If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Absolutely Blain, it does take time, perseverance, struggle, sacrifice, suffering, pain, all those wonderful purifying things.
Yet we are told though
"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."
When calamity strikes do you embrace it, and laugh in its face knowing the enemy is attacking getting frustrated by not gaining any ground while the Lord is teaching you.
or do you give in allowing the enemy reason to laugh in Gods face.
We don't have to let the latter happen.
Think of it like a dog barking as its running after you trying to scare you off
Some run, some ignore the dog and walk past.
Similar to a roaring Lion which has grown old and only roars because its teeth are worn and no longer has the stealth to attack quietly like a young bold lion.
And why are we told the righteous are as bold as a lion?
Consider the difference between a roaring Lion and one that is bold and needs not roar.
The roaring Lions strength is only in his roar
The bold lions strength is known in what it is capable of and needs not advertise it.
When Christ is in you, you know what you are capable of.
For instance overcoming the enemy, overcoming transgression against God, helping another brother etc.
I don't believe anyone is suggesting the good fight can be won overnight.
What is the good fight anyway? if not the spiritual battle within us.
What is the spiritual battle if not the one fought to reclaim our soul as well as others to Christ.
The battle also though to go and sin no more, as Christ told the adulterous woman.
Or did Jesus set her up for failure? I dont believe he would do such a thing were the directive not possible.
I dont feel we should look to the scriptures for the verses of
we have all fallen short
there is none without sin
Manmade ones such as "I'm only human"
etc as consoling to make us feel better if we sin
But instead I feel these verses should be looked at more as how we once were but can be so much more complete in God.
It could be those verses were an exclamation of the disgust from the apostles toward some people, to shame them.
Why would Christ say to go and sin no more only for his followers to proclaim that its not possible?
The message is to strive for it, as opposed to give in to a discouraging belief of defeat.
A wise saying says "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is"
This can directly apply to the thought process of constantly telling ourselves we are going to just keep on sinning and falling short and being a sinner.
Or...is it better to keep reminding ourselves of what Jesus said, go and sin no more, go and sin no more, if you want to be perfect sell all you own and give to the poor. be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.
What words of the Lord does one choose to meditate upon makes a difference.
What words do the enemy cause us to meditate upon???(knowing were a believer and listen to Gods word..hint hint)
And true we all have some amount of sin simply due to our flesh still being present.
But which is more noble, having a thought of sin but not carrying it out
(such as be angry but not sin)
or having a thought of sin and thinking well Jesus said if we hate our brother we have already comited murder so I may as well go ahead and carry out my thoughts.
If the thoughts are not carried out they are not fed by action
When they are not fed by action and instead cast away, they diminish
Little by little, they all start to diminish......until few are left
when few are left, do you feel it is possible to conquer those few one by one as well.
With Christ as the one who strengthens you to do so of course.
Likewise when faith is carried out by action more and more replacing sin, what can the result be?
Other than the Fathers will by always only listening to him as opposed to our own limitations if relying on ourselves.
True, with man these things are not possible
With God all things are possible
Is the Lords arm too short
Shall we place any limits upon God?
I don't claim to be sinless myself, I sin once in awhile to remind myself I'm human (lol

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but do you ever have your moments, perhaps 5 minutes out of the day that you can reflect back upon and see there was no sin in you during that moment for either totally hearing the spirit or carrying out the fathers will.
Then maybe another time it was a half hour or more.
Then maybe, just maybe that time of no sin and instead righteousness taking its place can become greater as Gods presence becomes greater in you.
Allowing Gods presence being totally willing to be in submission to him while crucifying our flesh having no fear of the one who can kill the body...what could become of such a man ?