question...

[ampbelle3130]

Lovejc...what I get from that passage is that our sin no longer defines us and dictates who we are.
If we were able to get to a point where we dont sin, we wouldnt need a redeemer.
But our LORD Jesus Christ came and died for us. So we do.

 

[JasperJackson]

I'm pretty sure convicting us of our sins is in the Holy Spirit's job description. It can be a great way we know we're saved! The world loves many sins but doesn't see them as sins because they don't have the Holy Spirit to convict them.

As for when we should feel guilty, that should be when we are guilty. At that point we should confess, ask for God's forgiveness, and ask for his strength in overcoming those sins. If there is something that is trying to keep us in that state of guilt though, then that is not God but satan. God wants us holy and cleansed and we can't get there without having our sins forgiven.

This will be an endless cycle until we die or Jesus returns. As John says, we cannot achieve a sinless life before that. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." - 1 John 1:8

 

[Balugon]

shouldn't we come to a point that we don't sin?

The problem is that people sin in so many different ways, especially in ways that they don't even realize they are sinning. That said, people have to learn how to love, because so many times people have never taught them. It's like people who spank their child, scientific research has shown that it's actually a bad thing to do that because it tends to make children more prone to aggression and physical violence later in life, but some people are so focused on the idea that "spare the rod, spoil the child" must be taken literally, that they are actually doing damage to their children, even if they might be doing some good with it. "Spare the rod, spoil the child" simply means make sure to discipline your children when it is in the child's best interest to do so.

Also, a lot of things in the Bible are not understood, both by individuals and denominations. This makes it so that people continue to sin until God frees those people up by giving them understanding about what certain Scriptures really mean. It often takes time for people to learn things, just like it often takes time for a child to learn how to do math correctly. If Jesus is our example, then are 90% of christians not healing the sick and raising the dead? Why aren't crowds following us around to hear the gospel? Why do so many christians have an attitude and make non-christians want to throw up by their horrible witnessing strategies? Why doesn't everyone feel loved when they are around christians?

Why? Because Christians either don't understand or don't know how to do these things. God laid the earth's foundation with his wisdom, and put the heavens in place by his understanding (Proverbs 3:19). Even if we are "free" in Christ and don't have to sin any more, we still have to learn how to walk the right way, and that takes time. "2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2. Paul also said: "2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready." 1 Corinth. 3:2 (Also- Hebrews 5:12-14). So we know that there are different levels of understanding in God, and these things affect how we will act.

 

[Luther073082]

No, because I belive that no person can know every single time they sin. So therefore I do sin without knowing about it. Every time I confess my sins I always ask for forgivness of my sins both known and unknown.

Now when I commit sins that I'm aware of I do feel varying amounts of guilt depending on what sin I committed.

 

[ulu]

Other times, like if it's a habitual sin that I like anyway, it's just the knowledge that it's wrong that sticks out without that big punch to the gut. Now, that may eventually work on me, but if any feelings are there, it's a minor twinge that can be easily dismissed.

.

That's my experience also. May not be right, but it is the reality right now.

 

[Oddish]

Sometimes I am stubborn and know what I am doing is wrong but keep on doing it. It is only till later that I feel a huge surge of guilt and remorse.

 

[white dove]

hmmm, well I don't think guilt is a good word for it. Guilt is hard to get over and move on from. I have experienced guilt and it usually makes me feel defeated and why try anymore. I don't think guilt comes from God. I think conviction is what we should feel when we have sinned and God does bring conviction in our lives. We know when we have done wrong- that it is wrong, when it has grieved God and then we recognize that we need to repent and turn from habitually repeating it.

Absolutely.


Guilt is yet another way the enemy tries to make us fall back into old patterns. It's easy to feel guilty and subsequently give up, wallowing in self-pity. It's much more difficult to feel conviction, confronting God about that conviction and letting Him help you through it.

 

[kevlite2020]

Something I feel like I should add, it's not like Jesus' work isn't complete in redeeming us. It's not like if we do something really really bad, He will have to say oops, didn't cover that one, let me go back to the cross. Before we've even sinned, we've already been redeemed and restored and forgiven. Some people seem to think that when they sin all of a sudden they are out of God's favor and that God hates them until they repent. That's not how it works. God's incredible and outstanding love for us doesn't stop or get put on hold EVER. He loves you the same before, during, and after you sin. Repentance is more for our good, to keep us whole and pure while on earth and to do better to shine His light, then it is about restoring our relationship with God. Because the truth is, the only way to damage our relationship with God is to turn away from Him and refuse to let Him in. Sinning has nothing to do with the relationship aspect of things.

 

[trentlogain2]

Yes. Then when I go without confessing it, the guilt lingers and usually grows. Until I finally live up to it and don't try to blame others or shift the responsibility in any way.

Guilt sometimes manifests itself in different ways with me, but the overall sense is that I'm distant from God.

 

[Thunder Peel]

Oh man, I definitely feel guilty, even about things that happened 10 or 15 years ago. Heck, I feel guilty about things that aren't even sins!

 

[Amber.ly]

In general, if I feel guilty then I know it's sin or heading in that direction.

I am not a guilty person by nature and I have a very clear sense of right and wrong in my own life so guilt is a big indicator that something is wrong.

 

[dayhiker]

I feel guilty/bad when I do something that hurts someone. I don't feel guilty about a lot of things that people say are bad yet don't hurt people. I've come to wonder what I don't hear a sermon perached on Tit.1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieveing nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

dayhiker