How do we know if we're living in sin?

Where is your allegiance? To the will of God or the will of man, our selfish nature? There is an old say 'to err is human, to forgive divine'.

Neostarwcc said:

Although sometimes I admit I obey my own will.

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We all do, it's our animal instinct. But do you purposely go out of your way to hurt another?

Neostarwcc said:

No ofc not.

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That is what sets you apart from those of this world who purposely seek gain at the expense of others or oppress. You know.. all the usual suspects... theft, adultery, murder, building back better

Neostarwcc said:

If we are disgusted by our sin is that proof that we're living in sin? It's proof that we're regenerated and that the Holy Spirit is living within us. But does this get nullified by living in sin?

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If there is some sin you've committed and you're disgusted by it but do not forsake it, then, yes, you are living in sin. Feeling humiliated and repulsed by sin, feeling shame and a desire to conceal your sin and even yourself, feeling self-condemnation and hopelessness about your sin - these are all responses that emanate from your conscience and from Self. One's conscience can grow twisted and dull, accommodating things it shouldn't and failing to react at things it should (1 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:8; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2). The reactions of one's conscience can grow exaggerated or obsessive, too, pressed by Self to inordinate self-condemnation and anxiety (Hebrews 10:26-27; Revelation 21:8; Genesis 3:6-8). Only if one is walking well with the Lord is one's conscience a helpful, trustworthy means of discerning good from evil.

The conviction of the Holy Spirit is not susceptible to contortion and corruption as one's conscience is. But his convicting of you may be silenced as you refuse it, ignoring his conviction in favor of continuing in sin (Ephesians 4:30). Spirit-conviction is always aimed at remediation, at moving the straying believer back into fellowship with God (Romans 5:6-11; Titus 3:5-8; Ephesians 2:1-10). The Spirit's conviction of us never produces craven fear or a desire to conceal but the opposite: A desire to expose sin, repent of it, confess it, and return to fellowship with God. When the Spirit convicts, the effect is to draw us to God, not repel us from Him, to urge us into the light for cleansing and restoration, not into concealment and shame. (1 Corinthians 4:5; Ephesians 5:13)

Our spiritual regeneration, our second birth into the family of God, cannot be nullified by anything (Romans 8:37-39; John 10:27-29; Hebrews 13:5). Our salvation is God's work (John 6:44; 2 Timothy 2:25; John 16:8; Ephesians 2:4-9), accomplished through the atoning work of Christ (Colossians 1:12-21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:3-4, etc.), and by the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit within (Romans 8:9-11; 1 John 4:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are mere recipients of this divine work, not the producers or sustainers of it. And so we need not fear that having been brought to salvation by God, saved through the sacrifice of His Son, and made spiritually alive by the indwelling Spirit that we can undo all this divine work by our sin. Our wickedness did not keep God from us before we were saved, barring Him from all the Bible says He does in order that we might choose Him, but despite all our sin, He worked to persuade us to faith in the Savior. Why, if our sin was no barrier to God before our salvation do we think it is this mighty corrosive to our spiritual adoption after we are saved? Why is it all God who brings us to salvation and then all us afterward, sustaining our salvation? Paul challenged this thinking very directly:

Galatians 3:1-3
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Neostarwcc said:

Because last I checked the Bible contains multiple warnings against sinning and last I checked? I sin. A lot. Several times a day probably. How am I supposed to confess all that sin and confess sins I don't even remember?

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One at a time, as the Spirit convicts you of them. Perhaps follow David's example:

Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

If you really want to know where you've gone off the rails morally and spiritually, God will be more than happy to show you. Many are afraid of what such an inspection will reveal, knowing there are secret corners of their lives holding sin which they are not willing to relinquish.

Neostarwcc said:

Just...what is living in sin and how do I avoid it? I know regeneration is a sign you're among the elect and I should trust in christ death for all my sins but... the Bible scares the pants off me.

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Sin and fear of God go together. When we are determined to hold onto things we know God would remove from our lives if we would let Him, we begin to see God as a threat, a dangerous Judge, rather than as our loving, Heavenly Father.

I don't think you're really confused about what living in sin is. You've admitted to a life daily plagued by sin which is what it is to "live in sin." Does this mean you aren't spiritually-regenerated? Maybe. Maybe not. Living in sin never means that you were once saved and now are not, only that you were deceived about the genuineness of your salvation and were never truly saved - or that you've not properly understood who you are in Christ and how to walk well with God as His child and so have remained a "carnal babe in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1). Being saved and then lost, though, is not a biblical option.

How do you avoid living in sin? Simple:

- Know God. (1 John 5:20; Philippians 3:7-10; 2 Timothy 1:12)
- Love God. (Matthew 22:36-38; 1 John 4:16-19; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
- Submit to God. (Romans 6:13-22; Romans 8:14; Romans 12:1; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:6)
- Enjoy God. (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 1:3; Revelation 3:20; Psalms 16:11)

The rest of Christian living - a holy, peaceful, Christ-centered, bright-shining life - happens naturally and profoundly - and ONLY - as these things are true in your life as God's child.

Repentance is from death, the wages of sin is that death.


If a person fears God, and knows God made them, they will know all He warns us about, is our life or death.


If we think people have a say, we will hear their opinions, or their tricks.


Jesus rising from the dead, is the new life we are to believe in, and follow through bringing life to others, in our words of God and our ways ( they should be the ways and words of Christ) and if we bring death to people ( our own words of death and our actions , sin which are death) we neither care what we bring to ourselves, nor to others.


Faith is not taught by others, unless we want mans faith, but if we want the faith of Christ, we hear no other but He ( who cant lie)



2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Neostarwcc said:

Is our repentance constant or was it a one time deal when we got saved? I remember repentance as a gift of God. It continues to be so right? Even if we don't remember but only see the changed life?

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Our repentance needs to be ongoing or then it isn't a change of outlook or heart. It hasn't rejected the ways of the flesh in favour of those of the spirit. Many wrongly seek compromise.

Repentance is not to be repented of, a good conscience is required in the faith of Christ...




2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.




Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.


Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Neostarwcc said:

Is our repentance constant or was it a one time deal when we got saved? I remember repentance as a gift of God. It continues to be so right? Even if we don't remember but only see the changed life?

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Repentance is an ongoing, daily thing, not a once-for-all single event. See my post entitled "Crocodile Tears" on the Discipleship subforum.

Repentance is to escape the judgement of God, by knowing Gods goodness led us to repentance.

The non penitent heart treasures up wrath, for Gods righteous judgement, rendering to every man according to his deeds, and the ones in patient continuance seek for eternal life, but the contentious ones obey unrighteousness, and receive wrath, upon every soul of man that does evil, for there is no respect of persons with God..


Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.



Then we go on from repentance, as it is not said to be an ongoing thing, going on to perfection, ( as is told) for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened to renew them to repentance again, as they crucify Christ afresh to themselves..



Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Faithful777 said:

Repentance is to escape the judgement of God, by knowing Gods goodness led us to repentance.

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Repentance of what?

Repentance is from an evil conscience, and from evil works...




John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

3 John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Faithful777 said:

Repentance is from an evil conscience, and from evil works...

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True, as long as there is an understanding how our self serving ways are adversarial to the will of God which is about sharing and not self..

timothyu said:

True, as long as there is an understanding how our self serving ways are adversarial to the will of God which is about sharing and not self..

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John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.




Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.




Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Neostarwcc said:

Does t he Holy Spirit always warn a person about to live in sin of their delima?

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Everyone needs a foundational idea of what sin is in order to bounce things off of in that case. Don't look at the deeds for all deeds are caused by the same frame of mind... Self interest which seeks gain at the expense of others.