I have been raised in a "Faith by Grace" church, but I am now attending Remnant Fellowship with believe's in TOTAL Obedience. I agree with this very much...it says that Jesus did come to show us how to live our lives 'pure' and without sin. I know that Jesus WAS/IS the Son of God and of course He would live a pure life without sin, but He WAS also tempted with every temptation and He STILL remained without sin as a MAN.
Can't we today live our lifes TOTALLY for God's will? Isn't that what God wants? It states all over the Bible to love God is to OBEY His commands and that no impure heart will enter heaven....Jesus did die for our sins, but we are NOT to waste His presious blood and just keep on sinning...so many say we are just human and that is what Christ died for. But, shouldn't we TRY to be sinless? Is that too much to strive for? And why do so many folks think that to try to live a sinless life is impossible?
2006-06-28 06:00:04 · 13 answers · asked by nici a 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Your question is many-faceted. Let me try to help.
>Jesus did die for our sins, but we are NOT to waste His presious blood and just keep on sinning
Yes, you are right according to Romans 6:1-2: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
> Can't we today live our lifes TOTALLY for God's will? ... And why do so many folks think that to try to live a sinless life is impossible?
Actually, according to the Bible, a sinless life is impossible.
I John 1:10: "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
The law was instituted to show us that we cannot live good enough lives to save ourselves. It is referred to as our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Even our best is not good enough. Isaiah 64:6: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
> But, shouldn't we TRY to be sinless?
Yes, even though we know we will fail, we should still try because it is pleasing and honoring to God.
Romans 12:1-2: "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. 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."
1 Samuel 15:22: "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Hope this clears things up a bit. Grace by faith is not a license to sin.
2006-06-28 06:11:34 · answer #1 · answered by ACDixon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Trying to live a sinless life is what most CHRISTians do. What people actually say is.
"living a sinless life is impossible"
not
"trying to live a sinless life is impossible"
It's possible to try anything, but success is not always achievable. This is true in the case of righteousness. Righteousness has never been obtainable by mere attempts by man. It is only obtainable by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, his blood on the cross, and our faith in Him.
This of course does not mean you should continue to live sinfully. And this is not what people are saying when they admit their sin. There are many CHRISTians out there that are stuggling with many different things. They should be able to be open about it so they can get the help and the encouragement of the brethren rather than the beatings and fear of condemnation.
If they deserve it you also deserve it. You are not without sin.
But there is an inner working that happens with the acceptance of CHRIST and by putting your faith and trust in Him. You become a new creation. You are born again the Bible puts it.
As a new creation you have the spirit nature that you can follow when previous to the new birth you do not. The Bible says not to walk by the flesh, but by the spirit.
The old man (flesh nature) should be put to death, and the spirit man should be leading.
However, this is not the easiest accomplishment and EVERYONE messes up every so often. It's about getting back up and continuing to strive for your love of God in obedience and your love of others in charity.
Hope that helps.
2006-06-28 13:17:03 · answer #2 · answered by Keith B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Total obedience is impossible without GRACE and the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. Like Romans 7-8.
I agree with what you wrote. But it is impossible for us to be without sin. If anyone (apart from Jesus) says that they are sinless, he is a liar.
Yet we still need to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling".
2006-06-28 13:04:32 · answer #3 · answered by Krystal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Grace by definition is 'favour granted undeserved'
Total obedience is impossible without love,
Jesus said that if you love me you will obey, not if you obey me you will love me.
The most important thing to remember is what Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your body, with all your soul, and with all your spirit and the love your neighbour as yourself. God is more concerned in who you love and how you love. It's not tied up in obedience and being sinless. if it was what is the point? He made us to delight in us not to make us do this and do that. he made us to delight in Him. You can't waste the blood on sin because that is why it was shed. But to try to make God smile because of what I did blows my mind. I would love to obey all the time but I'm just not that good, but God loves me any way.
2006-06-28 13:18:07 · answer #4 · answered by wyokillion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"And why do so many folks think that to try to live a sinless life is impossible? "
I guess it depends on what you define as sin.
Is over-eating a sin?
Is a Christmas tree a sin?
Is watching too much TV a sin?
Is noticing a good-looking person of the opposite sex a sin?
Conversely, did Hosea sin when he violated the Torah, but obeyed God's prophecy?
2006-06-28 13:06:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are sinless. Jesus never died for anyones sins. He did not need to. Sin is not possible. God created you perfect and unless you can change the will of God you are still perfect.
2006-06-28 13:05:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A) The problem is that while your nature has been redeemed, it has not been changed. It is still a fallen nature.
B) Temptation is not always announcing itself with bells and whistles. Sometimes it sneaks up and trips you and it's only AFTER you've tumbled that you realize wha hoppen.
C) THAT'S WHY Jesus gave us a means to obtain forgiveness for the sins that we will inevitably commit, willyou nilyou. It's called the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It allows you to acknowledge that: "Oops, I goofed again; gosh, I'm sorry; please help me do better next time and thanks for the sacrifice that made the sin wash away."
D) And have you ever considered that ONLY doing whatever you think is God's Way is to slap Him in the face for His precious gift of free will? Perhaps the Will of God for YOU is to think for yourself and do the best you can as a thinking, feeling, spiritual child of God, NOT a puppet on a divine string.
E) Try thinking of "will", not as a command (kinder, you VILL eat zis oatmeal, zis very minute, or else), but as appetite, as desire. As in, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice". Hmmmmmmm?
2006-06-28 13:11:23 · answer #7 · answered by Granny Annie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All we can do is strive to live a sinless life. Love your neighbor as you love God is the ultimate in commands. Everything else stems from there.
2006-06-28 13:05:34 · answer #8 · answered by travelguruette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GRACE is the way, the truth and the light.
2006-06-28 13:03:30 · answer #9 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
obedience to grace and motivated by grace
2006-06-28 13:03:39 · answer #10 · answered by get_unlost 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋