Sin is a choice.
Sin is not a nature although one can develop a natural predisposition to sin through sinning. This is because sin hardens the heart and is very deceitful.
We all have natural desires but these desires are not sin. It is when we yield to these desires in opposition to the light given us by God. That is why the condemnation in John 3 is in regards to rejecting the light.
When people walk according to the flesh they are choosing to walk as an animal simply serving the base instincts. God is not calling men to walk as animals but, rather, to subject their desires to the law of love.
Look at how James describes how sin works...
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Now look at what happened to Eve...
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Eve was drawn away and enticed by her own lusts. She let her natural passions rule over her and she yielded to them in disobedience to God.
Cain did the same thing when he killed his brother...
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Cain had the choice to do well but he, like Eve, let his lust rule over him and thus sinned.
This is why those who are in Christ have crucified their flesh and its passions and desires.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
These people have made the choice not to walk as animals but rather walk according to the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
This is why Jesus would say...
Mat_16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The life a Christian loses is the animal/beast life.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
You see someone born of God "keeps" themselves.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
They keep themselves because they have crucified the old man in a genuine repentance experience and thus they do not yield to the passions and desires of the flesh and thus sin like James describes.
Peter wrote of this exact same thing...
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
A true believer lives a crucified life as a living sacrifice, constantly renewing their mind that they may know the will of God.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If you walk as an animal fulfilling the animal desires in opposition to the light then you will die. On the other hand if you, through the Spirit, put to death those deeds then ye shall live.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Jesus was tempted by the passions and desires of the flesh in exactly the same as we are yet he kept his members in subjection perfectly without ever sinning once.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus was our example and is calling us to do the same through the power of God's grace for sin shall not have dominion over us.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin and thus not yield to it.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
The wretch in Romans 7 was in bondage to living like a beast.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
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 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
He had to be set free through a genuine repentance whereby God would then raise him up to newness of life where he would no longer be in bondage. He would be set free.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 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.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
It is in repentance that the old man is crucified. The error in the church system is they teach that the old man is crucified gradually over a period of time, thus they have a professing Christian serving two masters and being double minded. It doesn't work like that, you have either repented and crucified the old man or you haven't, there is no halfway grey area.
If you still yield to the passions and desires of the flesh and serve sin then you are not in Christ and you have not repented. In fact you are still a slave to sin.
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The good news is that if you obey from the heart the teachings of Jesus you will be set free.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The church system is full of wolves who teach none of the above. They are lying to you, whether with intent or by ignorance it doesn't really matter.
The doctrine of original sin is a deadly heresy which totally redefined the Gospel. It puts the blame of sin on God. It redefines the ability of man to where he cannot choose to do good. Actual sin becomes a symptom of an inborn disease and thus true repentance is neutralised and sin is not forsaken.
Judaism never taught inborn sin and the early church never taught it either. it wasn't until Augustine came along that it was introduced into church orthodoxy.
Think about it. How can God be just for condemning sinners when their sin is a result of how they were born?
Satan wants you to believe the following two lies.
1. Ye shall not surely die if you sin.
2. Ye cannot obey God and stop sinning.
If you buy into that then there is no hope for you because the strongholds in your mind will prevent you from obeying God from your heart.
The entire church system is built upon these two lies and that is why they preach a "saved in sins" gospel message. You can see it on these boards, so many will defend the lie "ye shall not surely die" but will dress it up with theological rhetoric.
Sin is not a nature although one can develop a natural predisposition to sin through sinning. This is because sin hardens the heart and is very deceitful.
We all have natural desires but these desires are not sin. It is when we yield to these desires in opposition to the light given us by God. That is why the condemnation in John 3 is in regards to rejecting the light.
When people walk according to the flesh they are choosing to walk as an animal simply serving the base instincts. God is not calling men to walk as animals but, rather, to subject their desires to the law of love.
Look at how James describes how sin works...
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Now look at what happened to Eve...
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Eve was drawn away and enticed by her own lusts. She let her natural passions rule over her and she yielded to them in disobedience to God.
Cain did the same thing when he killed his brother...
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Cain had the choice to do well but he, like Eve, let his lust rule over him and thus sinned.
This is why those who are in Christ have crucified their flesh and its passions and desires.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
These people have made the choice not to walk as animals but rather walk according to the Spirit.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
This is why Jesus would say...
Mat_16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The life a Christian loses is the animal/beast life.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
You see someone born of God "keeps" themselves.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
They keep themselves because they have crucified the old man in a genuine repentance experience and thus they do not yield to the passions and desires of the flesh and thus sin like James describes.
Peter wrote of this exact same thing...
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
A true believer lives a crucified life as a living sacrifice, constantly renewing their mind that they may know the will of God.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If you walk as an animal fulfilling the animal desires in opposition to the light then you will die. On the other hand if you, through the Spirit, put to death those deeds then ye shall live.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Jesus was tempted by the passions and desires of the flesh in exactly the same as we are yet he kept his members in subjection perfectly without ever sinning once.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus was our example and is calling us to do the same through the power of God's grace for sin shall not have dominion over us.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin and thus not yield to it.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
The wretch in Romans 7 was in bondage to living like a beast.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
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 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
He had to be set free through a genuine repentance whereby God would then raise him up to newness of life where he would no longer be in bondage. He would be set free.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 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.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
It is in repentance that the old man is crucified. The error in the church system is they teach that the old man is crucified gradually over a period of time, thus they have a professing Christian serving two masters and being double minded. It doesn't work like that, you have either repented and crucified the old man or you haven't, there is no halfway grey area.
If you still yield to the passions and desires of the flesh and serve sin then you are not in Christ and you have not repented. In fact you are still a slave to sin.
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The good news is that if you obey from the heart the teachings of Jesus you will be set free.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The church system is full of wolves who teach none of the above. They are lying to you, whether with intent or by ignorance it doesn't really matter.
The doctrine of original sin is a deadly heresy which totally redefined the Gospel. It puts the blame of sin on God. It redefines the ability of man to where he cannot choose to do good. Actual sin becomes a symptom of an inborn disease and thus true repentance is neutralised and sin is not forsaken.
Judaism never taught inborn sin and the early church never taught it either. it wasn't until Augustine came along that it was introduced into church orthodoxy.
Think about it. How can God be just for condemning sinners when their sin is a result of how they were born?
Satan wants you to believe the following two lies.
1. Ye shall not surely die if you sin.
2. Ye cannot obey God and stop sinning.
If you buy into that then there is no hope for you because the strongholds in your mind will prevent you from obeying God from your heart.
The entire church system is built upon these two lies and that is why they preach a "saved in sins" gospel message. You can see it on these boards, so many will defend the lie "ye shall not surely die" but will dress it up with theological rhetoric.
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ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh sorry, I get it now, LOL,,,, yes many verses, I have learned much from Skinski, he connects truth well!