Are You Paranoid About Sin or Yourself Sinning?

[lilymarie]

As the title of the poll speaks, are you paranoid about sin and/or sinning? The question is just for yourself not anyone else, not even your children.

 

[intricatic]

When I sin, I ask for forgiveness, but I'm not parranoid about it.

Ephesians 2
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

[Blank123]

I actually try not to focus too much on either sinning or being perfectly sinless, heh. I try to keep my focus on God and I do try to live my life in a way that glorifies Him but I do still sin. Its not something thats going to change while I live in this fallen world and in a body that is susceptible to sin.

And I don't believe the Bible calls us to live a life of perfection either. The Bible calls us to reject our lifestyles of sin:

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. - Romans 6:1-14

but it doesn't say we won't sin. In fact we are pretty much guaranteed in First John that we will sin - but now that we are saved we have a Holy God we can appeal to for forgiveness for our sins

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. - 1 John 1:5-10

 

[ReformedChapin]

It's clear that we sin often, even when we don't notice but I try to ask for forgiveness every day. This doesn't mean I'm paraniod about it...I don't like being a legalist.

 

[lilymarie]

Those were good scriptures. I was also thinking of the fact that the Bible says Jesus is intercessoring with the Father on our behalf at all times.

Does anyone have that scripture?

I came up with the word paranoid because I had heard a story on another board I read that Martin Luther used to wake his confident up at all hours of the night on a constant basis so he could "confess his sins to his brother". Well, the brother listened for weeks on end to this gibber-gabber until his brother finally had to say "Look Martin, when you come up with a real sin, then wake me up in the middle of the night!"

p.s. It sounds like Martin Luther was paranoid. (still laughing)

 

[Blank123]

hehe.

theres actually a couple of passages that talks about Christ making intercession for the saints

1 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:


“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:31-39


20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:


“ The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,

‘ You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’&#8221,

22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. - Hebrews 7:21-28



I love BibleGateway

 

[lilymarie]

When I sin, I ask for forgiveness, but I'm not parranoid about it.

Ephesians 2
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

I love that scripture that says God prepared the works beforehand that we should walk in them. I think that is so true.

 

[Loriann97]

As the title of the poll speaks, are you paranoid about sin and/or sinning? The question is just for yourself not anyone else, not even your children.

I wouldn't say I'm paranoid, but I do try to keep myself in check with God's Holy word because I love God, and I don't want to sin.

 

[Bernergirl]

This is something I'm kinda sorting out as a new Christian... From what we have discussed in church, the Scriptures I've read, etc. I'm thinking that as long as you keep your focus on God and love Him and love your neighbor as yourself you are fulfilling the purpose of the Law. Aim at that (and keep the Scriptures/Law in mind; know them well) and rely on Christ and He will work through us, causing us not to sin. We can't do it ourselves, but He can do it through us.

However, ya know, this isn't to say that we won't sin. We are plagued with this disease called human nature that leads our thoughts away from the Holy One. That's why every day is a new day and we had better take the time to start it (and finish it) right if we know what's good for us.

"But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Jesus gave us His righteousness, but we gotta obey our consciences, confess our sins, and repent. Let me tell ya, there's nothing like starting, living, and ending your day with God. Nothin' like it.

That's my two cents...

God bless!

Lissa

 

[OldWiseGuy]

As you get older you don't have the strength required to really do a good job of sinning. 8^)

 

[illudium_phosdex]

I get pretty paranoid on a fairly regular basis.

 

[jiminpa]

I have found that the fear of sin is one of the greatest sins we can commit, as it leads to rebellion against God in favor of religious safety. The Pharasees of Jesus's day were an evolution of that thinking, and they were so focused on tangible measures of righteousness that when the God they claimed to be avoiding sin for stood in front of them they found Him wanting by their standards.

Believe me, we can do the same thing by focusing on measurable sins.

As it says in Romans 14, whatever is not of faith is sin. Fear of sin is not a faithful act.

 

[lilymarie]

I have found that the fear of sin is one of the greatest sins we can commit, as it leads to rebellion against God in favor of religious safety. The Pharasees of Jesus's day were an evolution of that thinking, and they were so focused on tangible measures of righteousness that when the God they claimed to be avoiding sin for stood in front of them they found Him wanting by their standards.

Believe me, we can do the same thing by focusing on measurable sins.

As it says in Romans 14, whatever is not of faith is sin. Fear of sin is not a faithful act.

I'm not fully convinced of that. I think we all go through stages of a somewhat "child-likeness" where we are very confused as to what is sin in our lives and what isn't. This cycle may rear it's ugly head from time to time, and then it often abates as we find rest and peace and comfort in The Lord.

But, I think sometimes it's like we're children asking our father is this wrong?... is this wrong?... it this wrong? Is this okay?... is this okay?

I think we all have gone through these "stages".

But yes, peace and rest in The Lord is our greatest deliverance and hope.

 

[intricatic]

This is something I'm kinda sorting out as a new Christian... From what we have discussed in church, the Scriptures I've read, etc. I'm thinking that as long as you keep your focus on God and love Him and love your neighbor as yourself you are fulfilling the purpose of the Law. Aim at that (and keep the Scriptures/Law in mind; know them well) and rely on Christ and He will work through us, causing us not to sin. We can't do it ourselves, but He can do it through us.

However, ya know, this isn't to say that we won't sin. We are plagued with this disease called human nature that leads our thoughts away from the Holy One. That's why every day is a new day and we had better take the time to start it (and finish it) right if we know what's good for us.

"But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Jesus gave us His righteousness, but we gotta obey our consciences, confess our sins, and repent. Let me tell ya, there's nothing like starting, living, and ending your day with God. Nothin' like it.

That's my two cents...

God bless!

Lissa

Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

^ One of my favorite passages.

Yeah, I think you have it pretty much down.

As you get older you don't have the strength required to really do a good job of sinning. 8^)

Ain't no man righteous, no, not one.

 

[vossler]

I answered other only because I didn't like the ease of which "When I do sin I ask for forgiveness" sounded like. Upon reading that I took to say that I didn't need to concern myself about sin because I'm going to do it anyway, so don't be concerned just ask for forgiveness. At least for me I need to make it a daily focus that I keep myself holy and pure, at least as much as I'm able to and that requires me to make it my daily objective, through prayer, not to sin. A simple way that I do that is by praying Psalm 19:14 which states "Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord, my rock and my redeemer"

 

[NHB_MMA]

I worry often, because narrow is the way and few will find it.

 

[lilymarie]

I answered other only because I didn't like the ease of which "When I do sin I ask for forgiveness" sounded like. Upon reading that I took to say that I didn't need to concern myself about sin because I'm going to do it anyway, so don't be concerned just ask for forgiveness. At least for me I need to make it a daily focus that I keep myself holy and pure, at least as much as I'm able to and that requires me to make it my daily objective, through prayer, not to sin. A simple way that I do that is by praying Psalm 19:14 which states "Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord, my rock and my redeemer"

I think you hit the nail on the head as far as "words" from our mouth. It's the words that sometimes come from frustration and I may snap out from time to time; but definately not like I used to before I was a saved Christian.

Now if someone says something like well f you to me or anyone in my family or friends, then I just say "thank you" and we walk away.

I don't know if any of you have noticed, but I think the world has gotten to be an angrier place, especially in the area of "road rage". Where I live, it's nutz! People drive 70 to 90 miles an hour in 35-40 mile an hour speed limits! And it's usually men with 6 or 8 speed cars or trucks that go just nutz on the road cutting people off and driving crazy; and sometimes women drivers, but not very often. Anyhow, it's the road rage that can even get under a Christian's skin, and we may say something we regret. It's the training of the mouth that is very important in this tense world of ours, which has been nearly now on the brink of WWIII!

Also, sometimes dealing with immature people gets me upset; I'm learning to always walk away now or try to "kill with kindness" as the saying goes.

I think from now on I'll just say "God loves you". But you know what, sometimes I can say that, and people get angrier and that's scary.

p.s. I thought some might take the option of "when I do sin I ask for forgiveness as though one would sin on purpose but that is really not my meaning at all. I mean a "slip" but I in no way meant an intentional sin on purpose or with pre-planning.