Stop Sinning?

[Guest shiloh357]

So, would it be realistic to say that most here, would prefer the teachings of "remaining" in our sins? Rather than to believe the Scriptures I have posted?

Again, the problem is that the passage you cited is not really material to the issue. Rom. 6 does not advocate any notion that we are expected to never sin once after being born again. The Bible does not hold us to that standard. Romans 6 is dealing our indentification with Christ. Paul is working off of his previous remarks in the first chapter concerning imputed righteousness. We are not yet made righteous, it has only been credited to our account for a future time.

This is the gist of what I am reading. It would be more pleasing to you if I were to state that I am remaining in my sin?

You are confusing the law/power of SIN with SINS. We are no longer in our SIN, but that does not mean we cease from comitting SINS. The Bible never claims that we are sinless in the absolute sense, on this side of eternity.

The notion that a person should never sin EVER again as a Christian is really getting into almost cultic type doctrine.

The Bible teaches that one of the earmarks of a Christian is that the flesh and spirit are at war with one another. How does a person know they are born again on a practical level? They struggle with hold habits, old desires that will continue to creep back into their lives. They struggle with anger, guilt, shame, hatred, jealousy, etc.

The concept of living sinlessly also leaves out one very important fact about us as Christians, since our sin nature has not been eradicated, everything we do, no matter how good, or righteous it appears to us, is still tainted with sin. No person can do any work of righteousness that will meet with God's standards of righteousness and perfection. God is not pleased with us on the basis of what we do, but on the basis of finished work of Christ on the cross. Our good works are a show of gratitude and love for what Jesus has done, but they in no way form a basis for merit or favor with God.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

John is showing us how to identify who the true followers of Christ are. That was of course necessary back then as it is today. John is speaking in general terms. I certainly hope you are not using this passage to advocate the notion that a Christian is supposed to never sin again. That is not John's purpose. John is talking about not living in habitual sin as a lifestyle or daily rule. He is not claiming that those who are born of God will never sin again.

[tsth]

Dear Shiloh,

You really didn't answer my question.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest shiloh357]

Dear Shiloh,

You really didn't answer my question.

In His Love,

Suzanne

Your question(s) operate from a false assumption about what others are saying on this thread.

[tsth]

And that's assumption on your part. I'm taking them word for word as to what they and you are posting. I understand very clearly what each is saying. And some understand very clearly what I am saying.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest shiloh357]

And that's assumption on your part. I'm taking them word for word as to what they and you are posting. I understand very clearly what each is saying. And some understand very clearly what I am saying.

In His Love,

Suzanne

Is that a fact? What is each of us saying? Can you deliniate that for us? It would be interesting to see what you claim we are each saying.

Again, are you claiming that a true Christian is one who NEVER sins, even once? A simple yes or no will suffice.

What is your opinion of a Christian who still commits sin? If a someone commits a single sin, does that mean they are not born of God?

[tsth]

I'll post it again Shiloh, because this is the focus and it's centered on God's Word. We are not embracing holiness in the Christian church today, but rather you keep wanting to hold on to the sin condition.

So maybe it's about changing the mindset of our belief? Maybe it's time to look at it differently? WHAT IF, we did look at it as "being holy"? Rather than the mindset of being "slaves to sin", what if our minds/hearts were reset, to begin looking at it from the other direction? One of believing in "the righteousness" that Christ brings? Maybe we have been all to eager to accept sinfulness?

In His Love,

Suzanne

What I'm saying is, maybe we should believe what God says about sin and righteousness/holiness, in His Own Word! Why won't we believe Him in regard to His Power to Conquer??? See below!

Titus 2

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

In His Love,

Suzanne

It depends on what you believe, whether or not you will "strive" to be "holy". Do you believe God's Word? Or not?

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

1 Thess. 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

2 Peter 3:11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

(This is what the "grace" of God appeared for! See Titus 2 in previous post.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

Do you believe?

Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Praise the Almighty God!!!!

In His Love,

Suzanne

[tsth]

It is time to AWAKEN!

1 Cor. 15:34

Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest shiloh357]

I'll post it again Shiloh, because this is the focus and it's centered on God's Word. We are not embracing holiness in the Christian church today, but rather you keep wanting to hold on to the sin condition.

That is nonsense, and nothing I said even implies such. You are trying to assign values to my remarks because as I said, you are making unwarranted and baseless assumptions about what I believe and have said.

I am saying that we still sin and there is not one of us who is born again who can say with all honesty that we do not still sin.

That is not a matter of holding on to the "sin condition." Such an accusation from you only shows that you have no grasp on what I or anyone else is trying to say to you. It is just the typical arrogant, condesending nonsense that is so typical from you of late.

1 Cor. 15:34

Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

The construction of this verse from the Greek is talking about not giving one's self over to sinful pleasure. It is not a commandment to never, ever commit another sin. It is similar to 1 John where it says those who are born of God do not commit sin habitually.

That is really the issue here. Are you saying that we as Christians are commanded to never commit a single sin ever again?

What I'm saying is, maybe we should believe what God says about sin and righteousness/holiness, in His Own Word! Why won't we believe Him in regard to His Power to Conquer???

And what I am saying is that maybe the problem lies in the fact that I/we disagree with how you are handling these Scriptures and that we are not disbelieving the Scriptures at all.

Are you of the opinion that disagreeing with YOUR understanding and handling of Scripture is to disagree with Scripture itself?

[Fraught]

doesn't it really all hinge on what kind of person one is becoming instead of how many and what sins one has done?

as i suffer the consequences of the shame i feel in hurting another person or offending God, i fully expect to become the kind of person that does not hurt others or offend God. if a 2-year old can learn not to touch the hot stove so as not to suffer the consequences of a burned hand, surely as adults we can do the same thing.

[tsth]

doesn't it really all hinge on what kind of person one is becoming instead of how many and what sins one has done?

as i suffer the consequences of the shame i feel in hurting another person or offending God, i fully expect to become the kind of person that does not hurt others or offend God. if a 2-year old can learn not to touch the hot stove so as not to suffer the consequences of a burned hand, surely as adults we can do the same thing.

Yes, that IS what it hinges upon. What is our view? Hopefully our view of sin has changed. What have we learned from the Scriptures and are we holding firmly to it, with a different outlook.

In His Love,

Suzanne