This isn't about excusing sin. This is about reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God. Shouldn't the answer to the question of whether or not a Christian can go sinless for a day be a definite yes? The apostle Paul said, "God forbid!" to continuing on in sin so that grace may abound. How is it then that people claim we sin daily when the epistles depict it as a choice? Are you saying that Christians, all of them, choose to sin every day and therefore are under sin's dominion?
How long can a Christian go without sinning?
- Thread starter BenFTW
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We are not forced to sin. None of us can say, "the devil made me do it" (Flip Wilson). The old man is crucified and we are dead to sin, but that does not mean that the flesh no longer desires what is contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). The struggle is real, as Paul explained in Romans 7 and will continue until we receive our glorified bodies. We are not forced to constantly sin, so not sinning for a period of time is yes, but for how long is the period of time? Willful, habitual sin is not the lifestyle of one who is born of God (1 John 3:9).
Okay, so how much influence does the flesh have over a born-again, new creation, believer who has been set free from sin's dominion under grace, who is dead to sin and alive unto God and is to be "holy as I am holy" (who is also chastised by God and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, with the fruits of the Holy Spirit)? 
F
Okay, so how much influence does the flesh have over a born-again, new creation, believer who has been set free from sin's dominion under grace, who is dead to sin and alive unto God and is to be "holy as I am holy" (who is also chastised by God and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, with the fruits of the Holy Spirit)?
Haha
Yes, I'm thinking all of this has to do with renewing the mind and the reason a good portion of believers might answer the question with a no is because they do not understand exactly what Christ has accomplished for us, nor have they renewed their minds to this truth.
I don't mean to sound like everyone has it wrong and I've got it right, but I'm sure you've experienced this when God brought to light the Gospel of Grace to you and you witnessed all the legalism is the Church. In the same way people's perception on their victory over sin is tainted.
Yes, I'm thinking all of this has to do with renewing the mind and the reason a good portion of believers might answer the question with a no is because they do not understand exactly what Christ has accomplished for us, nor have they renewed their minds to this truth.
I don't mean to sound like everyone has it wrong and I've got it right, but I'm sure you've experienced this when God brought to light the Gospel of Grace to you and you witnessed all the legalism is the Church. In the same way people's perception on their victory over sin is tainted.
F
Haha
Yes, I'm thinking all of this has to do with renewing the mind and the reason a good portion of believers might answer the question with a no is because they do not understand exactly what Christ has accomplished for us, nor have they renewed their minds to this truth.
I don't mean to sound like everyone has it wrong and I've got it right, but I'm sure you've experienced this when God brought to light the Gospel of Grace to you and you witnessed all the legalism is the Church. In the same way people's perception on their victory over sin is tainted.
Yes, I'm thinking all of this has to do with renewing the mind and the reason a good portion of believers might answer the question with a no is because they do not understand exactly what Christ has accomplished for us, nor have they renewed their minds to this truth.
I don't mean to sound like everyone has it wrong and I've got it right, but I'm sure you've experienced this when God brought to light the Gospel of Grace to you and you witnessed all the legalism is the Church. In the same way people's perception on their victory over sin is tainted.
Gotta run. Good talk.
I did not say a person may not sin,and I am not saying I may not sin,but the point is a Spirit led life can abstain from sin,because the person that allows the Spirit to lead them does not want to sin,and the Spirit leads them to do things spiritual,which then they are not under the law,for the law cannot touch them for prosecution.
There is no excuse that we cannot abstain from sin,or we are going to sin no matter how hard we try not to sin,or we are only human so we will sin,for the Bible says specifically that a Spirit led life will not sin.
So it is not a debate of being arrogant as if we never will sin,for we are still in the flesh and have the capability to sin if we desire,but people make excuses that they cannot abstain from sin when the Bible says you can abstain from sin by the Spirit.
The truth it is not that they cannot abstain from sin,but they want to sin,which even the world can abstain from sin if they want,but they are in the flesh,and want to sin,and it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,so we have a choice.
People do not abstain from sin because they cannot do it,they sin because they want to sin plain and simple.
Stop interpreting scriptures according to the flesh.
You sin because you want to sin,not because you cannot abstain from it,for even the world can abstain from sin if they want,for it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,and you are choosing evil when the choice of good is there.
How is there an excuse when sometimes you see people that do not confess Christ,but believe in God,that have a better lifestyle and abstain from sin better than some that claim Christ,which creation testifies of a God that loves people,and they abide by that,which lets me know the ones that claim Christ but do not abstain from sin as well as one that believes in a God but does not claim Christ,that there is something wrong,especially when we put on Christ.
The truth is if you are going to sin at least be honest,and do not say,I cannot help it,but admit,hey,I be digging on this here sin,and I know it is wrong,and God does not like it,and I am not right with Him when I sin,but I enjoy it like the dickens for it tingles my flesh something fierce,instead of lying that you cannot abstain from sin,for do you think you are fooling God.
How can a Christian have an excuse for why they cannot abstain from a certain sin,when I see people of the world that can abstain from that sin,and do not like it.
What up?
There is no excuse that we cannot abstain from sin,or we are going to sin no matter how hard we try not to sin,or we are only human so we will sin,for the Bible says specifically that a Spirit led life will not sin.
So it is not a debate of being arrogant as if we never will sin,for we are still in the flesh and have the capability to sin if we desire,but people make excuses that they cannot abstain from sin when the Bible says you can abstain from sin by the Spirit.
The truth it is not that they cannot abstain from sin,but they want to sin,which even the world can abstain from sin if they want,but they are in the flesh,and want to sin,and it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,so we have a choice.
People do not abstain from sin because they cannot do it,they sin because they want to sin plain and simple.
Stop interpreting scriptures according to the flesh.
You sin because you want to sin,not because you cannot abstain from it,for even the world can abstain from sin if they want,for it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,and you are choosing evil when the choice of good is there.
How is there an excuse when sometimes you see people that do not confess Christ,but believe in God,that have a better lifestyle and abstain from sin better than some that claim Christ,which creation testifies of a God that loves people,and they abide by that,which lets me know the ones that claim Christ but do not abstain from sin as well as one that believes in a God but does not claim Christ,that there is something wrong,especially when we put on Christ.
The truth is if you are going to sin at least be honest,and do not say,I cannot help it,but admit,hey,I be digging on this here sin,and I know it is wrong,and God does not like it,and I am not right with Him when I sin,but I enjoy it like the dickens for it tingles my flesh something fierce,instead of lying that you cannot abstain from sin,for do you think you are fooling God.
How can a Christian have an excuse for why they cannot abstain from a certain sin,when I see people of the world that can abstain from that sin,and do not like it.
What up?
Well, I think we need to be careful in declaring victory over sin, or victory over the flesh. At least as a permanent accomplished fact. The minute we think we have victory over the flesh is the moment we set ourselves up for defeat. The flesh loves nothing better than to be thought of as defeated. It's like giving the flesh carte blanche to just have it's way with us.
Gotta run. Good talk.
Gotta run. Good talk.
Good talk.
W
It's not about whether we sin or not or how much we sin. It is about sin doesn't have authority over us anymore.
At salvation we are divorced from our first husband, the sin nature. It has no authority over us and our "marriage counselor", the law, no longer rules over us.
Our second husband, Christ, now has authority/dominion over us. And our marriage counselor is now Grace.
Romans 5:20~~New American Standard Bible
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
We should never beforehand consider that we will sin, that is the same as accepting that you will lose a race before we ever start. With that attitude we will lose, we always run to win, however we accept the fact that only one person can win a race and if we don't win then we will work harder to win. To accept that I am going to sin is dangerous because it opens the door of acceptance of sin in my life. On the other hand, it is pure fantasy to think you are living a sinless life. Example, some guy almost kills you on the highway and then when you honk, he gives you the finger, you finally get home and your red faced neighbor gives you a chewing out because your dog walked across his property. You finally get in the house to relax and read the mail when you discover that your insurance will not cover the hospital bill and the bill is much then your house is worth. Through all of this not a feather has been ruffled while you continue to sing "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms". Then you go to get some gas and after pumping the gas the attendant tells you he cannot take your bill...without realizing it you mutter a curse word and walk out...guess what, YOU SINNED.
D
I'm left wondering why you can't see it.
The law comes down to
[h=1]Mark 12:30-31[/h][FONT="]30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”[/FONT]
That 24/7/365. And yet, what do we revert back to out of sheer habit? Love self.
That law says that not only are we supposed to do everything we do -- right down to cooking dinner, taking a shower, and doing our jobs out of love for God or love for others, the second we divert our minds to see, "Am I doing this out of love for God or love for others" we've sinned. Because even thinking in those terms points it right back to "love self." We're right back to thinking of ourselves first.
There are moments when God has really gotten me to the place where I am doing it out of love for him or others. Unfortunately, I know that because I reached back into self to check it out, and sure enough I reverted back to "love self" the moment I went there.
Any reasonable Christian notices the strawberry jam on the shirt eventually. That too is God given. And yet, even here, even now, even as you wrote what you wrote, you were asking "What's wrong with you people?" And that is NOT Mark 12:30-31.
Neither is this for the exact same reason.
THAT is the depth of our sin. And I just don't get why this keeps coming up. We're all that far gone, and yet God is restoring us. Restoring -- not restored. Not yet.
I wish we could be honest enough to admit that, or these kinds of questions wouldn't fill this forum 24/7/365 too. We'd actually be able to start talking about how to Mark 12:30-31, instead of inspecting everyone else for their deficits.
The law comes down to
[h=1]Mark 12:30-31[/h][FONT="]30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”[/FONT]
That 24/7/365. And yet, what do we revert back to out of sheer habit? Love self.
That law says that not only are we supposed to do everything we do -- right down to cooking dinner, taking a shower, and doing our jobs out of love for God or love for others, the second we divert our minds to see, "Am I doing this out of love for God or love for others" we've sinned. Because even thinking in those terms points it right back to "love self." We're right back to thinking of ourselves first.
There are moments when God has really gotten me to the place where I am doing it out of love for him or others. Unfortunately, I know that because I reached back into self to check it out, and sure enough I reverted back to "love self" the moment I went there.
Any reasonable Christian notices the strawberry jam on the shirt eventually. That too is God given. And yet, even here, even now, even as you wrote what you wrote, you were asking "What's wrong with you people?" And that is NOT Mark 12:30-31.
Neither is this for the exact same reason.
THAT is the depth of our sin. And I just don't get why this keeps coming up. We're all that far gone, and yet God is restoring us. Restoring -- not restored. Not yet.
I wish we could be honest enough to admit that, or these kinds of questions wouldn't fill this forum 24/7/365 too. We'd actually be able to start talking about how to Mark 12:30-31, instead of inspecting everyone else for their deficits.
Yes, I agree. You could almost say that the outward behavior is a symptom of some deeper thing. The outward symptom or thing cannot be stopped because it is not the cause but the effect of a sickness. If you have a cold, you cannot just will yourself to quit coughing. You need something for your inside that will cause you to stop coughing.