GZUSthug

QUESTION ABOUT SIN

Posted on 05/12/09, 11:33 pm

IF JESUS DIED FOR 'ALL' SIN TO BE FORGIVEN, AND IF ONE ACCEPTED THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION THROUGH BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST, THEN WHY IS SIN STILL PREACHED AGAINST SINCE IT'S ALL BEEN FORGIVEN ANYWAY THROUGH CHRIST'S DEATH, BARRIEL, AND RESURRECTION? ISN'T THAT LIKE TRYING TO PAY FOR A MEAL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR? IF IT HAS ALL BEEN FORGIVEN ANYWAY THROUGH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHAT'S THE POINT OF TELLING CHRISTIANS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T SIN, OR LOOK DOWN AT THEM BECAUSE THEY DO?

• Reply #1 05/14/09  5:19am
  
  Bijou
  Just because we are Christians and are forgiven by Christ when we got saved, does not mean you no longer fall into temptation to sin. You are still human, and have the tendencies to fall to temptation just as Christ did in the desert when he spent 40 days and 40 nights, and was tempted by Satan himself during that time. The difference is Christ is GOD, and was able to resist the devil and did not fall into the temptation to sin, we are human and still have that tendency in our nature to commit sin. As far as looking down at other Christians when they fall to temptation and sin, I would just pray for those who do that to you or anyone. Forgive them because they lack wisdom.
• Reply #2 05/14/09  5:30am
  
  Bijou
  Also, that is why we must strive daily to be more and more Christ-like in our lives, not just sometimes, but strive to be like HIM all of the time.
  Here is some great scripture verses that support my comments:
  
  Ephesians 6:11 - 18:
  
  11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
  
  12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
  
  13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
  
  14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
  
  15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
  
  16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
  
  17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
  
  18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  
  Our armour of GOD is the word of God. This is why it is so important to know the bible through and through, to study it word for word every single day because God's word is our defense against the attacks from the enemy, the devil himself who comes to deceive, steal, kill, and destroy the believer in Christ. God bless & God speed!
  
• Reply #3 05/14/09  8:52am
  
  moorea944
  good point . Believing is just the start, then baptism and then living a life in Christ.
  
  If believing was all you had to do to be saved, that would be too easy. People would still go out and do the things that they've always done thru life still thinking they are saved.
  
  Christ says, Be baptised and be saved. You cannot be saved if you dont get baptised.
  
  Paul's letters are wonderful on how we should live our lives too.
• Reply #4 05/14/09  3:54pm
  
  Bijou
  I completey agree with you moorea944, the importance of baptism is a symbolic covenant between you and God. It is also when you publicly announce to your congregation in your church that your sins have been symbolically washed away by Christ and the Holy Spirit through baptism, and to be held accountable of your life with the true testament of your faith through baptism.
  
  Here's a great online reference on the purpose of baptism: http://christianity.about.com/od/f...
  
  The Purpose of Baptism:
  Water Baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead � Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
  
  �Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.� Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
  
  
  Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
  �When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.� Colossians 2:11-12 (NLT)
  
  �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 (NIV)
  
  
  Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer. It should be preceded by repentance, which simply means �change.� It is turning from our sin and selfishness to serve the Lord. It means placing our pride, our past and all of our possessions before the Lord. It is giving the control of our lives over to Him.
  "Peter replied, 'Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--about three thousand in all.� Acts 2:38, 41 (NLT)
  
  
  Water Baptism is a public testimony - the outward confession of an inward experience. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord.
  
  Water Baptism is a picture representing profound spiritual truth:
  Death - �I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.� Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
  
  Resurrection - �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. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.� Romans 6:4-5 (NIV)
  
  �He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." Romans 6:10-13 (NLT)
  
  Cleansing - �And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also � not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.� I Peter 3:21 (NIV)
  
  �But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.� I Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)
  
  
• Reply #5 05/14/09  6:27pm
  
  shamgaranath
  Salvation is freedom FROM sin. I think we spend a lot more time on the "thou shalt nots" and not on putting on the full armor and or walking in the Spirit.
• Reply #6 05/15/09  2:35am
  
  Bijou
  Good point, Shamgaranath! The key word in your point is "FREEDOM" from Sin, not set free from sin. Legalism, religiosity, or doctrine is not going to help any Christian from sinning. The only thing that will in putting on the full armour of God, and walking in the Holy Spirit of God.
  Absolutely right about that! Amen.
• Reply #7 05/20/09  10:25am
  
  FreeGraceBe...
  Sin is still preached against because it has no place in the life of a believer. The fact that we have been forgiven of all trespasses and sins ought to be the greatest motivation to live a life that is holy. Jesus according to 1st Corinthians 1:30 has become our righteousness, holiness and redemption. We are righteous because we are now robed in the righteousness of Christ and it makes no sense to live a life that contradicts who we truly are in Christ.
  
  Please read the following illustration entirely as I will do my best to explain our position on this. If a prostitute were to be told by the king of the land, "I have legalized prostitution and all of your past prostitution charges have been dropped and all your files shredded" then do you have a right to tell her that based on the legalization of prostitution that she should no longer practice prostitution? No. Do you think that there will be any motivation on her part to stop being a prostitute? No. Now let's pretend that the king did not stop with those words but when on to say, "I love you and want you to be my queen. All that I have is yours." Now would it be safe to say that she has all the reasons to stop being a prostitute? Yes, unless she is an idiot. Would you seem justified to say to her if she were to continue in prostitution "Hey, you have been made queen so why in the world would you give your body over to prostitution?" Yes, of course you would. Your words should hopefully open her eyes to the stupidity and inconsistency of her lifestyle with who she now is positionally.
  
  The same is true with believers today. Not only have we been forgiven but we have been made heirs and children of promise. God has removed the filthy rags we had and replaced it with the robe of everlasting righteousness. Why would we presume on grace? Believers have been blessed with all spiritual blessings, redeemed, loved, accepted, forgiven, adopted, sealed, indwelt, made a child of light and so on, so does telling a believer not to sin make sense? Absolutely, because it is inconsistent with who we are in Christ.
  
  The apostle Paul everywhere argued the inconsistency of how people were living and would point them to who they are in Christ. In 1st Corinthians 6, believers were suing other believers and Paul felt the need to remind them that they one day would judge angels. So if God could trust them with big matters then they should handle the small ones amongst themselves. Paul said also in 1st Cor. 6 that it makes no sense for a person that has been joined to Christ to then join themselves to a harlot. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:8 that we "were darkness" but now we are "light in the Lord." Paul then ends that verse by saying for us to "walk as children of light." What is now true of us should be practiced in our daily lives as it only makes sense. Just like the queen should live up to her name then so we should live up to who we are now in Christ Jesus.
  
  I hope that answers your question Gzus.
  
  p.s. I loved your comments Shamgaranath, "Salvation is freedom FROM sin. I think we spend a lot more time on the "thou shalt nots" and not on putting on the full armor and or walking in the Spirit. "
• Reply #8 05/21/09  12:09pm
  
  inluvwjesus
  1 Corinthians is a great book to get deeper understanding in this area since it discusses this very issue. But consider the words of Jesus, who is God "When Jesus heard it, He said to them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." ~Mark 2:17
  
  Repentance from what? From sin. Why? Because the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). In fact, read Romans 6 the whole chapter since 6:23 is the end point. Sin is pleasurable for a season (Heb. 11:25), but as James points out in chapter 1 "12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, �I am tempted by God�; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. "
  
  Sin has a way of keeping us from God, no man can serve two masters, we must be single-minded toward the LORD, and this because the love of Christ constrains us, is it not?
  
  I consider what Paul said in Ephesians 2:3 "Among whom also we all had our manner of living in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. "
  
  Same Paul said to the church at Galatia "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. "
  
  Also to Roman church Romans 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. "
  
  Hope this helps.
• Reply #9 09/14/09  10:32pm
  
  rogerledwards
  Eternity! God does not live by time. There is no timeline with God. When Christ died on the cross shedding His blood to pay for the sins of all mankind; past, present, and future the slate was wiped clean for who? John 3:16 says the world. So, before I was ever born my sins were already forgiven. Hitler's sins were paid for before he was born. But the difference is Christians have appropriated from Jesus the forgivness of our sins personally. When God accepted Jesus sacrifice as payment for the sins of all who would ever live; when did he do it. In time or in eternity. Of course eternity. Once for all.
• Reply #10 09/14/09  10:54pm
  
  moorea944
  When Jesus died on the cross, our sins werent forgiven in the past, present and future, he died so our sins "could" be forgiven. You have to remember that we can still sin. We still need to be baptised so our sins "can" be forgiven.
  
  These verses tell us that when we get baptised, our sins are forgiven. Remember that if we dont get baptised, we cant enter in to the Kingdom when Christ comes back.
  
  ACTS 3 V 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
  
  v 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.�
  
  JOHN 3 V 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
  
  If all of our sins are forgiven like you say, past, present and future, what is the point of judgement day then??? You say before you were born, your sins were all ready forgiven? So does that mean we cant sin?
  
  Jesus commands us to be baptised so our sins "can be" forgiven. ROM 6 V 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
  4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
  5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection
  
  This is something that we must understand.

We all know how Jesus' blood has cleansed us, now we continue to be blessed by His actions when our sins were erased by His blood. Thank you Jesus!