Discussion about the Nature of Sin and frustration

JosephT said:

So, I am a Christian, (although I am very bad at it). I struggle with Lust (inappropriate content and such) as well as drinking, lying and other vices. While I know these things will not stop God from loving me, according to the Bible, I still don't want to do them. I wish I could just promise God I will never do them again, but I can't because I know that eventually it is possible for me to sin and that is a terrifying thought for me, because why would I do something against the God who I am trying to love more than anything? It is a trap I feel I cannot escape.

As I have thought more and more deeply about God and how good and holy he is, and learned more about theology, it has all only served to highlight my own depravity, and despite walking with the Lord for some years, I fear that when I examine my own heart and motivations, they are black and twisted as ever. I am a messed up dude.

Here is the thing. When I see non-Christians sin, and not care, I sometimes wonder if it would be better were I one of them. They sin, but they do not realize the goodness of God and how egregious of an error sin is. I pity them for their lack of knowledge.

BUT for me, getting to know God has placed what feels such a heavy burden on me. I now KNOW what sin is and that God is true and good, and I STILL choose, deliberately to let my wandering eye get the better of me. I, knowing the truth of Jesus, should not sin in the same way, I should know better. It really stinks.

One problem I have personally is with intrusive thoughts, it is like: "Don't think about a pink rhino on a unicycle". Of course I am immediately thinking about one.

Same with things like lust: "Don't think about sexy ladies". So of course I think about it. This has become very frustrating to me. So then I just think about what I should NOT do as opposed to what I SHOULD do. I pray a lot, but I just fear falling astray is inevitable.

To be sure, I still try to trust in my salvation that God promised, but I want to do what is good and not evil. The problem cannot be God's, so it must be mine obviously, so what else can I do. Thoughts?

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Read and reread Romans 7 and find your answer in Romans 8.

Completely understand

JosephT said:

So, I am a Christian, (although I am very bad at it). I struggle with Lust (inappropriate content and such) as well as drinking, lying and other vices. While I know these things will not stop God from loving me, according to the Bible, I still don't want to do them. I wish I could just promise God I will never do them again, but I can't because I know that eventually it is possible for me to sin and that is a terrifying thought for me, because why would I do something against the God who I am trying to love more than anything? It is a trap I feel I cannot escape.

As I have thought more and more deeply about God and how good and holy he is, and learned more about theology, it has all only served to highlight my own depravity, and despite walking with the Lord for some years, I fear that when I examine my own heart and motivations, they are black and twisted as ever. I am a messed up dude.

Here is the thing. When I see non-Christians sin, and not care, I sometimes wonder if it would be better were I one of them. They sin, but they do not realize the goodness of God and how egregious of an error sin is. I pity them for their lack of knowledge.

BUT for me, getting to know God has placed what feels such a heavy burden on me. I now KNOW what sin is and that God is true and good, and I STILL choose, deliberately to let my wandering eye get the better of me. I, knowing the truth of Jesus, should not sin in the same way, I should know better. It really stinks.

One problem I have personally is with intrusive thoughts, it is like: "Don't think about a pink rhino on a unicycle". Of course I am immediately thinking about one.

Same with things like lust: "Don't think about sexy ladies". So of course I think about it. This has become very frustrating to me. So then I just think about what I should NOT do as opposed to what I SHOULD do. I pray a lot, but I just fear falling astray is inevitable.

To be sure, I still try to trust in my salvation that God promised, but I want to do what is good and not evil. The problem cannot be God's, so it must be mine obviously, so what else can I do. Thoughts?

Click to expand...

It is written... walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For an in-depth look at the resurrected Christ Jesus...
www.carb-fat.com/stephen.html

Learn the "Fear of the Lord God"!

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psa 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psa 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Psa 37:28 For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.


Prayer, Fasting, and Implanting His Word to Overcome!

Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.


Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.


Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

FEAR: From a primary φέβομαι phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: - be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.
TREMBLING: From G5141; a “trembling”, that is, quaking with fear: - + tremble (-ing).

Rev 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jesus: Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, you shall all likewise perish.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Is your true desire for our God, or for the sin you desire?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beats him with the rod, he shall not die.
Pro 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.
Pro 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Pro 12:1 Whoso loves instruction loves knowledge: but he that hates reproof is brutish.
Pro 12:2 A good man obtains favor of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

Pro 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; )
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Not giving in to temptations is extremely hard. It can be done though.

You have to offer up your thoughts to God. Immediately. Lay them at His feet. Hand them over to Him. Surrender to God's mercy and love. Yes, everytime you get those feelings of lust etc. Give them over to God. Say the Our Father. Let God know you are His. You only want God.

Its not easy. Pray about it.

Remember you are carrying a cross. Jesus is carrying you while you are suffering with your cross.

Satan may win many battles in our lives, but, with your mind centred on Jesus, satan will NEVER win the war!

Be strong. Be consistent in prayer. Persevere in prayer. Stay close to Jesus.

May God guide you, protect you and help you in your battles my friend.

Joh 3:20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

This should frighten everyone who says that they are a believer!

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

INIQUITY: G458, From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

What is sin?
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Who is Jesus speaking to?
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Doing things, but not obedient to our Lord God, loving Him by keeping His commandments)

Not everyone who calls on His name will enter the kingdom of heaven!
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Joh 14:21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Rev 3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

JosephT said:

To be sure, I still try to trust in my salvation that God promised, but I want to do what is good and not evil. The problem cannot be God's, so it must be mine obviously, so what else can I do. Thoughts?

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Here are some Thoughts for you.

No sin found in the Blood Atonement