Can we overcome sin in this life?

[watchman F]

God promises us through His word that we can defeat sin, if we look closely at the word of God. There are many many promises that deal with that fact.

We are told that "in every temptation, God will make a way of escape that we will be able to bear it".

God said "sin shall not have dominion over you".

I literally can list twenty more...reckon yourself dead unto sin and alive unto God

''praise be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus, lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil'' and so forth.

I firmly believe we have mistakenly missed why he has saved us (to set us free) "You shall call His name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins" (now, in this life) to preserve us blameless unto the coming of the Lord. In the Bible, we are told "He that commits sin is the servant of sin, and the servant abides not in the house forever. But whom the Son sets free is free indeed."

We are told by Jesus Himself "Without me, you can do nothing." yet in the writings of Paul we are told "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.". Is this perhaps what Jesus meant when he expressed his deep concern that "when the Son of man returns, will he find faith on the earth?" Do we believe (have faith in) these promises of God for our lives?

Personally speaking, the sins that make up my personal "Achilles heel", not unlike yours, are not small ones that God turns a blind eye at. However He has promised us freedom from these vices. I have found as that His promises are meant for even the most wretched...and they work. This faith of who we are in Christ is what constitutes our shield spoken of in Ephesians 6, "wherewith we shall quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one".

I hope this explanation at least opens up the door for dialog. I fully understand the potential for controversy with this teaching. It goes against all that we have been taught, that we slowly change from the old man to the new by a lifelong, never ending process. I believe we can reach a point of sinlessness where we truly do ''partake of the divine nature of Christ, able to fully escape the corruption of this world''. I contend that the only way the process can work as God intends is when we obey him and believe that "you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit if the spirit dwells in you.", and that ''it is not we that live, but Christ that lives in us''

I believe that if we are truly experiencing the new covenant, then we will have complete victory over sin. To be a full grown son, we must be made free. I believe Jesus has made us free, all we must do now is walk in our freedom. When people say that we are not to make sin a habit, but yet everyone sins, and will not be completely freed from sin until the resurrection. They do not truly believe (have faith in the fact) that the Son can make us free indeed.

We are given the promise of freedom from sin how do we begin to walk in that freedom? By knowing Christ and who we are in Him and to Him.
2nd Peter 1
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[will]

While it is impossible for us to not sin anymore while we are still living in this world.
We are to overcome our addiction or bondage to sinful nature.
The key concept here is: growth.

Again and again we regard baby Christians as mature ones and expected them to behave likewise..

The process from baby/immature/little child (teknos) to maturity (teleios) could be a lifetime, half of a lifetime, or sooner.
It really depends on the spiritual nourishment that the person wills him- or herself to undergo.

The spiritual growth is caused by our studying the Scriptures that triggers guidance and direction from The Holy Spirit in us.
It is not mystical, it is methodical in nature, just like how our natural body grow and is sustained through food.

I appreciate your referring to 2nd Peter 1. These are the road map to conquering our fleshly attachment to sinful nature in our daily lives by focusing on being useful to the Lord's plan for each of us.

 

[stephen]

Can we overcome sin in this life?

Dear Friend. We all face this problem. Truth being that 'yes' we can. In Jesus is the our refuge.

We are no longer striving to be accepted....we are accepted. Our Savior did all that had to be done. On the cross.

We are no longer fighting to achieve .....but resting in HIM, who has achieved, and a finished work. Give Him praise that when-ever you feel below 'par' because of sin. He knows and He made provision. We can say......."Thank you Jesus. And Praise His Name

Just say Dear Savior I thank you for my salvation. It has all been done for me.

"How wonderful, how marvelous and my song shall ever be,
how wonderful, how marvelous is my Savious love for me.

 

[watchman F]

Many preachers are preaching "believe only." If they include repentance, it is some watered down version like "acknowledge you are a sinner" but no command to give up the life of crime. Almost everyone acknowledges they are sinners (some do so proudly), but as they don't want to give up their sin, they are hindered from salvation.

Churches are full of unrepentant sinners who think they are s...aved because they give mental assent to some religious creeds. They are told by preachers that we all must sin every day and can never obey the Lord until we die. They follow their blind and sinful leaders into a ditch and perish there because they have not truly repented and been born again.

 

[jari]

We can by the power of the holy spirit and renewed mind. But we must understand we are forgiven regardless because sin's power is the law. 1Co 15:56

if we don't have forgiveness of sins the law's curse has still effect. so only by grace we have better sinless life.

it's always of course our decision do we serve sin or rightneusness but it's battle already won. it just takes faith to believe in the victory. and decision and renewed mind to follow after rightneusness. (Rom 6:1)


(Rom 7:8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Still no one is perfect in this regard and even apostole Paul suffered sins consequences and temptations:


(Rom 7:24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
(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.

it is the inward man that has desire for godly things but flesh always sins and that's where our weakness lies.


(Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

[jiggyfly]

Many preachers are preaching "believe only." If they include repentance, it is some watered down version like "acknowledge you are a sinner" but no command to give up the life of crime. Almost everyone acknowledges they are sinners (some do so proudly), but as they don't want to give up their sin, they are hindered from salvation.

Churches are full of unrepentant sinners who think they are s...aved because they give mental assent to some religious creeds. They are told by preachers that we all must sin every day and can never obey the Lord until we die. They follow their blind and sinful leaders into a ditch and perish there because they have not truly repented and been born again.

So you don't believe that God dealt with sin at the cross of Christ Jesus adequately?

 

[brakelite]

So you don't believe that God dealt with sin at the cross of Christ Jesus adequately?

If anyone is of the belief that they cannot overcome sin in this life, it is they who do not believe that God dealt with sin adequately at the cross. Jesus whole purpose in coming was to save people from sin. (Matt. 1:21) The one who does believe....the one who is overcoming...the one who by the grace and power of God is being renewed daily in his mind...it is he who is a true believer...it is he who has faith.
It is a false faith and presumption for anyone to believe that Jesus died that we may continue in sin and yet still expect to see heaven. It is a false faith and presumption to believe we are accepted without true repentance.
I often wonder if the modern 'Christian' really understands what repentance truly means.

 

[jari]

Jesus whole purpose in coming was to save people from sin. (Matt. 1:21) The one who does believe....the one who is overcoming...

i'm sorry but you just stated Jesus came to save us from sin. then you said we are the ones doing the overcoming.

what's left for Jesus then?

 

[brakelite]

i'm sorry but you just stated Jesus came to save us from sin. then you said we are the ones doing the overcoming.

what's left for Jesus then?

There is a fine and delicate balance between grace and the effort we must put in. The Christian walk is not an easy stroll in the park. We are at war...being a fighter takes courage and determination...and our worst enemy is ourselves. Victory can be found in Christ, (it is promised) absolutely, and overcoming sin can be accomplished only in His power, but it does not happen without prayer, constant focused determined and irresolute faith, prayer, trust, hope, and did I mention prayer?

 

[jiggyfly]

If anyone is of the belief that they cannot overcome sin in this life, it is they who do not believe that God dealt with sin adequately at the cross. Jesus whole purpose in coming was to save people from sin. (Matt. 1:21) The one who does believe....the one who is overcoming...the one who by the grace and power of God is being renewed daily in his mind...it is he who is a true believer...it is he who has faith.
It is a false faith and presumption for anyone to believe that Jesus died that we may continue in sin and yet still expect to see heaven. It is a false faith and presumption to believe we are accepted without true repentance.
I often wonder if the modern 'Christian' really understands what repentance truly means.

So you don't believe that God dealt with sin at the cross of Christ Jesus adequately either?

 

[Boanerges]

My opinion is yes and no.
Yes as long as we are walking in the Spirit.
No for every step taken in the flesh.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Churches are full of unrepentant sinners who think they are s...aved because they give mental assent to some religious creeds. They are told by preachers that we all must sin every day and can never obey the Lord until we die. They follow their blind and sinful leaders into a ditch and perish there because they have not truly repented and been born again.[/COLOR]

"They are told by preachers that we must sin every day and can never obey the Lord.... We must sin (as in are commanded to do so)? Please clarify.

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)