How long can a Christian go without sinning?

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BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
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#1
Would you be surprised to know that it seems a lot of believer's answer to this is hardly but a day? Recently a pastor at my church was asked this question and his response to the question, "Can a Christian not sin for a day, a week, a month, or a year?" was "I don't think so." Of course he left himself open for criticism and said if anyone wants to teach him better to just pull him to the side. He wasn't being definitive, but always keeps an open stance because he believes the Lord can show people stuff that he is missing.

Anyways, I find it peculiar is all. This seems to be a Christian stance on sinning, that we can hardly go a day or a week without sinning. Yet, I don't find this stance in the Bible. We don't get a warning from the apostle Paul or in any of epistles stating something like, "You're not perfect. You're going to keep sinning, but keep going." or, really any statement that you will sin, but rather if you do sin (we have an Advocate with the Father).

We are told to not use our liberty as an occasion or opportunity to entertain the flesh but to serve in righteousness. We are encouraged to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God, because as Christ died and rose, we did we (represented in baptism). You'll see the epistles stating who we are in Christ. Righteous loving people, zealous of good works. All of this speaks to walking in righteousness, even saying that sin doesn't have dominion over us because we are not under the law but grace.

Why is our response to this question hardly but a day when scripture states we've been set free? Why is it so hard for a Christian to believe a believer can go a long period of time without sinning or even a short period of time? Have we not died to sin? Did not this propensity get taken from us, where we have the choice to sin (having had the old man be crucified)?

To think that the leadership in the Church believe that we cannot go any period of time without sinning is baffling. What has happened to sanctification? Does God not chastise? Do we not have the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Did not Christ die to set us free, to make us who were once dead now alive in Him, having been born-again? Where is our liberty, to not sin, but to serve in the newness of the spirit? Aren't we supposed to awake to righteousness and sin not?

This isn't talking about sinless perfectionism, this is talking about the mindset of the Church in relation to sin. They still see themselves in chains, when God says that sin shall not have dominion over you. What is the reasoning for this?
 
Feb 18, 2017
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#2
Would you be surprised to know that it seems a lot of believer's answer to this is hardly but a day? Recently a pastor at my church was asked this question and his response to the question, "Can a Christian not sin for a day, a week, a month, or a year?" was "I don't think so." Of course he left himself open for criticism and said if anyone wants to teach him better to just pull him to the side. He wasn't being definitive, but always keeps an open stance because he believes the Lord can show people stuff that he is missing.

Anyways, I find it peculiar is all. This seems to be a Christian stance on sinning, that we can hardly go a day or a week without sinning. Yet, I don't find this stance in the Bible. We don't get a warning from the apostle Paul or in any of epistles stating something like, "You're not perfect. You're going to keep sinning, but keep going." or, really any statement that you will sin, but rather if you do sin (we have an Advocate with the Father).

We are told to not use our liberty as an occasion or opportunity to entertain the flesh but to serve in righteousness. We are encouraged to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God, because as Christ died and rose, we did we (represented in baptism). You'll see the epistles stating who we are in Christ. Righteous loving people, zealous of good works. All of this speaks to walking in righteousness, even saying that sin doesn't have dominion over us because we are not under the law but grace.

Why is our response to this question hardly but a day when scripture states we've been set free? Why is it so hard for a Christian to believe a believer can go a long period of time without sinning or even a short period of time? Have we not died to sin? Did not this propensity get taken from us, where we have the choice to sin (having had the old man be crucified)?

To think that the leadership in the Church believe that we cannot go any period of time without sinning is baffling. What has happened to sanctification? Does God not chastise? Do we not have the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Did not Christ die to set us free, to make us who were once dead now alive in Him, having been born-again? Where is our liberty, to not sin, but to serve in the newness of the spirit? Aren't we supposed to awake to righteousness and sin not?

This isn't talking about sinless perfectionism, this is talking about the mindset of the Church in relation to sin. They still see themselves in chains, when God says that sin shall not have dominion over you. What is the reasoning for this?
Sorry Ben. Just stop and think what perfect actually is. What pure holiness actually is........you will admit you CONSTANTLY sin.

Sin doesn't have dominion over us because we don't have to worry about sin or have guilt over our sin. We name it and site to God and carry on.

Perfection is just to familiar for us anymore. Perfection is having the perfect thought with the perfect result about EVERYTHING ALL the time. We sin constantly.
 
P

PHart

Guest
#3
But I would be open to the charge of being a blind Pharisee if I said out loud that I've actually been grazing the fields of the fourth type of soil in the Parable of the Sower, if even for just a while. Apparently, many Christians think the fourth type of soil is a pipe dream and that it can't really happen. It's hypothetical.
 
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PHart

Guest
#4
Sorry Ben. Just stop and think what perfect actually is. What pure holiness actually is........you will admit you CONSTANTLY sin.

Sin doesn't have dominion over us because we don't have to worry about sin or have guilt over our sin. We name it and site to God and carry on.

Perfection is just to familiar for us anymore. Perfection is having the perfect thought with the perfect result about EVERYTHING ALL the time. We sin constantly.
Actually, perfection is better understood to be how you respond to life in any one moment and circumstance. I think you will find that to be a much more liberating and reasonable understanding of what it means to be perfect than thinking it means sinless perfection from this moment forward for the rest of your life.

When you do right you are being perfect. That is what God wants from us. Can you see the difference between that and God demanding that you be perfect from this moment forward, no exceptions?
 
Last edited:
Nov 12, 2015
9,112
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#5
Would you be surprised to know that it seems a lot of believer's answer to this is hardly but a day? Recently a pastor at my church was asked this question and his response to the question, "Can a Christian not sin for a day, a week, a month, or a year?" was "I don't think so." Of course he left himself open for criticism and said if anyone wants to teach him better to just pull him to the side. He wasn't being definitive, but always keeps an open stance because he believes the Lord can show people stuff that he is missing.

Anyways, I find it peculiar is all. This seems to be a Christian stance on sinning, that we can hardly go a day or a week without sinning. Yet, I don't find this stance in the Bible. We don't get a warning from the apostle Paul or in any of epistles stating something like, "You're not perfect. You're going to keep sinning, but keep going." or, really any statement that you will sin, but rather if you do sin (we have an Advocate with the Father).

We are told to not use our liberty as an occasion or opportunity to entertain the flesh but to serve in righteousness. We are encouraged to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God, because as Christ died and rose, we did we (represented in baptism). You'll see the epistles stating who we are in Christ. Righteous loving people, zealous of good works. All of this speaks to walking in righteousness, even saying that sin doesn't have dominion over us because we are not under the law but grace.

Why is our response to this question hardly but a day when scripture states we've been set free? Why is it so hard for a Christian to believe a believer can go a long period of time without sinning or even a short period of time? Have we not died to sin? Did not this propensity get taken from us, where we have the choice to sin (having had the old man be crucified)?

To think that the leadership in the Church believe that we cannot go any period of time without sinning is baffling. What has happened to sanctification? Does God not chastise? Do we not have the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Did not Christ die to set us free, to make us who were once dead now alive in Him, having been born-again? Where is our liberty, to not sin, but to serve in the newness of the spirit? Aren't we supposed to awake to righteousness and sin not?

This isn't talking about sinless perfectionism, this is talking about the mindset of the Church in relation to sin. They still see themselves in chains, when God says that sin shall not have dominion over you. What is the reasoning for this?
You are going in the right direction, but you will get a lot of grief over it.
 
Feb 18, 2017
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#6
Actually, perfection is better understood to be how you respond to life in any one moment and circumstance. I think you will find that to be a much more liberating and reasonable understanding of what it means to be perfect than thinking it means sinless perfection from this moment forward for the rest of your life.
If I am reading you right, I don't think so. Perfection is better understood by looking at Christ.

And the better look we get at Christ.......the more we realize how much we really do sin. He gets much much bigger the more we get to know Him.
 
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PHart

Guest
#7
When you look to Christ, and as a result, you do right you are being perfect. That is what God wants from us. That is what it means when the Bible says we are to be perfect as our Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Can you see the difference between that and God demanding that you be perfect from this moment forward, no exceptions, or thinking that the perfection that God wants is only our legal perfection given us in Christ?

For example, perfection means responding to an unfair situation at work with calmness and trust. That's the perfection God wants. And we do that more and more as we grow up in Christ. This is a better way to understand perfection than defining perfection as absolute sinlessness from here on out, or defining it solely as the legal perfection we have through being justified through Christ.
 

Prov910

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2017
880
47
0
#8
Hardly but a day? I would ask, just what type of sin are you talking about? I mean, if you're talking about breaking one of the ten commandments, I'd say many Christians can go weeks or even months without sinning (years maybe?). But if you're talking about Jesus' two commandments, well then it becomes less certain.

> Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.


> Love your neighbor as yourself.

How many people can say that every single aspect of their lives is lived in accordance with these two to the fullest extent possible?
 
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PHart

Guest
#9
Just stop and think what perfect actually is. What pure holiness actually is........you will admit you CONSTANTLY sin.
Just curious.....what sins have you committed just in the 24 minutes since you posted this? And remember, the temptation to sin is not a sin.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#10
So how long have you been Mr. Hartman....:cool:




 
Nov 12, 2015
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#11
Sorry Ben. Just stop and think what perfect actually is. What pure holiness actually is........you will admit you CONSTANTLY sin.

Sin doesn't have dominion over us because we don't have to worry about sin or have guilt over our sin. We name it and site to God and carry on.

Perfection is just to familiar for us anymore. Perfection is having the perfect thought with the perfect result about EVERYTHING ALL the time. We sin constantly.
I somewhat disagree. We begin with the wages of sin not having any dominion over us after we meet Him. You could almost say there is a grace period of grace! It doesn't just end there. We continue with actual sin having dominion over us until we begin to have dominion over it by walking in the Spirit.
 
Feb 18, 2017
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#12
Just curious.....what sins have you committed just in the 24 minutes since you posted this? And remember, the temptation to sin is not a sin.
I worried that i read your first post wrong.

And I felt guilty a bit thinking I did.

I should of had the perfect answer, with the perfect result.

Worry and guilt are sins, not being perfect is a sin.
 
Nov 12, 2015
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#13
PHart, it is a great pleasure to meet you! I would like to hear you speak more! Will be looking forward to it. :)
 
Nov 12, 2015
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#14
I worried that i read your first post wrong.

And I felt guilty a bit thinking I did.

I should of had the perfect answer, with the perfect result.

Worry and guilt are sins, not being perfect is a sin.
If not being perfect is a sin, and we can never walk perfectly, how would you consider that "You must be holy because I am holy" fits into the matter? (I'm so glad some of my brothers are still in here when I can't sleep.) :)
 
Feb 18, 2017
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#15
I somewhat disagree. We begin with the wages of sin not having any dominion over us after we meet Him. You could almost say there is a grace period of grace! It doesn't just end there. We continue with actual sin having dominion over us until we begin to have dominion over it by walking in the Spirit.
Our doctrines are to far apart for my capabilities in communication Sister. Grace777,Roger,Freenchrist,DC,Grandpa( I remembered ya!) Penn ED, Wattie,EGand I know I am missing some, Are way more qualified.

Penn ed in terms of vocabulary, doctrines and how I understand him...............I line up with about 99% of the time. He communicates much better than I do.
 
Nov 12, 2015
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#16
Our doctrines are to far apart for my capabilities in communication Sister. Grace777,Roger,Freenchrist,DC,Grandpa( I remembered ya!) Penn ED, Wattie,EGand I know I am missing some, Are way more qualified.

Penn ed in terms of vocabulary, doctrines and how I understand him...............I line up with about 99% of the time. He communicates much better than I do.
It's no problem. :)
I think you are very qualified to talk about what you personally believe.
Other times, we are not in the mood for a conversation that requires much thought. (You will know it when I'm at the end of my brain stamina because I become very silly.) :D
 
Aug 16, 2016
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#17
If you think about it's pretty hard to go long periods without sinning. Sure you may be able to go a couple days maximum but i challenge anyone who can go up to weeks or a month without sinning once. You being a guy if simply go outside as usual & a half naked woman walks pass you & for a brief moment you have a sexual thought about her theres a sin. We are still in a fallen body.
 
Dec 17, 2013
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#18
To the OP ,you sound like you know a lot about the Bible and I don't but I don't think that it takes Bible knowledge to be a decent person that doesn't contribute to the negativity of the world all that it takes is common sense.

Im beginning to think that most organized Christian teaching is in fact satanic teaching because the overiding theme is forgiveness no matter what,just like you said many Christians think that it's not possible to not sin and they preach that in my view all that that does is set people up for failure.

Telling people that not only is it allowed but expected what do you think is going to happen?

Im not saying that im perfect because in not but ive consciously tried to not contribute to the negativity of the world,I've had to completely remove myself from the world to do it,if not loving thy neighbor is a "sin" then im definitely guilty.

I think that I read a Bible script that said that when it's time to be judged to find yourself blameless or something to that effect but I've never heard that preached all that I've heard is how God expects us to fail which is in my opinion all that"sin" is .

I don't speak in Bible terms because I don't know much about it but I think that all it comes down to is common sense,decency,and self control.
 
Nov 19, 2016
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#19
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

If we walk in the Spirit we can abstain from sin,but we are still in the flesh,and can sin if we desire to sin,but we can be forgiven,and walk in the Spirit again.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit then they had a choice between good and evil.It is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,not the tree of evil and evil,but the tree of good and evil.

We have a choice between good and evil,and nobody is twisting the world's arm to sin,and nobody is twisting the saints arm to sin,but we have a choice between good and evil,so there is no excuse not to do good.

People that say we cannot abstain from sin does not make sense,for the truth is it is not that they cannot abstain from sin,but they want to sin,making the choice of evil and not good.

Even the world can abstain from sin if they want,but they want to sin because they are in the flesh.

So the excuse we cannot abstain from sin is void in the way they portray it,that we cannot beat sin,and will sin and can do nothing about it,for that is not true,but it is not that we cannot beat sin as if it pounces on us,twists our arm,and makes us sin,but we want to sin,we make the choice to sin,when even the world can abstain from sin if they want,because it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,so they can choose the good.

They sin not because they cannot help it but to sin,but because they want to sin,making the choice to do evil instead of good,and that applies to the world too,that they want to sin,for nobody is twisting their arm to sin,so when a saint wants to sin,and does sin,they are put in the position of the world,intentionally sinning when they could choose the good.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

If we make the choice to sin,then the sacrifice of Jesus cannot take it away until they repent of that sin.If a person that claims Christ holds unto a sin,and will not give it up,then the blood of Jesus cannot wash that sin away,for God will not forgive you of something you hold on to.

It is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,and nobody is twisting our arm to sin,we sin because we want to sin,not because we cannot help it,and how much more can a person abstain from sin by the Holy Spirit.
 
Dec 17, 2013
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#20
I also think that when people who take responsibility of teaching people how to get to Heaven do so in confusing mystic riddles do so because satan has them do that whether they know it or not.

If anyone ever came to me for guidance on how to get to Heaven(I hope that they never do) I would say "ya know that stuff that God tells you in the Bible that you shouldn't do? DON'T DO IT OR YOU ARE GOING TO HELL PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!"

Honestly,many people myself included are turned away by these mystic comments like "by looking to God you are being perfect" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!? I don't want to be perfect!!! I just don't want to go to hell plain and simple!!

Im getting irate because it's obvious that some of these self proclaimed teachers of God talk in mystic riddles because they enjoy the power that they feel over the ignorant and it's costing people their souls!!.