How long can a Christian go without sinning?

[gb9]

I agree with your point and with Ben's too. I believe both are true statements.

Most of us have been taught - if we don't swear, drink, smoke, commit sexual sins, steal - then we are not sinning. These are the "biggie sins".

However when you look at the works of the flesh in Gal. 5 and in other lists in other scriptures like 1 Pet 2:1 - we see that malice ( which is ill-will towards someone ), slander, outbursts of anger, creating strife, creating divisions, envy, hypocrisy...etc. These are all in the same lists of the works of the flesh.

Us "good" Christians love to categorize sin and the "real sinning" is what we don't do but others do. Sin is missing the mark - missing the target of God's quality of life and not participating in His life. Thank God that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin because of His work on the cross.

I agree with Ben about Romans chapter 6-8 too and what does it mean to not be under the domination of "sin" - that is the real question.

yes, this is true. many churches and denominations focus on the " biggie sins " but hardly ever venture into things like the love of money, coveting, gossip, not loving your neighbor, the things that are not so openly noticed. that is where deep sins hide, in these areas.

 

[BenFTW]

I agree with your point and with Ben's too. I believe both are true statements.

Most of us have been taught - if we don't swear, drink, smoke, commit sexual sins, steal - then we are not sinning. These are the "biggie sins".

However when you look at the works of the flesh in Gal. 5 and in other lists in other scriptures like 1 Pet 2:1 - we see that malice ( which is ill-will towards someone ), slander, outbursts of anger, creating strife, creating divisions, envy, hypocrisy...etc. These are all in the same lists of the works of the flesh.

Us "good" Christians love to categorize sin and the "real sinning" is what we don't do but others do. Sin is missing the mark - missing the target of God's quality of life and not participating in His life. Thank God that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin because of His work on the cross.

I agree with Ben about Romans chapter 6-8 too and what does it mean to not be under the domination of "sin" - that is the real question.

I was hoping for a nice long post from you, haha. I think this topic is right up your alley, and you'd be interested in discussing it.

I've noticed this a lot lately, and I even asked myself this question a day or two before it was asked of the pastor (which was a weird coincidence). The answer to the question from Christians seems to imply that they believe we all sin all the time and that victory over sin is not a thing.

I know that you know I don't stand for a judgmental sinless perfectionist stance, but if you haven't noticed, do you see how a lot of believers find it nearly impossible to not sin but a couple days? To even consider a month, thats just crazy! haha Yet... what does scripture say about our relation to sin?

 

[mailmandan]

The Law was meant by God to reveal sin and show man's inability to live up to God's righteous standards. Christians, living under the New Covenant, are not under the Old Covenant law but able to fulfill its intent through faith in Jesus Christ. We are called to persevere until the end and to sin is a choice but in moments of weakness God is our strength. We are bound to fail because we are weak. What do we need God for if we are always strong? God will not condemn but will continue guide us in our spiritual growth.

Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

1 Corinthians 1:8 - He will also confirm/keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[MadebyHim]

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [SUP]2 [/SUP]God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Romans 6:1-10

 

[PrynceNY]

This isn't about sinless perfectionism. This is about why you, or any believer, feel that you must sin when God's word says that we have been set free and are dead to sin. I am not preaching sinless perfectionism so much so as asking why don't believers feel they can go a period of time without sinning when scripture plainly states to not sin so that grace may abound? If God's word tells us to not sin for the purposes of grace abounding that means that sin is a choice. Why do believer's feel the need to make sin not a choice, but due to design? We are born again, such a propensity according to scripture has been crucified and we are made new creations. Of course the go to reply is to use those verses (though I disagree with their usage and believe this is addressing Gnosticism, who held a belief that their spirit was pure, but their flesh inherently evil, so they were fine with sin in a way). I see those verses as salvation verses, meaning if someone doesn't recognize they sin and say they don't they are making God out to be a liar (because all fall short of His glory). Those verses don't address the problem, nor do they excuse the issue. Why do Christians believe they cannot go any period of time (practically) without sinning? Whether it be hours, days, months, or years. Doesn't scripture disagree with this premise, in many verses?

I never said anything about "you must sin" you did. I clearly stated if one were to try to not sin once for a prelong period they would have their hands full Can you go months / years without sinning once? If not you are going the against the case of people who you claim say you can not go a period without sinning while even yourself find it a challenge to do

 

[bravethea]

i have no idea but if i close this account i have a feeling it will help me alot IN JESUS amen

 

[BenFTW]

Consider this verse.

[h=1]1 John 2:1 King James Version (KJV)[/h][FONT=&quot]2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

This doesn't sound like daily sinning. This doesn't sound like a habitual problem whereby a person sin's daily. This sounds occasional, riding the border of possibility. Not, necessarily, an absolute.

So with this in mind, consider the initial question. Can a Christian not sin for a day, a week, a month, or a year? The answer should be yes, but why isn't it? Why is the Christian response usually "no", or "I don't think so"?

Why isn't the answer a forthright "yes", when we consider all the verses that speak to our victory over sin under grace? Maybe one could answer the question with, "Yes, but they don't." haha Is this one of those "its possible" things, but people don't actually believe it in actuality?

If we sin daily, why did John say those thing to people in order for them to not sin? Why did the apostle Paul tell people they were dead to sin and alive unto God? Why does scripture lay out sin as things to not do, command us to not do them, and then we simply just say "we sin all the time." For what reason would there be so much emphasis on not continuing on in sin, if we are bound to sin daily?


[/FONT]

 

[BenFTW]

I never said anything about "you must sin" you did. I clearly stated if one were to try to not sin once for a prelong period they would have their hands full Can you go months / years without sinning once? If not you are going the against the case of people who you claim say you can not go a period without sinning while even yourself find it a challenge to do

Okay, so you are simply pointing out the difficulty of the task. Noted. However, pointing to its difficulty is not affirming its possibility. Maybe instead of "can" we should use "will"? Will a Christian go without sinning for short or long periods of time? Maybe we should even bring this to the ought. Ought a Christian not sin for a period of time?

This isn't about the difficulty. Its about the possibility and whether or not it should be the case as opposed to not.

 

[FreeNChrist]

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?

Define sin.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

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?

While I agree this is what it means, a moment by moment response (conditionally) I would have to question how long we could do this

I think that is maybe where the division comes.. Everyone would say we should moment by moment seek the things of the spirit.. But reality says many times, we do not do this as we should.. .

 

[BenFTW]

Define sin.

Instead of me defining sin, I would rather you, under your understanding of what sin is, tell me if you think it possible for a Christian to go any particular period of time without sinning. Not only can they, but will they and ought they do so?

Sin is defined all throughout God's word, and it is very specific to what each particular sin is. I could give a general answer of what sin is, like "whatever is not of faith" or "not meeting God's perfect standard of righteousness." I could use "it is the opposite of God's nature." There are a number of answers that could be given, but regardless of the many options the question still stands.

Can, will, or ought a Christian not sin for a day, a week, a month or a year? Remember, difficulty is not in question, but possibility.

 

[mailmandan]

This isn't about the difficulty. Its about the possibility and whether or not it should be the case as opposed to not.

Is it possible for an NFL team to go an entire football season without any penalties or errors? Has there ever been an NFL team to go an entire season without any penalties or errors? They were not forced to create those penalties or errors so why does this happen? We are not forced to sin but why do we sin, even if we strive not to sin?

 

[FreeNChrist]

Instead of me defining sin, I would rather you, under your understanding of what sin is, tell me if you think it possible for a Christian to go any particular period of time without sinning. Not only can they, but will they and ought they do so?

Sin is defined all throughout God's word, and it is very specific to what each particular sin is. I could give a general answer of what sin is, like "whatever is not of faith" or "not meeting God's perfect standard of righteousness." I could use "it is the opposite of God's nature." There are a number of answers that could be given, but regardless of the many options the question still stands.

Can, will, or ought a Christian not sin for a day, a week, a month or a year? Remember, difficulty is not in question, but possibility.

Sin is defined not merely by our actions, but by internal feelings and motives that must be absolutely pure. Jesus condemns not only adultery but lust, not only murder but anger, promising the same judgment for both. So, even if our actions are pure, our thoughts are often not. And even if our thoughts are pure we still sin because of the good we should be doing but don't.

 

[BenFTW]

Is it possible for an NFL team to go an entire football season without any penalties or errors? Has there ever been an NFL team to go an entire season without any penalties or errors? They were not forced to create those penalties or errors so why does this happen? We are not forced to sin but why do we sin, even if we strive not to sin?

I already stated that the focus isn't necessarily right, to be so sin-conscious but the question enlightens us to our mindset towards sin. Must we sin? Is the old man crucified? Are we dead to sin? Does sin have dominion over us? Then, should not the answer to this question of not sinning for a period of time be a definite yes, as opposed to a no? If even it is a theoretical yes, I suppose we then can consider how to move beyond the theoretical.

 

[Adstar]

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?

So BenFTW whats your answer to your question?

How long have you gone without sin?

 

[BenFTW]

Sin is defined not merely by our actions, but by internal feelings and motives that must be absolutely pure. Jesus condemns not only adultery but lust, not only murder but anger, promising the same judgment for both. So, even if our actions are pure, our thoughts are often not. And even if our thoughts are pure we still sin because of the good we should be doing but don't.

By this definition we would be sinning so that grace abounds. Why would the apostle Paul give us an admonition to not continue in sin if its impossible to not sin for a day? Why would God, through John, incite people to not sin but if they do we have an Advocate? If it were not possible, why then the insistence on not sinning and walking in our identity?

We may sin daily, but should we? Ought we? Have we not died to sin? Does God not sanctify and chastise us? How is it that you argue we sin daily, when God tells us to walk in holiness? I understand this is by grace, but to say we sin daily is denying His grace that breaks sin's dominion.

 

[mj007]

Sin comes from a seed, and all that comes from it is within sin, but where does the seed originate? Where is the beginning of sin, is it the action? Is in the thought? The intention? The underlying emotion? Which comes first? I think that in debating sin, we should try to think about its origin. When we think about that then we can think about what avoids sin. I'm pretty sure that if we grasp unconditional love, in our likeness to God (made in God's image); that is the 'holy' place from where sin cannot occur.

Do you all agree that there is no such thing as a holy sinner? Or a slightly holy or a mostly holy, sinner? Holy and sinner are contradictions.

And if the whole meaning of reading the bible, or following Jesus, or glorifying God, is to align ourselves with Spirit (walk with the spirit), then isn't the whole meaning that we should try to align ourselves with holiness?

Jesus was born of pure holiness. We were all born into sin. But Jesus is the way, the life, and the truth of alignment to Spirit and therefore alignment and communication with God.

We all have our moments don't we? I'm sure everyone has experienced it, where suddenly you are free from the place of self-judgement and therefore outer-judgement. A place of peace within, no anger, no disharmony, no struggle, 'no burdens', love for all. In our image we see the image of others - but it is not the image of God we see.

The image of God is visible when we have overcome our self-image, and it is our self-image which is at the very heart of our dialog and our interactions. This is why you can tell a lot about a person, by how they are with those who 'push their buttons'. Often when someone's buttons are pushed, what comes out of them is a hurt self-image, beliefs which they feel have been attacked (or someone is making them hold on to or question). And in their response to the people who push their buttons, you may see spurious judgement, and self-righteousness, 'you're wrong I'm right'. And in those words, those people are telling you all about themselves, their self image.

If love in its purest form, unconditional love, is the seed, I don't believe any sin can occur from it.

When we involve self-image, we involve self-identity, and we identify with others as selves, separate people, separate identities. But love see us all as one, because, that is how God see's us. We are all God's children, even if we have a hugely damaged self-image, or have turned that damage (as a way of coping) into self-righteousness which is self-denial.

It is not about whether God loves us, because God loves us all the same. God doesn't put levels on love (therefore conditional), love is God's constant, it is a constant. It is about whether we allow God to love us. If we allow God to love us, then we will also love ourselves, and in loving ourselves we will love our neighbours. Jesus said love your neighbours 'as you love yourself', and the reason people don't particularly love their neighbours easily, is because they don't particularly love themselves easily. And the reason they do not love themselves easily, is because they do not easily allow God to love them 'completely'. But in our lack of that, from thinking we are bad because we have sinned (and it is always 'have' sinned, unless you are sinning right now, right?), we become an open vessel for sin, because, it is God's pure love for us which saves us from sin through the holy spirit.

I'm not looking for anyone to take apart what I said and tell me where it is wrong. These are just my thoughts in the moment.

If there is anything to take away from anything anyone says, take the good. Comment on the good. Exaggerate focus on the good. Whether someone is half erroneous in what they say, again, focus on the good, so that they know that is worth talking about more than what might be erroneous.

Do not take people away from God, by taking them away from the good that they say, or turning their words into something they didn't mean. Glorify the good in others, for that is the loving kind humble thing to do, which is more alike to Christ, the way the truth and the life of being.

 

[FreeNChrist]

By this definition we would be sinning so that grace abounds. Why would the apostle Paul give us an admonition to not continue in sin if its impossible to not sin for a day? Why would God, through John, incite people to not sin but if they do we have an Advocate? If it were not possible, why then the insistence on not sinning and walking in our identity?

We may sin daily, but should we? Ought we? Have we not died to sin? Does God not sanctify and chastise us? How is it that you argue we sin daily, when God tells us to walk in holiness? I understand this is by grace, but to say we sin daily is denying His grace that breaks sin's dominion.

Acknowledging the reality of sin is not an excuse for sin.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Acknowledging the reality of sin is not an excuse for sin.

"Oh what a wretched man I am"

Paul excusing his sin.. SMH!!

 

[BenFTW]

Acknowledging the reality of sin is not an excuse for sin.

Yet, the reality is that we've been set free. So, in being set free, why do you think you sin daily? I am not saying that you don't sin daily, nor am I stating that I don't sin daily (we all can have our own struggles). I am simply pointing out a contradiction in the logic being presented.

Has your sin nature been crucified? Are you a new creation? Is God chastising you? Is the Holy Spirit sanctifying you? Do you have the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Is sin a choice, as opposed to a propensity (due to the sin nature that is now crucified)? If all of this is the case, how do you claim habitual sin when God says He has set you free from its dominion?