Is Struggling with sin normal?

[JIMINZ]

I have a question for you! Please don't write me a book, I've read most of what you said. I just have this one question, well actually two, and you can simply reply with a yes or no.

Question 1: Are you sinless and perfect in every way?
Question 2: When was the last time you asked God to forgive you for something wrong you may have done?

I think you are a liar. That's what John calls you if your answer is yes and never. And a bi self-righteous from what I can see.

Where does John say if I answer yes and never to your questions I am a liar?

I know for a fact, John said these things, about the Love you are demonstrating.

1 Jn. 2:9
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1 Jn. 2:11
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 Jn. 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 Jn. 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

I forgive you anyway. - - - - - > Left Cheek.

 

[Xavier Cane]

Oh, btw, lol, a lot of people do claim it......

and THAT'S A SIN itself! Isn't it! HAHA.......

(IF by 'perfection' you mean perfect sinlessness, which is only achieved by the Father's accomplishment)

(IF by 'perfection' in this life, you mean like LOOK > HE IS A PERFECT football player, or something like that, that is very possible to achieve , yes, in multitudes of ways... including in the Christian Life that Jesus Says is REQUIRED (NOT OPTIONAL) .... )

By perfect I mean, never missing the mark. That is what sin is...missing the mark. Perfect in ones actions and thoughts and deeds...that's the perfection I'm talking about. But as for me... I'd rather have the righteousness of God which is by faith....the same Abraham had...and we know he was not perfect...But God justified him because of his Faith...The same faith Paul preached about.

 

[Xavier Cane]

Where does John say if I answer yes and never to your questions I am a liar?

I know for a fact, John said these things, about the Love you are demonstrating.

1 Jn. 2:9
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1 Jn. 2:11
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 Jn. 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 Jn. 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

I forgive you anyway. - - - - - > Left Cheek.

John called you a liar. Not me. Any man who says he has no sin is a liar, and the truth is not in him. I didn't say it....The bible did.

 

[Xavier Cane]

Where does John say if I answer yes and never to your questions I am a liar?

I know for a fact, John said these things, about the Love you are demonstrating.

1 Jn. 2:9
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

1 Jn. 2:11
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 Jn. 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 Jn. 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

I forgive you anyway. - - - - - > Left Cheek.

I don't hate you at all. I just know you are wrong. And you are a liar. It's just sad you don't know it....and seemingly, you practice this lie in your own mind.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

By perfect I mean, never missing the mark. That is what sin is...missing the mark. Perfect in ones actions and thoughts and deeds...that's the perfection I'm talking about. But as for me... I'd rather have the righteousness of God which is by faith....the same Abraham had...and we know he was not perfect...But God justified him because of his Faith...The same faith Paul preached about.

Abraham was perfect.
Paul was perfect.
Many men , Ekklesia throughout Scripture and history, were perfect.
There's some perfect today. (no, not many)

Perfect in English is a different word and meaning than in Scripture.

Yahuweh said His people must be holy - no exception offered.
Jesus said the disciples must be perfect - no exception offered.

But if 'perfect' meant what it means in English, then probably not.... it just does not mean the same.....

 

[Xavier Cane]

When did truth become hate? lol. Truly we are living in the last days. Men call evil good and call good evil. Yikes. I see what you are going through Mr. President. I feel your pain Trump...I feel your pain...:LOL

 

[JIMINZ]

It is good to know that you have reached perfection, and no longer need to grow in grace and the knowledge of the lord. Amen.

Where is it written, a Believer in Christ "GROWS IN GRACE"?

 

[Xavier Cane]

Abraham was perfect.
Paul was perfect.
Many men , Ekklesia throughout Scripture and history, were perfect.
There's some perfect today. (no, not many)

Perfect in English is a different word and meaning than in Scripture.

Yahuweh said His people must be holy - no exception offered.
Jesus said the disciples must be perfect - no exception offered.

But if 'perfect' meant what it means in English, then probably not.... it just does not mean the same.....

God said, be holy as I am holy...His holiness is perfect...Ours cannot be, because of our nature. The sin nature does not leave when God comes in to abide, rather the Spirit controls the sinful nature that it does not have dominion. And Abraham missed the mark several times, and so did Paul.

Many times in scripture, the bible refers to perfection as maturity.

And we are sinning now, arguing about the meaning of the bible. Ouch. You can't escape it in this life my friend. God bless and Good night.

 

[Xavier Cane]

Where is it written, a Believer in Christ "GROWS IN GRACE"?

2 Peter 3:17- 18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

[Xavier Cane]

He says..our lord...he uses the term..beloved...These are children of God Peter is speaking to in 2 Peter 3:17-18.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Many times in scripture, the bible refers to perfection as maturity.

Amen.

And we are sinning now

Sorry if you are. .....

I won't sin for that or any other reason, at least not wittingly nor willingly....

 

[fhansen]

I found that I only "struggled" with sin for the first 30 years of going to church before I was baptized in the Holy Spirit; then losing the "struggle" WAS an overnight experience. I was finally born again of the Spirit.

That concerns me about the rest of the Church that may be where I was without the Holy Spirit, and just head knowledge. They are struggling and oblivious as to why.

Romans 8:9 teaches us that without actually being filled with the Spirit (that only comes through true repentance Acts 2:38), they do not belong to Christ; and Jesus will someday say to them, "I never knew you."

If anyone is still struggling with sin, please get honest with God and yourself. Do you love sin more than God, or would you really want to be free. If you want to be free, repent and ask Jesus to give you the power He had to not sin - the Holy Spirit, the seed of the Father, 1 John 3:9. You'll be amazed at the difference the Spirit makes in your life. You will be a new creature in Christ, and be dead to sin.

I'll consider this to be good advice. I just tend to think that the heart is very difficult to tame; that we sin in thoughts, words, and deeds in even little subtle ways, especially as we're still in these bodies of flesh. Either way perfectly pure hearts that love God with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength are the goal-and if you've achieved that then you definitely present the model we should all strive for.

 

[JIMINZ]

He says..our lord...he uses the term..beloved...These are children of God Peter is speaking to in 2 Peter 3:17-18.

Peter also said.

2 Pet. 3:16
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

I can clearly see from your comments, you have not read my Posts, but you feel fully qualified to critique them.

 

[CharismaticLady]

1 John 3:9 means to practice sin....
1 John 2:1 MY little children (represents a family), these things I write unto you that you sin not...obvouslsy, it is possible to sin after you have been born again of the Spirit (a child of God). However, the Spirit of God will not allow a person to continue to practice a sinful lifestyle. No one is sinless and perfect....nor will they ever be in this life...Not until the trump sounds. We all miss the mark...unless you are perfect, and no one is perfect. Only 1 - Jesus Christ.

I know this is what you have been taught, but read 1 John 3 for yourself. The only time "practice" is written is concerning righteousness. The word "commit" is used regarding sin.

For instance, I hate child abuse and animal abuse. It is not in my nature to commit either of these sins even once! It isn't about not practicing these sins, I just couldn't do it at all.

 

[aiki]

Someone told me this a few days ago and iv been wondering if Struggling with sin is a normal thing as a christian.

I heard a pastor once say that common Christianity isn't normal Christianity. By that he meant that the Christian life described in Scripture and to which God urges (actually, commands) all His children, is the normal Christian life but is, unfortunately, not the common experience of Christians. Anyway, especially in the early stages of a person's conversion, a struggle with the "old man," with one's carnal nature, is normal. It is the struggle described by Paul in Romans chapter 7 and Galatians 5:17. I would tell you, though, that if you've walked with God for, say, a decade, and you are still struggling with sin exactly as you were at the beginning of your walk with God, there is something terribly wrong spiritually. Over time, sin should become increasingly the exception rather than the rule in how you live. If this is not the case, then there has been a serious breakdown in your life in Christ.

 

[CharismaticLady]

No, but I would say that whoever thinks that John is referring to sinless perfection has a misunderstanding of the bible. The words used in the Greek language for Commit Sin literally means to practice, as in a lifestyle of sinful behavior...not a mistake...like going over the highway speed limit because you are not paying attention....oh, that's a sin by the way lol. No one gets to claim perfection in this life.

Did you know that God does not look at all sin the same? 1 John 5:16-17 shows there are sins unto death, and sins not unto death. Can you explain the difference? You can find the answer in our schoolmaster, the Old Testament. I'll let you think about this a while, and see what you have to say.

 

[CharismaticLady]

If any man sin, we have an advocate. It is not saying that any sin is okay, rather, we still live in the sinful flesh, wherein the sin nature still abides, but is to not have dominion....For sin shall not have dominion over you...

Sinless perfection is unbiblical. Actually, to say that you cannot sin at all means that you have no more free moral agency...and the Holy Spirit has taken full control, and you have no way to say yes or no to God..which actually means you have reached full maturity and are like Christ in every fashion. No...not so. NO one can claim that, until they reach Glory.

Here again you are believing that Jesus is our advocate for all sin, when there is a big difference in the type of sin Jesus is our Advocate.

 

[CharismaticLady]

The words used in the Greek language for Commit Sin literally means to practice

Evidently you heard this somewhere by those trying to justify sin, but it doesn't mean "practice." Like, "well, I don't practice adultery, so this once won't matter, as long as I plan on repenting later." God will not be mocked.

 

[JIMINZ]

1 John 3:9 means to practice sin....

Some clarification is needed here.

1 Jn. 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit - (G-4160) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

The word COMMIT in the Greek.

COMMIT:
G4160
ποιέω
poieō
poy-eh'-o
Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct): - abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield....... Compare G4238.


G4238
πράσσω
prassō
pras'-so
A primary verb; to “practise”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication to execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): - commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.

Unless you hadn't noticed, the word COMMIT which was used in 1 John 3:9
was (G-4160) (POYEHO) and, at the end of the Definition given for that word which was the one actually used, it clearly says,.....Compare G4238.

It is at this point one is to take special notice of another word which is similar in GREEK but is not the one actually used in the verse in question, this is the word (PRASSO) the distinction is made in the Definition itself where it says
(thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act);

It is at this point one should take special care with their understanding of the two separate words, it does not say in either Definition given, the words are Synonyms, or Interchangeable, or even to be added to the list of words found within the Definition for the word COMMIT (G-4160)

Therefore, it is understood at this point, you are in error by believing the use of the GREEK word (PRASSO) is to be used instead of (POYEHO), they were only to be Compared not changed out.

 

[CharismaticLady]

Some clarification is need here.

1 Jn. 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit - (G-4160) sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

The word COMMIT in the Greek.

COMMIT:
G4160
ποιέω
poieō
poy-eh'-o
Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct): - abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield....... Compare G4238.


G4238
πράσσω
prassō
pras'-so
A primary verb; to “practise”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act); by implication to execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): - commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.

Unless you hadn't noticed, the word COMMIT which was used in 1 John 3:9
was (G-4160) (POYEHO) and, at the end of the Definition given for that word which was the one actually used, it clearly says,.....Compare G4238.

It is at this point one is to take special notice of another word which is similar in GREEK but is not the one actually used in the verse in question, this is the word (PRASSO) the distinction is made in the Definition itself where it says
(thus differing from G4160, which properly refers to a single act);

It is at this point one should take special care with their understanding of the two separate words, it does not say in either Definition given, the words are Synonyms, or Interchangeable, or even to be added to the list of words found withing the Definition for the word COMMIT (G-4160)

Therefore, it is understood at this point, you are in error by believing the use of the GREEK word (PRASSO) is to be used instead of (POYEHO), they were only to be Compared not changed out.

Unfortunately, "practice" is what many pastors teach. They will be held accountable. Of course, you can get a license as a minister on line these days. Yikes!