Intentional Sin

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

I'm just curious what people think. Does God forgive intentional sin? For example,  you are in a tempting situation and against the Holy Spirit's urging, you say " I don't care,  I'll repent later". Does God forgive that? Or if you're having a really bad day and just want to do something really sinful like go on a drinking binge or scream at your family or be unfaithful. You KNOW it's wrong in the moment but don't feel like fighting, so you do it anyway despite knowing you will need to repent later. 

 

BTW, I don't do these things,  they are just examples. Not trying to start conflict, just wondering what people think. 

[AdHoc]

1 hour ago, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

I'm just curious what people think. Does God forgive intentional sin? For example,  you are in a tempting situation and against the Holy Spirit's urging, you say " I don't care,  I'll repent later". Does God forgive that? Or if you're having a really bad day and just want to do something really sinful like go on a drinking binge or scream at your family or be unfaithful. You KNOW it's wrong in the moment but don't feel like fighting, so you do it anyway despite knowing you will need to repent later. 

 

BTW, I don't do these things,  they are just examples. Not trying to start conflict, just wondering what people think. 

In the case of trespasses, every single one is recorded in Books.

1. If you are a Christian, your book is wiped clean. But to help you "fight" God may CHASTISE you (Heb.12)
2. If you are a Jew, your trespasses are recorded and you are judged according to Law (Rom.2:12). Shouting at your family and a drinking binge are not against the Law of Moses. But wearing a garment of wool and cotton mixed is (Lev.19:19, Deut.22:11).
3. If you are an unbeliever your sins are written in books. If any of those sins are found to have been an open opposition to God you will land in the Lake of Fire (Isa.66:24)

Even though the Christian will ultimately escape, the Bible warns us that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God and that chastisement is "grievous" (Heb.10:31, 12.11). A number of Christians in the New Testament were killed.

[TheBlade]

I am sure I have? Well I don't ever remember saying or thinking  "I'll just repent later". I know there are things I have done over my life that I didn't repent for and He brings it up. These are not the OT days. Anyone on this planet that does not believe in Jesus Christ as lord is lost. Being Jewish means nothing same as being Chinese means nothing. Today is the day of salvation. 

So if we that are born again confess our sis He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness. So when I repent I have to mean it with my heart and not want to do it again. 

[Wayne222]

I am sure I did that in the past. But I had to repent of the notion that I could repent later. That has to be a ploy from Satan himself. That attitude will bring one down fast. 

[Tristen]

Our weaknesses don't just disappear when we convert. Sanctification is a process that requires God's intervention and grace. The reason we need a Savior is because God understands that we cannot be righteous by our own efforts. Every honest Christian has succumbed to moments of weakness knowing full-well that God would not approve. Peter actually rejected Jesus three times - even after being warned that that day that he would do so.

What is more telling is how the Christian responds to their own sin. A sincere Christian will regret their sin, and express a desire to turn away from sin and back to God, and to overcome temptation, and to do better. Whereas someone who does not know God in true fellowship may try to justify or excuse their own sin. In this sense, I find the words "I don't care,  I'll repent later" potentially problematic - as it incorrectly understands grace to be a license for sin.

 

[AnOrangeCat]

10 hours ago, Tristen said:

In this sense, I find the words "I don't care,  I'll repent later" potentially problematic - as it incorrectly understands grace to be a license for sin.

I agree as well. It's a bad mindset to get into. At the same time though, I personally feel that if we're honest with ourselves most of our sin falls into some strange state of intentional yet not. Paul seems to acknowledge something along these lines in Romans 7 when he says that he doesn't do what he wants to and does what he doesn't want to because of our sin nature that wars against his desire to follow God. Once we're into our adulthood as Christians we typically have a good grasp of what's a sin and what isn't, so with this in mind I very much agree with how we handle it after the fact is pretty important.

[R. Hartono]

On 1/6/2023 at 9:42 PM, TrueFollowerOfChrist said:

I'm just curious what people think. Does God forgive intentional sin? For example,  you are in a tempting situation and against the Holy Spirit's urging, you say " I don't care,  I'll repent later". Does God forgive that? Or if you're having a really bad day and just want to do something really sinful like go on a drinking binge or scream at your family or be unfaithful. You KNOW it's wrong in the moment but don't feel like fighting, so you do it anyway despite knowing you will need to repent later. 

 

BTW, I don't do these things,  they are just examples. Not trying to start conflict, just wondering what people think. 

The more you step into sucking mud in the swamp the closer you become to death. 

[Tristen]

11 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I agree as well. It's a bad mindset to get into. At the same time though, I personally feel that if we're honest with ourselves most of our sin falls into some strange state of intentional yet not. Paul seems to acknowledge something along these lines in Romans 7 when he says that he doesn't do what he wants to and does what he doesn't want to because of our sin nature that wars against his desire to follow God. Once we're into our adulthood as Christians we typically have a good grasp of what's a sin and what isn't, so with this in mind I very much agree with how we handle it after the fact is pretty important.

 

Yeah - it's the weakness of our flesh. We choose to heed the desires of our flesh and set aside the conviction of the Holy Spirit. For whatever reason, at that moment, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). 

James 1:14-15 - But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

The potential trap here is for our flesh to use this 'to err is human' sentiment as another justification for sin.

The ideal response is to not sin. The more realistic response is to realize that there is an area of weakness in our life that needs God's grace to overcome. The worst response is to let the one who tempted us, further condemn us so that we put distance between ourselves and God.

1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Galatians 6:8 - For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

The best response after we sin is to go directly to God, to not waste any time (God's or yours) in self-condemnation, and to receive the mercy and grace from God - which we so obviously need.

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Sorry - didn't mean to get so preachy. Felt like I was on a roll.