Why Christians Are Supposed to Not Sin

[jwsiii]

I've been thinking about why Christians are supposed to not sin. The full price for all sin has already been paid and we've been completely cleansed of our sins, so we don't keep from sinning for fear of becoming sinful again. These are the only two reasons I can think of:

1. Sin hurts people.
2. Since Christians represent God to the world, if we sin, it reflects badly on God.

Can anyone think of other reasons?

 

[12volt_man]

There are number of reasons why we try to stay away from sin. There is a world of difference between sinning in a momentary moral lapse and living an outright lifestyle of willful disobedience.

The first thing you have to ask yourself is, "who do I serve". Do you serve Christ or do you serve your flesh? This is a question all of us have to ask and, be careful, the answer often isn't as easy as you think.

Romans 6:6 tells us that "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

If this is true, then how can we who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Paul said (and I am paraphrasing here), "Now, if we know that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more, does that mean that we can keep on sinning because we know that God's grace is going to pick up the check? God forbid!"

Simply put, it's not our decision to make anymore. We surrendered that to God when we came to the cross.

If you're living a lifestyle of sin, then you're serving your flesh and serving sin, not Christ.

We abstain from sin for a number of reasons.

We try to abstain from sin out of respect for God and His authority in our lives.

We try to abstain from sin to honor Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

We try to abstain from sin out of respect for those around us who are weaker, spiritually.

We try to abstain from sin because sin hampers our relationship with God.

I'm sorry if this is a little rambling but I hope it helps.

 

[jwsiii]

This is the verse I was thinking of:

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Co 6:12)

This verse seems to say that although everything is lawful, we don't what doesn't do any good and we don't allow anything to master us.

 

[Joveia]

Repentance is the key to salvation. Repentance is what got to accept Christ. If you are living according to the Spirit's desires then you will never sin, as the Spirit never sins, nor wills any sins to occur. So it is an interesting check to see if you are really led by the Spirit. Are you trying not to sin and are repenting of sins you do?

 

[hraedisc]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. Hence the Saviour says, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:33. Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's. We are not God's children unless we are such entirely. [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain. In all that He does, He has the well-being of His children in view. Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves. Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of transgression is the path of misery and destruction. [/font]

 

[thirsty]

I've been thinking about why Christians are supposed to not sin. The full price for all sin has already been paid and we've been completely cleansed of our sins, so we don't keep from sinning for fear of becoming sinful again. These are the only two reasons I can think of:

1. Sin hurts people.
2. Since Christians represent God to the world, if we sin, it reflects badly on God.

Can anyone think of other reasons?

The Holy Spirit grieves when we sin and grieved long enough the Spirit will leave. We all sin and will continue to do so until we are changed into His likeness. We must continue to ask for forgiveness for our sins and fight to suppress the flesh. Paul had to.

 

[herev]

Ok, so this may be a bit over the top and a little like star trek time travel, but this is how I have always seen it. Jesus died on the cross for my sins--all of them. The more I sin, the more pain he suffers(ed?). Anyway, I feel it is the one little thing I can do to make his suffering just a tiny bit less--that's my motivation.

 

[thirsty]

Ok, so this may be a bit over the top and a little like star trek time travel, but this is how I have always seen it. Jesus died on the cross for my sins--all of them. The more I sin, the more pain he suffers(ed?). Anyway, I feel it is the one little thing I can do to make his suffering just a tiny bit less--that's my motivation.

Well said. It pains the Lord when we sin because only He truley knows the consequences of sin.

 

[Renton405]

Christians still sin, its impossible to stay sinless..

But after accepting Christ I feel real guilty and awful when I sin. I try to do my best and I know I need to try harder too. The only thing I can do is ask for forgiveness and try the better. But I refuse to become some self rightous jerk who thinks what he is doing is ok just so he can get ahead. Many people like to justify their own doings, and that just isnt right.. most people are too prideful and arrogant to hunble themselves and admmit what they do is wrong, let alone ask for forgiveness. This is the problem in our society today, the level of pride and unwillingness to humble oneself...

 

[ArcticFox]

There is one main, central, vitally important reason not to sin - it does not glorify God.

Our purpose, our reason for existing is to bring glory to God through relationship with him. If we fail to do this, we are sinning. Sin is sin not because it is merely an outward set of rules, but it is the expression of a horrible reality: that people are failing to perform their vital duty. Nothing is more important for a human being, or any created thing, than to bring God glory.