Sin

DD2008 · Jul 13, 2009

Do you think Christians sin everyday?

How does one know he is forgiven of sin?

green wolverine · Jul 13, 2009

Of course Christians sin everyday simply because 'sin dwells in us' as Paul talks about in Rom 7 where he bemoans the fact that 'the good that I would, I don't do' [paraphrased from memory.]

I had an experience that brought this home to me years ago as I was in this church that harranged on 'examining yourself' before taking communion. Since things were going pretty well in my life, I remember praying about how well I was doing obeying God. Within a matter of days God started showing me my motives which often were very self-serving and anything but pure. It was quite the shock seeing how truly selfish and unkind my heart was even when my behavior was right. It's still going on today.

If you have a chance, read the book Holiness by JC Ryle. He discusses how seeing our sins more and more with each passing year is a sign of grace and spiritual growth in our lives. The most eminent saints realized their sinfulness and need for Christ's sacrifice in their lives.

As far as knowing you're forgiven, I guess besides repenting, you have to take it on faith that God will indeed forgive you as He said He would.

larryjf · Jul 13, 2009

DD2008 said:
Do you think Christians sin everyday?

How does one know he is forgiven of sin?

Christians sin every day. The closer we draw to God the more aware of our sins we become.

We know that we are forgiven because we trust in His word and not in our feelings.

1 Jn 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

mlqurgw · Jul 14, 2009

Everything we do in this life is mixed with sin. The very best sermons I have ever preached were defiled with pride. The giving of myself to the need of others was mixed with a sense of self satisfaction that I was doing something good. My prayers are full of my needs more than the needs of others and the wondrous glory of God. I could go on but I think you get my point. The enormity of my sin makes it impossible for me to even begin to brush the dust off the top in confession. So I just fall on my face before my God and Savior confessing I am sin. He is not only faithful to forgive us our sin but just in doing so. Oh how I look forward to that eternal day when I will be free from the being of sin not just the dominion of it.

McWilliams · Jul 14, 2009

Lamentations 3:22-24 (New International Version)

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

LiturgyInDMinor · Jul 14, 2009

*We sin everyday because we are a fallen creation.
*We are forgiven by the propitiation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That's the simplest way of putting it.

*the word "we" meaning saved/elect christians.

DD2008 · Jul 14, 2009

Good answers guys, thanks.

I become more disgusted with myself the older I get.

I believe that God forgives our sin if we repent of it. Meaning that we are sorry and resolve not to do it again. If we plan in our minds to do it again as we are asking for forgiveness I do not believe we have repented of our sins.

Acts 3:19 ESV
19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

So, sometimes I really kick myself for sinning in the same manner repeatedly, or thinking about past sins that I have repented of with sentimental fondness!!

For instance, I was thinking about some of the immoral and wicked things I did when I was younger the other day and I was horrified to realize that I had a sense of pride in myself over it! Like, "I sure was something back then wasn't I?"...etc

So...I confess my sins and try not to repeat them (1 John 1:9). But I feel guilty when I sin, especially when I repeat sins I have repented of. Under the weight of my sins I feel a lot like the donkey below:

Thank God that Jesus is there to pull the load for me and ease my burden with his love and forgiveness.

Matthew 11:30 ESV
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Thank God for his grace.

Romans 3:23-25 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

McWilliams · Jul 14, 2009

Romans 13:
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

DD2008 · Jul 14, 2009

When do you think leisure time becomes sinful? For instance, you sit down to read a novel for fun and start to feel guilty because you're not reading your bible or studying something worth while. Do you think it's sinful to continue with the novel and not put it down and pick up the bible instead?

McWilliams · Jul 14, 2009

Thats a matter of conscience, an individual matter that is answered for you in a possibly different way than for me! If you know you are reading your bible in a regular, daily manner, studying and pondering what you read then you will have time to do other leisurely activities, reading or whatever. Christ reads hearts and knows your priorities better even than you do.
Augustine said, 'Love God and do what you will!'
You must live within your own conscience and when loving God with all your heart you will know your own boundaries and be able to stay in them.

mlqurgw · Jul 14, 2009

DD2008 said:
Good answers guys, thanks.

I become more disgusted with myself the older I get.

I believe that God forgives our sin if we repent of it. Meaning that we are sorry and resolve not to do it again. If we plan in our minds to do it again as we are asking for forgiveness I do not believe we have repented of our sins.

Acts 3:19 ESV
19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

So, sometimes I really kick myself for sinning in the same manner repeatedly, or thinking about past sins that I have repented of with sentimental fondness!!

For instance, I was thinking about some of the immoral and wicked things I did when I was younger the other day and I was horrified to realize that I had a sense of pride in myself over it! Like, "I sure was something back then wasn't I?"...etc

So...I confess my sins and try not to repeat them (1 John 1:9). But I feel guilty when I sin, especially when I repeat sins I have repented of. Under the weight of my sins I feel a lot like the donkey below:

Thank God that Jesus is there to pull the load for me and ease my burden with his love and forgiveness.

Matthew 11:30 ESV
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Thank God for his grace.

Romans 3:23-25 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

We must never allow the sin that still plagues us to pile a load of guilt on us. The weight of it will bend us down to look at ourselves. When we do that we can see not much other than sin. The weight of guilt is only tossed off when we look up at Christ sitting on the right hand of God making intercession for us. Don't spend too much time carrying around guilt. It will overwhelm you.

kenrapoza · Jul 14, 2009

DD2008 said:
Good answers guys, thanks.

I become more disgusted with myself the older I get.

I believe that God forgives our sin if we repent of it. Meaning that we are sorry and resolve not to do it again. If we plan in our minds to do it again as we are asking for forgiveness I do not believe we have repented of our sins.

Acts 3:19 ESV
19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

So, sometimes I really kick myself for sinning in the same manner repeatedly, or thinking about past sins that I have repented of with sentimental fondness!!

For instance, I was thinking about some of the immoral and wicked things I did when I was younger the other day and I was horrified to realize that I had a sense of pride in myself over it! Like, "I sure was something back then wasn't I?"...etc

So...I confess my sins and try not to repeat them (1 John 1:9). But I feel guilty when I sin, especially when I repeat sins I have repented of. Under the weight of my sins I feel a lot like the donkey below:

Thank God that Jesus is there to pull the load for me and ease my burden with his love and forgiveness.

Matthew 11:30 ESV
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Thank God for his grace.

Romans 3:23-25 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

I think any real Christian would recognize themselves in your post. I feel the same way, and when it comes to how sinful I am, I don't even know the half of it! My sin clouds my ability to understand how sinful I really am! It goes that deep. However, though we are in full agreement with 1 John 1:9, remember that the condition of God forgiving us isn't our perfect repentance. None of us repents fully. We have been forgiven in Christ, he has paid for all of our sins whether we have repented of them or not. Christ's atonement includes both propitiation and expiation and it is wholly sufficient. You want to know if God forgives you? Look to Jesus, look to a blood-stained cross that purchased and redeemed you, knowing that out of God's sheer grace you have been chosen since before the foundations of the world. Although our redemption is personal, it is objective, outside of us, and complete.

Remember that it is not one particular grace or righteousness that saves us at first, and then another grace or righteousness that keeps us and sanctifies us. It is all in Christ, it is the same work of grace in salvation and sanctification. When we stray, we have an advocate in heaven who covers our rebellion with his blood. When we obey imperfectly, our great high priest mediates our attempts at obedience through his blood, and God imputes the righteousness of Christ to us. Even our attempts at obedience are mixed with sin.

green wolverine · Jul 14, 2009

DD2008 said:
When do you think leisure time becomes sinful? For instance, you sit down to read a novel for fun and start to feel guilty because you're not reading your bible or studying something worth while. Do you think it's sinful to continue with the novel and not put it down and pick up the bible instead?

I have the same problem for two reasons. First of all, I was in a church for 20 years that forced you to study the Bible a half hour a day so I tend to resist it simply because it was forced down my throat. Secondly, with having fibromyalgia half my life, my concentration isn't what it used to be so trying to read anything tough for more than a few minutes at a time is a challenge.

What I found helps me is when I'm in the mood to read my book, I say to myself 'if you can read for pleasure, you can read a couple of chapters of the Bible.' Once my mind starts to wander from that, I then go to my regular book and don't feel guilty.

Be grateful you experience a sense of your own sinfulness as it's a sign that God is working with you. It's the people who don't think they've ever sinned who need to be worried.

JustAsIam77 · Jul 14, 2009

DD2008 said:
Do you think Christians sin everyday?

How does one know he is forgiven of sin?

This passage comes to mind,

And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corintians 12:9

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