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Over and over I hear christians say that we will always sin, that we cannot avoid it, that it is in our nature, etc.

Yet I also keep hearing that we have free will, that we can make a choice, that we are responsible for the choices we make.

If the latter were true, I could choose to never sin again.

But if the former is true, then sin is -so- tempting as to over-rule free will.

In other words, there is no free-will, we are compelled to sin as we are incapable of ever stopping it.

So which is it"

Can we be perfect and freely choose to never sin?

Or are we programmed to sin and even our free will is incapable of ever stopping it?

2007-07-03 13:43:45 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

14 answers

Sin is a choice Proof Jesus said " Go and sin no more" He wouldn't' ask anyone to do something they couldn't do. Born again means stop sinning. People need to stop hanging Jeusu on the Cross and stop sinning. It is his Commandment to get free of suffering. Or He wouldn't ask

2007-07-03 13:53:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

This sounds exactly like what C.S. Lewis tackles in all of his books. You should read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. He explores these types of questions in depth and has very precise and logic explanations. I personally believe we can do both. It is in our nature to sin; I believe that sometimes we don't see the right choice and this is why we sin;In this instance it is not a choice since we didn't see another option. This can happen when we are not thinking about other people and are trying to fulfill needs to stay alive or other greed. However, when we are able to see a choice to sin or not then these are the circumstances that we need to make the right choice and use the free will that God has given us.

2007-07-03 21:00:06 · answer #2 · answered by berryfremont 2 · 0 0

This is a world of duality. Both good and evil are here. Evil seeks us as it does not respect free will, we must seek good by our own free will, as Divine law respects free will. We do not enjoy sin, it is an illusion of pleasure, a distortion which always results in regret, depression and self hate.

I would say that not all things coined as sin are sin, such as sex and good food and other enjoyments such as a casual drink.

This life is short, but our souls are immortal, and the point of this life is to realize the oppertunity in being incarnate in this innocent inbetween world... the oppertunity I speak of is the forgiveness of sin, and salvation by our savior Christ. We are born sinners, as our immortal souls have alread fallen from grace, and this world is a chance for souls to be won from the pit by the Divine Kingdom.

We need help. Sins can be forgiven. We need help to guide us into the light when we die. Meditate on it, pray for enlightenment on this issue, you will discover the truth.

be blessed.

2007-07-03 20:59:46 · answer #3 · answered by Alright22 3 · 0 0

We are only made perfect in Jesus, and not unto ourselves. We can't be perfect.

As a born again, you can never, ever be happy living in a condition of sin. We will continue to sin because we are carnal and have an ego (i.e., self-interest). But when we love God, we exercise freewill not to stay in that sin even if we fall. We immediately repent and keep going forward.

Not sure if sin is programmed in us, but it is a part of one's nature to please oneself. This is the part that needs to be put under self-control through the Holy Spirit.

2007-07-03 20:54:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I think there is a definite dialectical tension between the perceived sin related guilt and pleasure (enjoyment from an activity). I feel that we often fall into the trap known as curiosity. Then you throw in forgiveness and people think they have a 007 to sin. Its a confusing mess that I am trying to figure.

2007-07-03 22:05:13 · answer #5 · answered by Patrick the Carpathian, CaFO 7 · 0 0

I don't think either representation is the Biblical one.
What the Bible does teach is that men are born with a twisted nature that inclines them towards selfish evil deeds. If there is one word that sums up the attitude of every son of Adam towards God it is rebellion. Isaiah says "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned each to his own way."
However the teaching of the New Testament is that Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "Last Adam", bore this very nature in Himself when he died on the cross. This is why He likens Himself to the serpent on a pole in John 3:14 (see Numbers 21:1-9 for the original reference)
When Jesus died, in God's eyes, the whole race of Adam died with Him. The old rebellious nature was put to death in Jesus. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He brought forth a new nature, the nature of the resurrected, which is free from perverse inclinations of the Adamic nature, but instead says like the Son of God "I delight to do Thy will O My God, Thy law is within My heart" (Psalm 40:8). In fact the new nature is so different that John actually states this: "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he CAN NOT SIN, because he is born of God." (I John 3:9)
It is this very nature one receives when he is born again.
John is not here saying there is an individual who can not sin; but that the nature that resides in him can not sin, because it is a divine nature.
The reality remains that man has a free will and can yield to the new nature that is received through regeneration (being born again), in which case his actions will always be morally acceptable before God. Or, he can be ignorant of this truth and fail to walk in it, or he can yield to the baser nature of Adam, which resides in him when he is not empowered by the spirit. (the spirit of the new man as indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit.)
Undoubtly many saints of God cultivated the art of learning to walk in the spirit to a high degree, and led relatively sinless lives. Seldom does this happen overnight, but if no progress is being made in the believer's life in this direction, he has little understanding or else little regard for what the will of God is in his life. This is the process of sanctification, and it is the exhortation of the New Testament that every believer should be headed in this direction.

2007-07-03 21:18:02 · answer #6 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0 0

No. It is a choice. I do not enjoy all the sins, some are more enjoyable, until it hits me that it is a sin and I need to ask forgiveness.

2007-07-03 20:48:28 · answer #7 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 0 0

You're question points out the difference between trying to serve God by the letter of the Law that was given to show you that you are dead in sin, or being able to serve God by the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which cleanses you from sin by the blood of Jesus to walk in newness of life, not using your liberty for an occasion to the flesh.

2007-07-03 21:12:19 · answer #8 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0 0

Religion came up with the concept of "sin" because they were afraid that someone, somewhere, might be having a good time or feeling good about themselves and not thinking about gods.
There are things that are wrong, because they hurt other people or cause harm to society. That's why we have laws. "Sins" are usually things which, as you point out, give pleasure or divert attention from religious observances. The men who try to control our behaviors through "faith" can't abide that.

2007-07-03 20:53:24 · answer #9 · answered by link955 7 · 0 1

I think we can never be perfect, and some confuse making mistakes with sinning.
One can be sin-free but, let's say, never use time wisely.
Or work too much.

2007-07-03 20:47:51 · answer #10 · answered by pamiekins 4 · 0 1

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