Christians: Once again I'm getting mixed messages about what it is to be Christian. A little help...?

Question

...Today I was told by a lot of Christians that they live guilt-free, sinless lives because they know they've got Jesus in their lives. Seems they felt that if you're feeling guilt and doing sin, you're not doing Christianity right.

But I was told by a lot of other Christians that guilt and sin are part of human nature and that even being Christian doesn't stop it. All Christianity buys them is God's forgiveness. They seemed to think that those who felt guilt-less and free of sin were fooling themselves and not doing their Christianity right?

Is this the basic division within Christianity? That one group believes in the power of grace and thus feels guilt-free and sinless, while the other feels that good works must accompany grace, for we are all sinners and guilty of sin?

Can a person get to heaven either way, or is only one of these two options the right way?

Answer 1

And, I'm sorry to say, you are going to continue to get mixed messages because the question you ask is answered by differing religious groups. Each "church" interprets the Bible in a different way. Sometimes this governs which "church" people go to because one or the other suits their personal belief. Basically they go to the church that tells them what they want to hear.

I would love to answer this question but it would take more space then we would ever have here. What I will say is this: Keep asking and don't settle for wishy washy responses. The Bible is a big book and the answers are there if you are willing to look. Sometimes conforming to the answers takes a lot of effort but it is worthwhile. I wish you success.

Answer 2

It is a little more complicated even then that.

First, you have one group called the Armenians. This is a group that believes in what is called “works righteousness”, or sometimes “Christ plus…”. They hold to the position that Man is basically good and able to choose to follow God. They mostly believe that once you are a Christian you do not have any sin in you.

Second is the Calvinists, who believe in the total depravity of Man and in his inability to earn his way into Heaven. These folks are the ones that believe that Man is by his nature sinful and as such need a savior. They are the Sola Gracia (By Grace Alone) crowed.

Third are the Extreme Armenians, which I think would also include Catholics. There doctrine centers around paying for their sin and being co-participants in Christ’s suffering.

There is a fourth group, the Hyper Calvinists, who hold many of the beliefs of the Calvinists but also believe in Double Predestination (God makes some people for Heaven and some for Hell). They are the ones often accused of being more Calvinistic than Calvin.

A fifth group, the Cults, are various groups that claim to be Christian, but distort basic core doctrine, such as the Resurrection, the Deity of Christ, and others.

For me, I’m in the Calvinist camp. I know that my nature is sinful, and no matter how hard I try I cannot change that. But God is a big enough God to forgive even me, and as such the burden of my sin is lifted. I still struggle with sin (hey I’m a guy after all), but I do not let it destroy me when I fall. Instead, I repent and seek God’s guidance to do better. I will not be completely free of sin until I die and receive my resurrection body.

Answer 3

I was a guilt ridden Christian until recently I've been sick and have had alot of time to research the bible and do a lot of soul searching. I was listening to a bible study teacher or minister on TV on day (either Beth Moore, Paula White, or Joyce Meyer) and she was talking about guilt ridden Christians. She said, "You've already confessed your sins and repented. You've accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And God has already forgiven you of your sins past, present, and future." Then she said the most profound thing, "Do you act like it? You are forgiven, so do you act like it? You don't have to keep confessing the same sin over and over again. He forgave you the first time. Now act like it."
She was absolutely right. I had been feeling guilty about things I'd done years ago. So I forgave myself and let it go. It is the most liberating thing.
So I can see how some Christians feel guiltless. All Christians should feel guiltless. I can see how the burden of past sin has been lifted. It's easier to resist temptation when you have your eye on the prize, but those temptations are still there. Even though salvation is assured we can't be cavalier about sinning. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. " 2 Corinthians 5:10

Answer 4

Okay no one lives guilt free and sinless lives. Christianity is a relationship with God. God wants us to love Him back freely and love others. That is the greatest command that the (hence the) RELIGIOUS EXPERTS asked Jesus. Not all the coulda, shoulda, woulda's of manmade laws and legalism. For instance an usher can be a nice, helpful, genuine, loving and godly man that everyone just adores. But at home he is drunk all the time and abuses his wife. Faith by works is empty and does not construe what is really in the heart. Only God knows what is in our hearts and He will see that you want to know and I'm guessing you will do right to other people and honor that. God knows where your heart is and you have the freedom to learn more as you develop your relationship, that is if you want Him a part of your life.

Answer 5

Insteresting. How can there be so much variation on core beliefs and yet "Christianity" is the only way to be saved?

For starters. Christian's, Pastors, Priest's, Popes, Prophets or Teachers will Never, and CAN NEVER have the ability to tell you that you're going to hell. You're damned straight that they will speculate till their faces turn blue. And you can be DAMNED sure that they will use the bible and more ways than one to damn you and to convert. And you can be even surer that you will NEVER get one solid answer from the varied Christian groups.

All forms of Christianity starts with the bible, and works it's way up. All the established Christian religions started with a MAN reading the bible, and understanding what he believes, and then teaching what HE believes up until some how in the translation, it turns into what "Great God Almighty" believes.

So if I take a Question, and run it through the Christian wheel, I will get 50-100 different answers, and everyone of them will be written in stone, and written and backed by the bible. HOWEVER! If you take any question, and ask God himself the same question; you will get one answer that you can take to the bank. So now, you're left with a dilemma. Who do you trust? God, the Pastor, the Church, or the Bible?

The Church gets it's answers from the bible and distorts them to fit their own lives so they can feel guilt free about cheating on their husbands, or having that abortion 7 years ago.

The Pastors are somewhat the same as the Church...however I feel they are far more sincere in their convictions.

The Bible, if you believe it to be, is the word of God himself (as life has proved, the interpretations of the bible are not.) So whatever answer you get from God... WILL coincide with the bible. Hands down no buts about it. However...Gods answers might not coincide with the Church or the Pastor who built their beliefs on the bible... So be careful.

So lastly, but not leastly, you are left in Gods hands once more. So how do you ask God your questions? First it might be a good start to research what you're going to ask before you go tooting a bunch of crap. And maybe in your research, you will receive your answer. Second, you NEED to pray about it (john 16:24 '...Ask and ye shall recieve...' ) sincerely and humbly; with out sincerity and humility, prayer is as good as the napkin it's written on. And if you still don't get your answer then it's probably a biggy, and requires the aid of a prophet. As it says in Amos 3:7 "Surley the lord god will do nothing, but he revealeth hie secret unto his servents the prophets."

SO As we come to a conclusion... Pray, and seek your answers apart from the church or the pastor. The Church and the Pastor are tools to understanding, however they are not God's word. God's word comes from prayer, and from his prophets.

It might be a good idea to find a sorce of direct revealtion. Prophets ARE and WILL be on earth untill christ comes again. God's work is not finished, and neither are his words.

Find a Prophet, and you'll find your answers.

Answer 6

Salvation is by Grace alone, we can't earn it. How we live our lives is another story. As we grow in the knowledge and experience of God it changes us. We make mistakes, we fall, but we don't stay down. I have found guilt to be a signal that I need to have a talk with God about something I've done. I don't ignore it. Living a guilt free sinless life comes with maturity. God bless anyone who has matured that much! It's not a division as far as I know. Good works has nothing to do with it.

Answer 7

You articulated your problem very well in three short paragraphs.

You second paragraph is the one I would buy into. I feel the Christians in the first paragraph, while it's interesting they feel that way, are fooling themselves.

Christians will still struggle with sin--even born-agains. The Evil (Satan, but I dislike using that name) will always tempt and conjole you to sin. The closer you get to God the more powerful his attacks to bring you down. Complacency is a tactic he uses.

A pure and solid born-again Christian should be out in the street witnessing and where they can get hammered by The Evil everwhere they turn. This way they can overcome the temptations....wait, am I prosletizing? Sorry.

I have to ponder your last sentence which is the core question.

Answer 8

Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. -Romans 5:16

Sin and the law brought condemnation right? Well with Christ comes justification. If a person is right with God and living by the spirit (Galatians 5:16) why should he walk around feeling condemned when he is saved?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. -Romans 8:1

Are we perfect after we accept Jesus? No. Should we repent when we realized we sinned? Yes. Should we walk around feeling that we are condemned and no different that any other sinner? NO.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. -Romans 6:4

wow looks like your answers all came from Romans : P

PS:We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus the Christ (Ephesians 2:8) God doesnt require good works, he expects them as a natural part of your faith.

Answer 9

You won't be guiltless and sin-free until you get to Heaven.

God does have the power to change you through His Holy Spirit, but your sinful flesh will continue to battle the Holy Spirit. At times, you will fail and sin. If you feel guilty about it, that's probably a good sign -- you are trying to please God.

If you're making provisions for your flesh, though, you need to reexamine to see that you're in the faith.

It's all about Judgment Day. God will see all your sin, and he cannot let sinful man into his Holy presence. You can't do enough good to make up for sin, but if you repent of your sin and trust in Jesus and his payment on the cross, His righteousness will be gifted to you. Therefore, saved persons are not sinless, but can generally live with freedom if their heart's desire is to please God.

I hope this was clear. I'm feeling shaky about my wording on this one. God bless.

Answer 10

bobkin,if anyone tells you that they are a christian and that they are a sinner,they have limited understanding of christianity.
ONE CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN AND BE A SINNER. ONE CANNOT BE A SINNER AND BE A CHRISTIAN.ONCE ONE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SIN AND DOES THEIR UTMOST TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON GOD, EVEN IF THEY DO ERR, NO SIN IS ATTRIBUTED TO THEM. IN fact they will go back into "sin" with the christ leading the way,this is NOT backsliding,it is like unto rubbing a puppy's nose in it's own mess so it will not do it again. LOVE Whistle Britches