I was "saved" about 15 years ago. Since then I always wanted to please God but wanted to please myself as well. I lived in the flesh while trying to live a good life. Often I felt convicted falling into temptation. I figured I was only human and was unable to live a truly sinless life in this flesh heeding its desires. One day something hit me about "born in the Spirit", "crucified with Christ", and "losing this life to keep it". It occurred to me there is two sides of me. I do not have to obey my flesh. We CHOOSE which master to serve, Jesus or self, Spirit or flesh. Since then sin has lost its grip. I'm not being self righteous, sometimes I do choose self but I realize I did it and repent. Pornography does not even tempt me anymore after years of struggle its gone. I can testify that walking in the Spirit is a different path. It is an altogether different reality.
Living A Life Free Of Sin
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H
Whilst Christians are not perfect in our physical state, these failings are not "sin" as defined in scripture.
Below are a few examples of God's definitions of sin:
Unrighteousness, 1John 5:17 (Christians are righteous in Christ, so in this regard we do not sin)
Unbelief in Jesus, John 16:9 (Christians believe in Jesus, so in this regard we do not sin)
Trangression of the law, 1John 3:4 (Christians are not under the law, so in this regard we do not sin)
Regarding sin/transgression of the law, Christians cannot be accused of this sin as we are not under the law of sin and death.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets free from the law of sin and death, Rom 8:2.
"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness," Rom 10:4.
Regarding the law of sin and death it should be noted that:
“whatever the law says it says to those who are under it” (Rom 3:19).
“the law was not made for a righteous person (Christians), but for…the ungodly and for sinners” (1Tim 1:9).
“where there is no law there is no transgression (SIN)” (Rom 4:15).
Only our past sin was dealt with at the cross.
Rom 3:25: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,"
It was only our past sins that were forgiven. That means there is no more forgiveness of sin after this as sin was finally dealt with at the cross. Christ's sacrifice totally purged/cleansed us of sin. After that there is no more subsequent sin because our righteousness is not judged by deeds of the law anymore. Instead our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.
When we are in Christ, believing in him, then we are righteous (Rom 4:5), sanctified (Heb 10:10), holy (Rom 11:16) and perfected (Heb 10:14), hence Satan, the accuser, cannot charge us with sin, Rom 8:33.
Consider also 1Pet 4:18
“If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear”.
Clearly there are 2 different groups described here.
Group 1: Righteous (and saved).
Group 2: Ungodly/Sinner (unsaved).
Either we are righteous (in Christ) OR we are sinners. We can't be both.
In Christ we have "ceased from sin", 1Pet 4:1
How have we "ceased from sin?
We believe in Jesus, thus our old man has been crucified with him, Rom 6:6.
Now, I no longer live but Christ lives in me, Gal 2:20. And in Christ there is no sin, 1John 3:5
1Pet 4:1
“Therefore, since Christ suffered (crucified) for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind (our old man crucified with him. Rom 6:6), for he who has suffered in the flesh (Rom 6:6) has ceased from sin”.
And this is also confirmed by 1John 3:9
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed (Christ) remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God”.
And as for those physical failings that we still see, remember that body is already dead (by faith) because of sin.
Rom 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;
And for those whose focus is only on judging our failings, rest assured we will not profit in doing them. Although our righteousness is not determined by our failings, there are physical consequences for any wrongs we do. Consider King David with his adultery/murder. He was disciplined by God.
But regarding righteousness, our faith is now counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5. And our body is already dead (by faith) because of sin (crucified with Christ, Rom 6:6) therefore Satan, the accuser, can no longer charge you with sin.
Rom 8:33
Who shall lay any thing (even sin) to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Truly Jesus set us free from sin (John 8:36).
Below are a few examples of God's definitions of sin:
Unrighteousness, 1John 5:17 (Christians are righteous in Christ, so in this regard we do not sin)
Unbelief in Jesus, John 16:9 (Christians believe in Jesus, so in this regard we do not sin)
Trangression of the law, 1John 3:4 (Christians are not under the law, so in this regard we do not sin)
Regarding sin/transgression of the law, Christians cannot be accused of this sin as we are not under the law of sin and death.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets free from the law of sin and death, Rom 8:2.
"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness," Rom 10:4.
Regarding the law of sin and death it should be noted that:
“whatever the law says it says to those who are under it” (Rom 3:19).
“the law was not made for a righteous person (Christians), but for…the ungodly and for sinners” (1Tim 1:9).
“where there is no law there is no transgression (SIN)” (Rom 4:15).
Only our past sin was dealt with at the cross.
Rom 3:25: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,"
It was only our past sins that were forgiven. That means there is no more forgiveness of sin after this as sin was finally dealt with at the cross. Christ's sacrifice totally purged/cleansed us of sin. After that there is no more subsequent sin because our righteousness is not judged by deeds of the law anymore. Instead our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.
When we are in Christ, believing in him, then we are righteous (Rom 4:5), sanctified (Heb 10:10), holy (Rom 11:16) and perfected (Heb 10:14), hence Satan, the accuser, cannot charge us with sin, Rom 8:33.
Consider also 1Pet 4:18
“If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear”.
Clearly there are 2 different groups described here.
Group 1: Righteous (and saved).
Group 2: Ungodly/Sinner (unsaved).
Either we are righteous (in Christ) OR we are sinners. We can't be both.
In Christ we have "ceased from sin", 1Pet 4:1
How have we "ceased from sin?
We believe in Jesus, thus our old man has been crucified with him, Rom 6:6.
Now, I no longer live but Christ lives in me, Gal 2:20. And in Christ there is no sin, 1John 3:5
1Pet 4:1
“Therefore, since Christ suffered (crucified) for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind (our old man crucified with him. Rom 6:6), for he who has suffered in the flesh (Rom 6:6) has ceased from sin”.
And this is also confirmed by 1John 3:9
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed (Christ) remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God”.
And as for those physical failings that we still see, remember that body is already dead (by faith) because of sin.
Rom 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;
And for those whose focus is only on judging our failings, rest assured we will not profit in doing them. Although our righteousness is not determined by our failings, there are physical consequences for any wrongs we do. Consider King David with his adultery/murder. He was disciplined by God.
But regarding righteousness, our faith is now counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5. And our body is already dead (by faith) because of sin (crucified with Christ, Rom 6:6) therefore Satan, the accuser, can no longer charge you with sin.
Rom 8:33
Who shall lay any thing (even sin) to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Truly Jesus set us free from sin (John 8:36).
There's more.
James 4:17- Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
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. If these "failings" you are referring to are the works of the flesh then you are mistaken, those "failings" are sins which bring about condemnation.
And if he didn't repent he would have headed straight to hell. God is no respecter of persons.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Faith is only real when there is obedience (James 2:17-20), for instance because Abraham had faith in God he obeyed thus his faith was counted for righteousness.
Amen! He sets us free from sin and His grace empowers us to live righteously.
James 4:17- Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
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. If these "failings" you are referring to are the works of the flesh then you are mistaken, those "failings" are sins which bring about condemnation.
And if he didn't repent he would have headed straight to hell. God is no respecter of persons.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Faith is only real when there is obedience (James 2:17-20), for instance because Abraham had faith in God he obeyed thus his faith was counted for righteousness.
Amen! He sets us free from sin and His grace empowers us to live righteously.
H
If we read James 4 from the start we can see it's context.
James 4:4, we see it speaks to spiritual adulterers.
James 4:7,8, makes a salvation call to them.
James 4:12, speaks against these spiritual adulterers in their judging righteousness by the law.
James 4:17, to do "good" is to believe in Jesus and thereby your faith is counted for righteousness. Remember, unbelief in Jesus is the sin the world is convicted of, John 16:9.
Scripture is spiritually discerned, 1Cor 2:14.
Why would you then try to read Gal 5:18-21 is physical terms?
If you think it refers to physical then are we to conclude that physical drunkenness and revellings result in damnation? If so why are they not listed in the 10 commandments?
How do we do righteousness?
Answer: Our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.
And our works that show our faith is to believe in Jesus, John 6:29.
Unfortunately some can't do this as they cannot accept this simplicity that is in Christ. They then turn to righteousness by works of the law arguing that it's evidence of their "imparted" righteousness/salvation.
What is living righteously?
Is it perfect obedience to the law?
Or is a certain lessor level of obedience to the law acceptable?
H
Repentance was of dead works of self-rigtheousness, Heb 6:1.
This is a once only thing.
There is no more repentance if we fall away, Heb 6:4-6.
But if you think repenting of the wrongs we do through life is the correct view, then consider the following points.
Repentance means such regret for what we did that we stop doing it.
But how often have you repented of the same wrong? If more than once then that means you never repented.
And what if we forget to repent of a wrong act? What happens then?
This is a once only thing.
There is no more repentance if we fall away, Heb 6:4-6.
But if you think repenting of the wrongs we do through life is the correct view, then consider the following points.
Repentance means such regret for what we did that we stop doing it.
But how often have you repented of the same wrong? If more than once then that means you never repented.
And what if we forget to repent of a wrong act? What happens then?
A
Proverbs 6:30 People do not despise a thief If hesteals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
however it would be better if he could find some work or way to repay for the food: pick up litter, clean the store, etc.
however it would be better if he could find some work or way to repay for the food: pick up litter, clean the store, etc.
I'm sure the word repent implies a 180 turn. If you are walking to something then repent you are walking away from it. Somebody explained to me that's how it translates. Its not a feeling of wrong doing its an action of turning your back to the sin and walking away from it. So many of us settle for pseudo Christianity. They talk the talk but nobody has explained or showed them how to walk the walk. Is what Jesus says on a matter your ultimate authority? Are you your own master? Do you hate anyone? What is your identity? Do you tell lies, even "white" ones? Do you trust God to provide you with your daily bread or do you store up treasures on earth? The sad truth is most of us are living in the world. We listen to the same music and view the same shows. We wear the same exposing clothing. We swear and cuss. We would spend thousands of dollars on sports and entertainment while we care less if millions of people starve to death as heathens never hearing the Good News. We defend our lifestyles and make excuses for our struggles with sin. The reason we drown in sin is because we refuse to let go of the anchor of lusts that hold us in this fallen world. If our only waking thought was to please the Lord we would not sin. Many will be surprised on Judgement Day when the Lord separates the sheep from the goats (Matt 25) because the goats were in the churches, they were celebrating Christmas and Easter. They knew the stories and believed them but they did not act on their belief and perished.
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Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
