Is abstaining from sin worth anything if done for the wrong reasons?

Loyce KG

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I don't understand this. Why is abstaining from sin for the wrong reasons also sin?
Isn't sin deliberately doing something against God's will? And isn't it God's will that we not engage in these behaviors? So if we're deliberately NOT engaging in these behaviors, for whatever reason, aren't we in some sense obeying God?
Sin is simply "missing the mark". God's mark is perfection (Mathew 5:48). God desires that in whatever we do, let's do so to the Glory of God (1 Cor 10:31) and do it heartily unto God (Colossians 3:23). Romans 3:23 says that "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God."
Only one man fulfilled the above to perfection-Jesus Christ. Jesus knew no sin (2 Cor 5:7), He obeyed all His Father's commands and will. The epitome was His death on the cross that pleased God and quenched His wrath.

So those who seek to please God must have faith (Hebrews 11:6)
Romans 14:23 says, "Everything which is not from faith is sin." Anything, absolutely any act or attitude which is owing to a lack of trust in God is sin, no matter how good or moral it may appear to men. God looks on the heart.

Sin is not simply defined by mere acts of doing or not doing. It is defined by the causative root-which is lack of faith(unbelief)
This is why we rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ, through whom we are counted righteous before God and our works too.
 
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friend of

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I agree she's in a better place in her life, now that she's in love with a Christian. God could very well have purposed it this way, to draw her. Ultimately, she must obtain genuine faith in Christ on her own to be justified as per Galatians 3:11 Galatians 3:20. Hopefully this man will be led by the Spirit to work on her heart so that she may come to saving knowledge of the Lord.
 
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thesunisout

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Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons? For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

To give a more particular example: let's say that an agnostic girl who used to live a depraved life (engaged in promiscuity, fornication, drugs etc.) falls in love with a Christian guy and he reciprocates her love, but he tells her that they can only get married if she strives to repent and stop sinning. She doesn't believe in God, but because she is very much in love with the Christian guy, she quits all her previous sinful habits. She starts living a life that could be considered righteous (she dresses modestly, changes her behavior and quits all drugs and all forms of fornication), she attends church and even tries to pray, but she only does so in order to please her partner, without believing that God actually exists. She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her? Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

Answers from Christians belonging to all denominations are welcomed.

The only thing that can save someone from the judgment is the blood of Jesus Christ. A person who is without Christ will also be without forgiveness on the day of judgment. A Christian also should not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. It is a big mistake to marry someone who doesn't know Christ and you are basically inviting the devil into your home to live with you. I hate to put it in those terms but since she is a slave to sin that will be the reality. What does light have in common with darkness? Or Christ with Belial? I strongly urge you or whomever this is to break off the relationship before they really mess up their life.
 
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Ttalkkugjil

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Yes, I can think of situations where aiming to please another person could be sinful — but that's if what you're doing is sinful. But I don't know why it would be a "sinful intention" in itself to do something to please another person. Don't children do things all the time to please their parents? Or students to please their teachers? Are such actions automatically sinful because they're not done directly for "God's good pleasure"?

Children should be good to their parents, students to their teachers, in service to God.


God is to come first in all things.
 
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aiki

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Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons?

Abstaining from sin might protect a person from various temporally-destructive consequences of sin: addiction, disease, unwanted pregnancy, psychological damage, etc. Is such abstinence spiritually valuable? No. Apart from Christ, all our righteousness is as filthy rags. This doesn't mean good deeds are somehow immoral when done from a faulty motive, only that they are spiritually useless.

For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

The abstinence from sin itself is not immoral, but the faulty motive for abstinence God condemns because it neglects to obey the First and Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-38)

She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her?

Absolutely not. "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers," "what fellowship does light have with darkness," "come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing," etc. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

It won't gain her access to God's kingdom. The only way to God is through Christ, not good deeds. (John 14:6) Even those who had cast out demons in Christ's name, and prophesied in his name, and performed many miracles in his name, Christ cast out from him at the Final Judgment. (Matthew 7:21-23) How much more impossible is it to enter God's kingdom for those who ignore Christ entirely though they do good deeds?
 
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Monk Brendan

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Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons? For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

To give a more particular example: let's say that an agnostic girl who used to live a depraved life (engaged in promiscuity, fornication, drugs etc.) falls in love with a Christian guy and he reciprocates her love, but he tells her that they can only get married if she strives to repent and stop sinning. She doesn't believe in God, but because she is very much in love with the Christian guy, she quits all her previous sinful habits. She starts living a life that could be considered righteous (she dresses modestly, changes her behavior and quits all drugs and all forms of fornication), she attends church and even tries to pray, but she only does so in order to please her partner, without believing that God actually exists. She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her? Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

Answers from Christians belonging to all denominations are welcomed.
We all have to start somewhere.

St. Anthony the Great said, "I no longer fear God, but I love Him."
 
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mnphysicist

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The unbelievers who do good works thing creates some messy issues.

We have Romans 14:23, where good works, if done apart from faith are still sinful for Christians. And yet, we also have unbelievers doing good works in Romans 2:12-16 where the text suggests they are declared righteous. I think of Abraham who did not have knowledge in Christ. I think of the Roman Centurian, who Jesus said had more faith than all of Israel.

Such doesn't make for a neat and tidy system of beliefs... you can sort of get it to work, if you limit Romans 14:23 to only unbelievers, but I think the scriptural support is greater that it refers to both believers and Christians. Likewise, one can suggest that Romans 2:12-16 has nothing to do with salvation. Granted, its a pretty wide stretch to do that, albeit Billy Graham got in trouble with a few for not ascribing to such a belief.

As far as the marriage issue... some folks get really hung up with the unequally yoked thing out of 2 Corinthians 6:14, but its not black and white, especially so in light of 1 Corinthians 7:16. Beyond that, 2 Cor 6:14 is universal in scope, but most Christian's and churches ignore it in every other sphere of life (often to their peril).

Personally, I think one can avoid a whole lot of trouble by not being unequally yoked. I'd even go a bit further and suggest couples should be in similar places with their walk with Christ, but I also concede life changes. A believer today, might deny Jesus tomorrow. Some will draw very close to Him, some will draw back as time passes.
 
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Mountainmike

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In answer to your specific question, the answer is self defeating.
First commandment is to "Love God" ; failure to do so is clearly sinning. So the rituals of faith in sins of ommission and commission are nothing without the first.
Indeed going through the rituals of law and obedience is exactly what Jesus chided the pharisees for, saying that without love of God and neighbour the rest was all for nothing except show.

But the main issue is we should not judge; any of us.
Maybe this is God's plan for her? and the way she will ultimately come to Him?

A lot will depend I suspect is how well the guy lives out his faith, and whether our Lord an be seen in his life. The change is certainly a good start.


Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons? For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

To give a more particular example: let's say that an agnostic girl who used to live a depraved life (engaged in promiscuity, fornication, drugs etc.) falls in love with a Christian guy and he reciprocates her love, but he tells her that they can only get married if she strives to repent and stop sinning. She doesn't believe in God, but because she is very much in love with the Christian guy, she quits all her previous sinful habits. She starts living a life that could be considered righteous (she dresses modestly, changes her behavior and quits all drugs and all forms of fornication), she attends church and even tries to pray, but she only does so in order to please her partner, without believing that God actually exists. She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her? Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

Answers from Christians belonging to all denominations are welcomed.
 
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Bobber

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Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons? For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

To give a more particular example: let's say that an agnostic girl who used to live a depraved life (engaged in promiscuity, fornication, drugs etc.) falls in love with a Christian guy and he reciprocates her love, but he tells her that they can only get married if she strives to repent and stop sinning. She doesn't believe in God, but because she is very much in love with the Christian guy, she quits all her previous sinful habits. She starts living a life that could be considered righteous (she dresses modestly, changes her behavior and quits all drugs and all forms of fornication), she attends church and even tries to pray, but she only does so in order to please her partner, without believing that God actually exists. She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her? Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

Answers from Christians belonging to all denominations are welcomed.

Well of course God is not interesting in causing a morality revolution for moralities sake. His primary desire is to recreated men's spirits making them new creations in Christ. However if this woman prays God might get involved in answering yes even her prayers. That can lead her much into the want to serve God. But should he marry such a one? No. Not until he knows she's truly been born again. Scripture is clear on this. Be no unequally yoked. All things may seem to start off well but will it be sustained as time goes along. Probably untold numbers of people who have tired that and it didn't work.
 
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-Sasha-

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What great love this girl must have for the man, and what humility, that she would make all these efforts and sacrifice so much of what she thought was a good way of life for the sake of gaining his favor! Imagine with what zeal she will love Christ when she comes to know Him!
 
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Lucian Hodoboc

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Imagine with what zeal she will love Christ when she comes to know Him!
What if she never does come to know Him? There have been people who have prayed their entire lives, but became atheists in their latter years claiming that they never found God in spite of their search.
 
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Neogaia777

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What if she never does come to know Him? There have been people who have prayed their entire lives, but became atheists in their latter years claiming that they never found God in spite of their search.
It's not about you finding God, but about God finding you... And for some that is just not meant to happen, sadly, and so be it... Not in the cards, so to speak...

And others of us might ask God about it, but He reserves the right to not answer certain things, or questions, or questionings from us, for some very valid reason's, just not ones that it is very clear for us to see as valid sometimes, right now... reason's that we will more than likely misinterpret or misunderstand (right now), (where we are at right now)...

God Bless!
 
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Pavel Mosko

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Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons? For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

To give a more particular example: let's say that an agnostic girl who used to live a depraved life (engaged in promiscuity, fornication, drugs etc.) falls in love with a Christian guy and he reciprocates her love, but he tells her that they can only get married if she strives to repent and stop sinning. She doesn't believe in God, but because she is very much in love with the Christian guy, she quits all her previous sinful habits. She starts living a life that could be considered righteous (she dresses modestly, changes her behavior and quits all drugs and all forms of fornication), she attends church and even tries to pray, but she only does so in order to please her partner, without believing that God actually exists. She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her? Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

Answers from Christians belonging to all denominations are welcomed.


Much of life is learning things step by step gradually. In Psychology that concept is called "successive approximations". And I believe even God uses it as he deals with us. So the answer would be YES. Even though the lady's behavioral reform is not enough, it is considered an early step in the right direction.

Shaping (psychology) - Wikipedia
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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Is abstaining from sin worth anything if it is done for the wrong reasons? For example, if a person abstains from sin because they don't want to disappoint people or saints instead of abstaining out of love for God, is the abstinence from sin in such a case a sin in itself?

To give a more particular example: let's say that an agnostic girl who used to live a depraved life (engaged in promiscuity, fornication, drugs etc.) falls in love with a Christian guy and he reciprocates her love, but he tells her that they can only get married if she strives to repent and stop sinning. She doesn't believe in God, but because she is very much in love with the Christian guy, she quits all her previous sinful habits. She starts living a life that could be considered righteous (she dresses modestly, changes her behavior and quits all drugs and all forms of fornication), she attends church and even tries to pray, but she only does so in order to please her partner, without believing that God actually exists. She is honest to her boyfriend about her lack of belief and about the fact that she has turned over a new leaf out of love for him, not out of sincere Christian repentance. Should he marry her? Would her change of lifestyle amount to anything in God's eyes, or will she still be damned at the end of her days?

Answers from Christians belonging to all denominations are welcomed.

I'll answer you with Jesus' words:

"unless your righteousness SURPASSES that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

She MUST be Born Again. Your girl is exactly like the people under John the Baptist's teaching when they obeyed, repented, and were baptized in water, except they believed in God, and even all that did not save them.....only Jesus can give the ONE Baptism of God's Holy Spirit. Jesus said "You MUST be Born Again" (John 3:7). And He said "Unless a man is Born Again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven."

So NO. All those changes mean nothing, unless she repents AWAY from ALL sin TOWARD Jesus Christ and receives the Holy Spirit of God. As you described her, she has never repented of the Greatest Sin, which is to not Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength. This was also the final sin of the unrepentant "rich young ruler" (Mark 10:17-27) that kept him from being saved, and this Greatest Command can only be obeyed by someone who is Born of God.

The Greatest command is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart,mind,soul, and strength. And it is written "Whoever breaks one of the commands is guilty of them all". You cannot Love God with EVERYTHING in you, unless you are Born of God by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Unless the girl becomes Born of God, the boy CANNOT have Spiritual Unity with her because they are of 2 contrary spirits, and therefore, they should not be married. It's not good to "yoke" two different animals to a single plow. They just won't work well together.
 
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Brightmoon

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What is this nonsense about unevenly yoked . I think if someone is mature that they can negotiate differing faiths. My older cousin married a Muslim man & they were married for over 40years . Another cousin married a Jewish man twice her age . They also were married for a long time. Who are you to determine if someone else is unevenly yoked? Would you break up a relationship because of your prejudice against one of the people or would you mind your own business?
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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What is this nonsense about unevenly yoked . I think if someone is mature that they can negotiate differing faiths. My older cousin married a Muslim man & they were married for over 40years . Who are you to determine if someone else is unevenly yoked? Would you break up a relationship because of your prejudice against one of the people or would you mind your own business?

Satan gets along with satan, quite well. But the Sons of God and the Sons of the Devil never get along.
 
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Brightmoon

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Satan gets along with satan, quite well. But the Sons of God and the Sons of the Devil never get along.
. So you’d be working to undermine a stable relationship. Yep that’s the devil alright!
 
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