I mean it seems like just when things are on the up and up between God and me I get hit by temptations, and such and some times I fall and some times I don't. If I'm a Christian why do I still sin or have the choice to sin or not or have the abbility to sin? I know we're not perfect and that one day we shall be but why are we still facing sin and temptations even if we are saved? And I am saved. Please give an honest well thought out intelligent answer. Use the Bible for reference if needed. All answers that bash God or Christians will be reported and flagged as inntollerant harrassment.
2006-09-01 15:13:14 · 17 answers · asked by dave_83501 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks for the good answers so far. I'm between about 3 or 4 really good ones for the best answer. Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I'm home sick and getting tired of myself LOL. Seriously some times the old man is just real pain in the butt. GRR.
2006-09-01 15:30:29 · update #1
I know your frustration, I also believe that our ability to not sin is not the righteousness God desires, the righteousness He desires is that we are fully aware of our need for Jesus Christ and fully thankful of His gift. I don't believe we fully escape sin until after death, for now we just have to keep coming back to Jesus and asking forgiveness, remember, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Though we stumble many times He will keep us. I have thought at times in the past that I had just grown too cold, or too far away, only to find Jesus was right there with me the whole time. Over time I have learned the faithfulness of God surpasses anything you can imagine. Don't feel condemned when you do fail, remember our redeemer walks with us and understands our failures.
2006-09-01 15:19:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Friend, it is a life long journey. You will always have trials and temptations. The key is to develop a strong relationship with God by spending time in His Word each day and praying. It is also important to be in some kind of small group setting with other believers who can encourage you in your walk. You need accountability as you learn to walk by the Spirit and by faith. I have been a Christian since I was a teenager. I am still faced with temptations every day but as I grow closer to Christ, I have the strength to resist. The Bible says if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This does not mean you go out an intentionally sin, knowing God will forgive you. It means when you do sin (we all do because we are still in the flesh) God will wipe the slate clean again. It's just like strength training. You have to work the muscles before they get strong. In the same way you have to work at your relationship with God and be accountable to others.
Victory is there, keep pursuing it.
2006-09-01 22:22:49 · answer #2 · answered by Shmootsy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have wondered about this one all too often. The best I have come up with at this point is that we are all being perfected or being made mature.
Being saved is like being born (or adopted) into a family: yeah, I'm part of the family, but no way am I the big brother (or sister). I'm the baby sister. That means I make mistakes, lots of them. I don't get tempted to take a cookie, I snatch the whole cookie jar! But eventually, I learn that eating the whole cookie jar is not a good idea for soooo many reasons. So does that mean that now I am not tempted and don't sin? Unfortunately, not. It usually means I'm off to 'bigger and better' sins and temptations. But there is good news!
Recently I discovered that more temptations=more opportunities to prove for myself that God is faithful to his Word and that he is merciful. So if what Paul said is true, that 'where sin did abound, grace did much more abound' (Rom.5:20), does that mean that we should sin so that we get more grace? Heavens to Betsey NO! (Rom.6:1,2 paraphrased) Instead, when I do succumb to temptation, I have discovered the value of coming to God like the tax collector or Publican [not Republican], praying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke18:10 ) So far, He's never failed to meet me at that place, and proves that he's faithful and merciful every time.
I also discovered that when you prove God's faithfulness for yourself in this way, it is impossible for someone else to shake your faith. So when I'm tempted, but don't fall for the temptation, I dance a jig with James (James1:2), saying, I consider it a joy, having been tempted, because I know that God is creating the virtue of patience in me!
Patience is such a valuable commodity for all kinds of success in life. I know that it's worth the price I pay for it, even though, sometimes the price is high. In fact, I can hardly wait to see what can be created and acquired, and won, with this virtue of patience...business success, success in relationships and friendships, spiritual success.... YEAH! What a treasure!
Hoping the best for you...
2006-09-01 23:05:23 · answer #3 · answered by Debra N 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read, meditate and pray about Galatians 5:16 & Romans 12:1-2. Your problem might be that you're living the Christian life in your own strength, and I found out the hard way that's impossible. If you will live by the Spirit, your life will look like Galatians 5:22-23, and you can be sure things between you and God will be just fine.
2006-09-01 22:30:11 · answer #4 · answered by Suzy Q. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since you are trying to lead a good life, Satan is wanting to make you fall short, so he is going to keep at you, until either he succeeds or when he is destroyed.
As you said, since we are still imperfect, then we are still sinners, so will therefore have to keep fighting our own sinful tendencies.
Notice what Paul said: Romans 7:13-26 In part, he said that there were two parts of him fighting each other. When he wished to do good, he noticed that what was bad was present with him.
He said that in his mind was a slave of God, but his flesh was slave to the flesh.
Believing in Jesus is more than just accepting that he is the son of God, and that he died for us. But, it also means working as hard as he did to remain faithful.
He also said that there would be those who would rise after the death of the apostles, that would 'speak twisted things,' so we owe it to him to be sure that we seek the truth of the Bible and not our own truth, and to pray to his father to find that truth and for the strength that Philippians 4:13 promises.
2006-09-01 22:26:28 · answer #5 · answered by grammy_of_twins_plus two 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are only human whether you're a christian or not your temptations and sins will always be apart of your life. Don't forget even though you are saved by the Lord the devil will always try to win you over to him. You're pulled both ways like a tug-a-war of good and bad. Even as Christians it's hard to resist temptations or sinning. Like in Genesis Eve couldn't resist satin's temptation even though God told her not to.
The main thing is you are saved and know the Lord. Just ask Him to forgive you whenever sin or give in to temptation. I usually whisper a word of prayer before I go to bed and that helps me feel Him in my soul and know that He is always there for me. I do ask for forgiveness everyday. It works!
I found a two bible reference below regarding: Why does man sin? And Forgiveness. Check the website attached.
Why Does Man Sin? Introduction: There are multiple answers to our question. First of all, let us consider what sin is. " Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness" (ASV, I Jn. ... 6). All, including Christians, sin but they must not practice sin ... 2: 1), even though all sin in general (Rom ...www.bibletruths.net/Sermons/BTSO156.htm - 5k
Forgiveness, What The Bible Has To Say About It
Forgiveness is a major theme for God and the Bible. But, what exactly does Jesus want? ... Forgiveness. Jesus teaches forgiveness. It is not one ... our God forgiving us for sin, doesn't that mean that we learn ... Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ...www.educational-bible-study.com/forgiveness.html - 5k - Cached - More pages from this site - Save
2006-09-01 23:56:01 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember that even Paul said "the good I would do, I do not, the evil I will not do, I do." Are any of us greater than Paul? Certainly not. As long as we are in these bodies, we will be tempted by sin and fall prey to sin. Until we are translated and made perfect when we enter heaven, we will sin. But we are not in bondage to sin as those are who have not received Jesus Christ as savior. Jesus' blood broke that bondage off of us. He took the punishment for our sins. This doesn't mean we will never sin again, it just means sin has no power over us. "The wages of sin is death"....but not to a born again Christian.
2006-09-01 22:36:58 · answer #7 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dave, Who told you that you weren't perfect?
The first thing that someone should be considering is whether the idea of sin is actually real.
If God is supposed to be perfect how could She have made anything or anyone that wasn't.
Think about it. The idea of sin assumes certain things about God that seem highly unlikely.
All this talk about sin sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me.
First it assumes a God who is too incompetent to organize a simple educational field excursion and figure out a way to get all of the students home safely.
How likely is this that God would not be smart enough to come up with a plan for our salvation that is going to work?
It also assumes that God must have created us imperfect if we are sinners.
One might assume that God would be able to create someone perfect each and every time if he chose to. Assuming God is capable of this, then it follows logically that we must be perfect creations if we are actually creations of this perfect God.
Unless of course you are saying that God chose to create us imperfect.
If God created us imperfect then anything that may go wrong is Gods fault, not ours. This seems a bit illogical at best so I think that we need to assume that What God creates would have to be perfect.
If this is the case and Gods creations are perfect, then nothing that we can do could change what God created perfect and make it imperfect unless we think that we are more powerful than God is.
How likely is it that we the creation could be more powerful than the creator. I personally find this idea somewhat amusing, and a bit absurd.
Religion tells us that God is perfect. If this is true then it could hardly be logically for Gods creations to be considered to be anything less than perfect.
If this is the case then Nothing that we can ever do could possibly change this perfection that God willed, unless we were so powerful that our choices could override and change the will of God.
How likely is that????
Think about it.
The idea of sin is simple nonsense; a lie made up about God by religion.
Love and blessings
don
2006-09-02 08:03:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The devil is the reason why we sin. If he sees that everything else is going good in your life and you are following the rules of the lord, then he gets mad. The devil does anything to stop your trust in the lord. To get through all of it just pray and keep on praying. If you are doing something wrong then don't do it. You know what is wrong and right. Listen to the lord
2006-09-01 22:21:28 · answer #9 · answered by Bug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First thing first, Jesus said in John 14"15 "IF" you love me keep my commandments, we are saved BECAUSE we accept God's plan of salvation, we do NOT keep His commandments IN ORDER to be saved, and we have two natures in us, in Rev 12, we are told about a war in Heaven, in Isa 14:12-15 satans nature is spoken of, but in the same book in chapter 53 we are told about the humble nature of God that is Jesus Christ the second member of the God head, DId you every think that a war can be about ideas rather than pushing and shoveing, satan says the way he wants to go is to exalt himself, but the Way Christ said is He humbled Himself even to death on the cross, and in Rev we are told EVERY knee shall bend and every tough shall confess that Jesus is Christ to the glory of God the Father, you see the way is not up but down God points to, He even cleaned the feet of the one who sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver Judas, Free bible lessons www.itiswritten.com God bless you
2006-09-01 22:25:29 · answer #10 · answered by wgr88 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋