and found forgiveness and the power to strive once again against sin. What good would it do for us to say he should have never sinned? The fact is he did sin and he was forgiven and yes, his heart was thankful that God extended to him a hand of mercy to such a sinner as himself.
"We know but little of our own hearts and have but little sense of our own need of the mercy of God. This is why we cherish so little of that sweet compassion which Jesus manifests toward us and which we should manifest toward one another. We should remember that our brethren are weak, erring mortals like ourselves." {5T p. 247-8}
"The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, bring out in distinct lines God's pitying love for those who are straying from Him. Although they have turned away from God, He does not leave them in their misery. He is full of kindness and tender pity toward all who are exposed to the temptations of the artful foe.
In the parable of the prodigal son is presented the Lord's dealing with those who have once known the Father's love, but who have allowed the tempter to lead them captive at his will." {COL 198.2}
"To give a true representation of the tender, loving, pitying care exercised by His Father, Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son. Though His children err and stray from Him, if they repent and return, He will receive them with the joy manifested by an earthly father in receiving a long-lost son who in penitence returns."--Manuscript 132, 1902. {Ev 56.}
"All are fallible, all make mistakes and fall into sin; but if the wrong-doer is willing to see his errors, as they are made plain by the convicting Spirit of God, and in humility of heart will confess them to God and to the brethren, then he may be restored; then the wound that sin has made will be healed. If this course were pursued, there would be in the church much more child-like simplicity and brotherly love, heart beating in unison with heart." {RH, December 16, 1890 par. 2} Is Ellen White making an excuse for sin by making this statement or offering hope to those who have fallen into sin?
Some time back I told a story about a man who was out on the ice and fell through. Several other people saw him and they grabbed a long board and handed into the water to pull him out. But as he struggled the board started to freeze and it became slippery. The man finally yelled out, "Will someone please give me the warm end of the board?" I would like to add another dynamic to this story there is another man standing on the shore yelling out, "You should have never fallen in."
Glen when anyone talks about making mistakes or messing up I get the impression you are saying, "You should never have sinned." It would be better to hand someone the warm end of the board rather than yelling from the shore.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. " Galatians 6:1-3
