Bible Debate:
Can someone be a true Christian and still struggle with the same sin their whole life?
Some point to Romans 7:19 — even Paul admits "the evil which I would not, that I do." Others point to 2 Corinthians 5:17 — "old things are passed away" — and ask why nothing seems to change.
What do you believe? Drop your answer below — and back it up with scripture if you can.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
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.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1Co 13:5 thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.
When a person is saved they become a new creature and old things are passed away.
If a person abides in the truth there is no struggle with sin for they do not have a desire for sin but have a desire for the ways of God.
2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
But some people do not come to the truth because they will not let go of the flesh.
Which they cry I struggle with sin and we cannot abstain from sin.
But they want an excuse because they really want to enjoy sin denying the Spirit leading them but think they are saved.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
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.
Paul is not saying he is struggling with sin and not saying he is sinning.
But when he does good he is still tempted to do evil.
But that which he will do according to the flesh which is good he does not do.
But that which he would not do according to the flesh which is evil that he does.
So if the flesh desires something he does not do it.
And if the flesh opposes something that he does.
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