i want to stop sinning. do you?

[JJ03]

It's a great and blessed desire, to want to cut out sin completely from our lives, to walk more closely with God. This is clearly the work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts us and leads us to live God's way. I don't think, though, that Paul believed that his sinful nature was completely gone. Writing in 1 Tim 1:15 he says 'Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst'. Note the present tense, which is not I think just an issue of translation. Also 'We groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body' (Rom 8:22)- i.e. in eternity. I find, personally, that as I've grown as a Christian I've been convicted of sins that I never even realised before that I did; particularly things of attitude such as pride, laziness, self-dependence etc. Romans 7-8 I'd really recommend.

1 John 2:1 'My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One'. Just because we know we sin, we shouldn't use this as an 'excuse' for sin. I think our focus though should be on Jesus Christ, the author and perfector, we should never think, for example, that we are a) saved because of or b) more righteous before God because of our efforts not to sin. Paul found contentment in this: 'by the grace of God I am what I am'. His joy in God's grace, fellowship and the cleaning work of the Holy Spirit (e.g. Galatians) spurred him on live in pleasingly before God.

I know your cycle OB too, hold in mind that if you really have accepted Jesus' offer, if you really do trust His promise now you are saved, and will be glorified in heaven: 'And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified' Rom 8:30.

 

[kiwichristian]

I think all, or most christians, would want to stop sinning.
God doesnt want us to, but we do anyway, since its in our nature to do so. But that doesnt mean I do want to sin.
Sin separates us from God. Its filthy in the eyes of God.
He doesnt want any of His children to get hurt, or hurt other people by sinning.
If I had a way of not sinning, a way to stop it, I would do it. For Jesus.
But the amazing thing is: Jesus died for our sins! Hallelujah!
He is such an awesome God, full of mercy and grace. If it wasnt for those qualities, God would of punished us for our sin, like the way he did it with the Israelites.
But praise be to God, who has set us free from sin and bondage, amen.

 

[Luchnia]

The fact is, one that sins is a servant to sin and satan. The Word does not lie. However, we try to change it, it still shows that one who sins, serves sin and not God.

The sinner must repent, forsake sin and turn to God, or he is doomed. Let it be as it is written.

Word up

 

[raffhawk]

I am a simple Christian man, and certainly no theologian. However, I've recently started to study more deeply in the word. I have much time on my hands with no distractions as I am deployed to the city of Baghdad, Iraq. Being away from my wife, I've been having to deal with certain thoughts that I know are sinful. As I struggled and tried to overcome these thoughts I was reading the writings of Paul. He convinced me that I am weak. I as a human am terribly horribly weak. But as I confessed this weakness to God and I recognized to myself and Him in front of His throne that I had no power over sin, he helped me. To me this was a real miracle becuase it was so incredible. I feel as though my thoughts are held more captive to Christ. Now my situation has greatly improved, but it is not perfect. But even thought it is not perfect it has allowed me one incredible advantage, a closer relationship with God. Perhaps our goal should be to come closer to God rather than become perfect.

 

[raffhawk]

In response to Kiwi who says

God doesnt want us to, but we do anyway, since its in our nature to do so

I hear what you are saying. But when I read Paul's writing I feel like he is saying we are seperate from that nature, a new being,a spiritual being. Almost if that nature is not apart of us...or better said not a part of who we REALLY ARE. I know what I'm thinking but it is hard to write. I feel seperated from my Dead Nature. Just a thought on that as I fight with Sin.

I just wanted to add one thing being a newbie. God bless all of you today. We are His temple and Christ is the Cornerstone. Together we are His. I don't know why I keep trying to make this a solo thing!!! Please pray for me.

 

[endure]

JJ03
thankyou for your reply,
though i have to disagree.
him being the worst of sinners was not a presentence description of his lifesyle. but it was presentence description of where he had come from.
in other places paul said that he was the LEAST of the disciples, not becuase of sins, but becuase of how he had persecuted the church.
i dont believe he was saying he still commited sins.
peter said in 1 pet 4.1-2 that those who suffer have CEASED to sin.
john said in 1st john 2.10-12 that if we walk in the light, THERE IS NO OCCASION OF STUMBLING IN US.
and the almighty obligation that luchnia quoted from john 8.
"he who commits sin, is the servant of sin."

the redemption of our bodies...
this is just talking to awaiting that great day with the lord.
it isnt talking about being bound in the flesh to commit sins, becuase paul constantly exhorted us to not live according to the flesh and to consider our flesh and old man, DEAD...
in romans 8 he said to mortify the sinful DEEDS of the body... this is a changing of how we ACT, not simply a changing of where we end up, in christ.
he said in romans 6 that we ought not to let sin rieghn in our MORTAL bodies. so while we yet walk the earth, we can be victourious over sin.

yes i too am constatly being convicted of more and more sin, but the overwhelming amount of sin doesnt change the truth if living a sinless life written in the scriptures, it only goes to show the great need for the understanding and power to live sinless, we are doing something terribly wrong...
if God said to live sinless, and we are full of sin, why in the world do we think we have the right to think anything besides us being terribly away from the plan of God...?
far to many people have found rest in sin and call it grace... when it is based souly on the amount of sin in their lives, and there is nothing scriptural about that...

yes paul was what he was BY GRACE...but he was still what he was, and who God commanded him to be....which had to be a sinless person, if he was to be inline with the gospol. becuase the gospel is clear
"go and sin no more"
"let cleanse ourselves of all the filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfect holiness in the fear of God" 2 cor 7.1

yes i do believe that how righteous we are in are body, means alot.
he said wed be judged according to our works.
david said in psalms 18 that god saved him based upon his righteous deeds.
in 1 john 3 it is written that the evidence of who we serve, is in the things we do.
you cant say your saved if you dont know Christ...
but you cant say your right with Christ if your living in sin, habitually or not.
becuase john said in 1 john ch 2 that those who wear the name of Christ ought to live the same life he did. and if there was any major triat or description that he had, that we must have in order to be anywhere near like him, it was his sinlessness. becuase he was the SPOTLESS lamb of God.

yes we are LEAD to live holy, yes living holy is a blessing, its a good thing, but it is FAR FAR MORE THAN A GOOD IDEAL! IT IS THE ABSOLUTE OBLIGATION OF ANY MAN WHO COMES TO GOD. becuase its what God said... "perfect holiness IN THE FEAR OF GOD"
to many people go from motivation to motivation, its never enough that God just said too.... its not enough to doit becuase hes your master and you are his servant who obeys him from reverance and respect...

yes living holy is a NICE thing, its is a GOOD way to live, but it isnt something that God just WANTS us to do and we should obey from GOODNESS sake...its an absolute obligation, and you cannot serve him otherwise becuase he is a holy and jealous God.
to many people dont read the scripture enough to know that pure holiness isnt just way to blessing, its God commandement for all people.

to many have reduced the reason for holiness down this
"well it would be nice if you did or could" kind of thing...
but Jesus said that if you did not deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him, you could never be his disciple.
and initialy what that means it that you have throw your life away, fully. or you dont get God.
people like to think that there is a place for the little weak man who still sins in the kingdom too...
but the truth is, sin destroys, and whether you like God as a friend or not, he cant save you while your in sin. thats why no one can deny that he wrote for us to be holy, sinless, spotless, and without offence before him untill the day of Christ.
peter said in last chapters of 1 peter that we must COMMIT TO HIM the keeping of our souls...
(but he said to doit)
...IN WELL DOING!"

anyman who seeks to be saved, must dig deep into the word of God and gain an understanding of the issues of life and not be deceived into sin.
and commit to doing whatever it takes, to be free of sin, whether its praying for 4 hours a day, throwing out the internet and tv, whatever it takes...
becuase peter said that judgement will begin at the house of God, and many WILL SCARCELY BE SAVED!

but like the bible says and its still says it in myne...
for every sin he will make a way of escape.
why do people fail to believe that?

 

[Luchnia]

Yep, no such thing as sinning/saint taught in God's word. One would have to change the words that Jesus told the prostitute to "Go and sin some more so you can inherit eternal life in your sins," or we could change the words of 1 jn to say, "Little children keep on sinning and committing sin, because you have an advocate with the Father...," or maybe yet change Paul's words to, "Awake to more unrighteousness that you may continue to sin unto eternal life."

Sheeesh, it never ends at what a man will do to justify sin, however, for the most part it is just that sin is not understood.

Word up!

 

[JesseB.]

There is only one way to stop sinning as far as I know, and it's not one that is held in high esteem by Christians. That would be to beg God to take your life because you don't want to spend another day here.

While that *may* be a solution, I think the best thing to do if you're feeling like this is to stop concentrating on yourself. I know I may be in the minority here, but too much introspection, too much worrying, too much fear of somehow offending God can lead to a legalistic walk and a despising of what God has given you to do now that does no good for anyone, including yourself.

My best advice would be to try your best not to commit what you know to be sin-but also live your life. You're only 20 and have many years in God's service ahead of you if you choose to accept them. So I'd say that you need to get out and help some people. Maybe volunteer at a charity thing, start a Bible study for nonbelievers, anything-just get out there, get outside yourself, and help someone else.

Sorry again if I offended anyone.

I have to agree with Susan here.

 

[raffhawk]

Let me tell you a story about a person who doesn't sin and is perfect (although once was unperfect but repented), a person with no shame

I'll bet you Five
He's not alive
If you don't know his name

 

[God_follower]

yeah i would stop sinning if i could! We talked about this one wed. and things were said like, we are dead to sin and alive in christ and even so concider yourself dead but christ who lives in you. I had heard that before and i knew that sin doenst have the same effect on me now that i have accepted. One of the adults brought up a good point. he said
"i was driving by a graveyard the other day and i thought to myself... they arent sinning." i was like.. wow so they are really free from sin if they had accepted Christ. That is the only true way to get away from sin. Everyone struggles with something. My big one is impatience, but i know that i can do all things through christ who strengthens me Sin sucks but If God is for me who can be against me?

God bless

 

[JJ03]

I would never want anyone to think that I was condoning sin. Like you said, holiness is a commandment and a blessing. I've never yet though met or heard of a Christian anywhere in the world who doesn't sin, but this should not put anyone off persevering, as the attitude should be for perfection.

Luchnia I have to disagree if you are saying that unless a believer successfully rids their life of every sin they are bound for hell? Again, I am not saying with Paul's opponents that we should sin all the more in response! In a sense this is academic but in some ways it touches on our understanding of God's pure Gospel.

 

[Hishandmaiden]

I struggle with sins, too.
And sometimes, childishly, I wish I am not born again... because now that God opens my eyes to sins, a lot of what I used to like became hateful to my eyes... and that... is like, well, not somethings I expected.
But... now, I decide, that running away from God won't solve my problem. And I don't want to run away, anyway.
I cope with sins and regular sinful habits ona daily basis.
I decide to live my life each day as it is. If I fall, i immedaitely repent and ask God... to help me not to fall in the same way, again next day.
If I succeed, I reward myself... with a smile... and I thank God for his grace and strength.
And I start to see that... I fall less and less each day.
Amen.
Fall=Giving in to sins
Succeed=Not giving in to sins.

 

[endure]

the thing is, i here this alot.

someone says "well the bible says to walk holy and not sin" and that is true.

and then someone else says "well ive never met anyone who doesnt sin..." as if that means anything.

the truth is, the bible does teach sinlessness and you cant get around it.
it doesnt matter how many people sin or who it was that sins, there is still an obligation to be without sin, becuase its in the word.

and then people try to play off your compassion and say
"well i fall everyday of my life and im really trying and seeking the lord with all my heart, but im still sinning" as if thats supposed to change something.

the bible still preaches sinlessness and gives clear directions on how to walk in this.
the way is clear and the commandment is given, anything else is wrong.
just wrong. it doesnt matter how much they say they try, or how much they try make it seem like they just cant...
becuase the word disagrees...and thats it. and in the end, we will all given an account, and i do not believe God will say
"well i understand that you tried your best"
becuase he made the way plain, anything less is not weakness, its disobedience.

 

[The Midge]

I can honestly say I have never met anyone who never sins. I have met people who sin less, but even they are not totally free from sin. If they tell me they never sin I know they have told a porkie.

 

[Chilldogg77]

"the bible still preaches sinlessness and gives clear directions on how to walk in this.
the way is clear and the commandment is given, anything else is wrong.
just wrong. it doesnt matter how much they say they try, or how much they try make it seem like they just cant...
becuase the word disagrees...and thats it. and in the end, we will all given an account, and i do not believe God will say
"well i understand that you tried your best"
becuase he made the way plain, anything less is not weakness, its disobedience."

I agree. I believe that this is yet another compelling argument for the existence of purgatory. In order to gain heaven, we must attain perfection. Purgatory is the place where we are purified of our sins and our desire to sin. We can also have a "purgatory" on earth, where we are purified through suffering on the earth. Something that I am just beginning to struggle with is to will God's will, even if that involves suffering, because suffering can be used to glorify God, and to show Him how much we love Him. People say that no one on earth is without sin, but they really don't know. Only God knows. Everyone has sinned, and everyone is tempted by sin, but there could very well be people who have so submitted themselves to the will of God that they can avoid sin altogether with His help. For further information on avoiding sin I reccomend reading St. Alphonsus Liguoria's "Love is prayer; prayer is love." I also reccomend reading St. Therese "The Little Flower," especially "Story of a Soul." http://www.littleflower.org

 

[Papist]

well, i disgree that a christian cant stop sinning.

reean
well, i dont really think the scripture from romans 7 that people say proves paul always struggled with sin really means that.
i understand asking forgiveness and all that, but im just sick of sinning and want to quit it for good.

susan
well, i sure hope the only way to stop sinning is not to leave this life, becuase to me sin truely is big thing, it isnt like God, and i know God hates it.
i understand that i need not focus fully on myself, but from the amount of times the bible speaks to christians and commands them to depart from iniquity, i think a christain must diligently watch himself in the area of sin.

In opposition to Pelagianism, it was maintained at the General Council of Carthage in 418 as a principle of faith that Christian grace is absolutely necessary for the correct knowledge and performance of good, and that perfect sinlessness is impossible on earth even for the justified.

This question was discussed, and settled, in 418!

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

[Papist]

the thing is, i here this alot.

someone says "well the bible says to walk holy and not sin" and that is true.

and then someone else says "well ive never met anyone who doesnt sin..." as if that means anything.

the truth is, the bible does teach sinlessness and you cant get around it.
it doesnt matter how many people sin or who it was that sins, there is still an obligation to be without sin, becuase its in the word.

and then people try to play off your compassion and say
"well i fall everyday of my life and im really trying and seeking the lord with all my heart, but im still sinning" as if thats supposed to change something.

the bible still preaches sinlessness and gives clear directions on how to walk in this.
the way is clear and the commandment is given, anything else is wrong.
just wrong. it doesnt matter how much they say they try, or how much they try make it seem like they just cant...
becuase the word disagrees...and thats it. and in the end, we will all given an account, and i do not believe God will say
"well i understand that you tried your best"
becuase he made the way plain, anything less is not weakness, its disobedience.

The point is this. We are supposed to be sinless but we can't! The Bible sets the ideal, but reveals to us that we cannot achieve it.

 

[Papist]

and thats it. and in the end, we will all given an account, and i do not believe God will say
"well i understand that you tried your best"
becuase he made the way plain, anything less is not weakness, its disobedience.

This is why Christ died for us. Nobody would make it, otherwise. Nobody.

 

[Luchnia]

Not only is the Christian sinless, a man that sins will not enter heaven or eternal life. Pretty simple, really, the soul that sins dies.

You got sin, you fry, no sin=eternal life.

Word up!

 

[Luchnia]

Christ never states that "Ok, you did your best," but He states, "Unless ye repent, ye shall likewise perish."

I often wonder why those that allow sin to continue to whitewash the gospel to their earthly benefit. Don't they realize that will not buy Jesus? There is not an exception, to "Sin not." Not one thing will bypass, "Go and sin no more..." to allow, "OK, go and sin your way to heaven." No matter how we try to make an exception, there is none.

Is there so much fear in men that they cannot be honest about this? If sin will get you to eternal life, then Jesus failed to preach the gospel correctly. He should have preached the gospel of bondage to sin unto eternal life, instead of freedom from sin through Him unto eternal life!

Word up!