Photina, do you feel that you have an answer to this?
Quoting: Ozicell Answer to what?
I agree with an earlier poster who you also agreed with - the Mark/Sin is to be found in thought and deed or forehead and hand.
What I am asking is - as we ALL are sinners to the end, according to some scripture and many preachers, how then can we not have the mark already? Or maybe better said, having realized what it is and also realizing that we have already received it, how do we reject it or get rid of it?
Not trying to put anyone on the spot here, I am only asking questions, hopefully, that will lead to mutual growth and understanding on this subject.
We do this by repenting of our sin, turning to Him for help in sinning no more.
Everything begins with the Truth. If we are willing to look into the mirror that the Savior holds up to us, to see ourselves in a Truthful light, and to be willing to change, with His help, then we can have that mark removed.
It is what was meant by, "I have come to set the captives free." And also, "I came to destroy the works of the devil." Here are a few more:
"Go, and sin no more."
"He gives them power to become Sons of God."
"God will perfect that which concerns me - His mercy endures forever."
So, the scriptures teach that the Savior has the power to perfect the sinner - to make us clean again. Free of any blemish, (mark), so that we can "go and sin no more." And so that we can "become the Sons of God."
The scriptures also state - emphatically, that the man who is born again CANNOT sin, (either I Peter or II Peter). This flies in the face of "instant salvation" that the churches teach. Paul said, "we are being saved." It is a process and a journey. It takes time.
This is not something that is taught in churches. Most people reject this teaching by the scriptures, because we have all been raised up to believe that it is impossible to overcome sin. But that is exactly what is required of us. Revelations says, "He who overcomes, shall be saved."
We can only overcome sin with the help of Immanuel, (God with/in us."
Forgive the paraphrasing of scriptures. I don't have my bible with me. But students of the scriptures know how to find these verses.
