Pre-meditated sin

[Sue D.]

A further comment -- the world of miracles. Definitely real. God is still alive and performing them.

 

[Sue D.]

Have I ever sinned since I became a Christian.. yes.
Has my wife ever sinned after being a Christian? surely.

There is a secular song by a country western group - It's called "Close enough to perfect". I would say it describes how I see my wife.
I saw a bumper sticker years ago - it said "Your spouse is the person who sees you, the way you think you still look". A lot of truth in that.
My wife may not be perfect, but she's as close to a Proverbs 31 woman as I have ever seen.
I am a very blessed man. I get a lot of compliments about my wife. The ways she looks, sure. But more so the example she sets.

Again, I have never claimed to be sinless and perfect.
But I can tell you, neither of us walk in willful sin. Neither of us do those "pet sins" that used to control us. You can believe this or not... but we truly truly have overcome those things that used to make us slaves to sin.
There is a particular sin (actually more than one) that I used to do almost everyday. Even after I was a Christian I did it for years. God told me I couldn't keep doing it.
I took a lot of time, prayers, effort, tears, and a few failures. But I can stand here and tell you with God as my witness, I haven't done those particular sins in almost 2 decades.
We can overcome.

Sounds like you do have a good marriage. ONe of the benefits Of a Godly marriage is that you're working together -- sort of an accountability partner. Decision-making partner.

 

[Born Again 2004]

I think the secret here is realizing we can't do it on our own. It's only through Jesus and the cross.
Paul said he didn't want to boast in himself, but he was perfectly willing to boast in the cross.

If we are able to reach that state, we wouldn't boast in ourselves, we would boast in the cross.
And if we never do stop sinning... what can we boast in the cross about?

If we are to boast "In The Cross" I think it would be that there is no penalty of Spiritual Death for sin..
NO that doesn't mean that we can sin "Willy Nilly"...but what it does mean is Hebrews 10:26...I don't think that true believers go on deliberately sinning! But, as long as we are human, and God being perfect as He is, we are not perfect and sin in ways we don't even see. That is the story of the Cross; that is why Jesus died and became the last and ultimate sacrifice, so we could enter the Kingdom, covered by His Righteousness!

 

[Dave M]

sin in ways we don't even see.

I would agree with this, unintentional sin is even spoken of in the OT. but this thread is not about unintentional sin its about intentional sinning. and when we become born again I believe we are in a never ending maturing process, (Paul says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling) and the more we mature, the greater the victory is over the flesh. Problem comes in when we say we are walking with Christ and are still babes in the shallow end of the pool after 20 years, while we should of been lifeguards , if you know what I mean.

 

[Sue D.]

@Dave M -- what does spiritual maturing look like? It's something we can see in our own lives? How about the lives of others. Believers are to be growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. That would probably include getting together with other born again believers and exchanging thoughts we've gotten from Scripture?!

 

[Born Again 2004]

I would agree with this, unintentional sin is even spoken of in the OT. but this thread is not about unintentional sin its about intentional sinning. and when we become born again I believe we are in a never ending maturing process, (Paul says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling) and the more we mature, the greater the victory is over the flesh. Problem comes in when we say we are walking with Christ and are still babes in the shallow end of the pool after 20 years, while we should of been lifeguards , if you know what I mean.

If you are still "intentionlly " sinning you are not a Born Again Christian!

 

[B-A-C]

what does spiritual maturing look like?

That is probably for another thread... but here is an idea.

1Jn 2:12; I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.
1Jn 2:13; I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
1Jn 2:14; I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Little children. Their sins are forgiven, and they know the Father.
Young men. They have overcome the evil one (at least once or twice), they are strong, and the word of God abides in them.
Fathers. They have known Him from the beginning. This infers a long period of time. Fathers are Christians who have proven themselves over a long period of time.

Then there is fruit.
Gal 5:22; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23; gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

How good are we being kind, patient, having joy, being gentle, and loving one another.
The Bible says some trees refuse to bear fruit. It says some "start" to bear fruit, but it never fully matures. But it also says others bear 100 fold.
I think these are two passages we can look at to determine our maturity.

 

[Dave M]

If you are still "intentionlly " sinning you are not a Born Again Christian!

that was the basis of this whole this thread !!!

seems we all agree

 

[Dave M]

what does spiritual maturing look like?

@Sue D. I think we agree it is the process of a born again person becoming more holly, righteous, growing in producing fruit, growing in the word. Growing as a follower of Christ, we become more like Christ. I also think this is what Sanctification as it is a life long process

 

[Sue D.]

@Dave M -- yes , we do agree on that.

 

[Born Again 2004]

that was the basis of this whole this thread !!!

seems we all agree

Glad we all got that settled! Lol!

 

[Born Again 2004]

That is probably for another thread... but here is an idea.

1Jn 2:12; I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.
1Jn 2:13; I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
1Jn 2:14; I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Little children. Their sins are forgiven, and they know the Father.
Young men. They have overcome the evil one (at least once or twice), they are strong, and the word of God abides in them.
Fathers. They have known Him from the beginning. This infers a long period of time. Fathers are Christians who have proven themselves over a long period of time.

Then there is fruit.
Gal 5:22; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23; gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

How good are we being kind, patient, having joy, being gentle, and loving one another.
The Bible says some trees refuse to bear fruit. It says some "start" to bear fruit, but it never fully matures. But it also says others bear 100 fold.
I think these are two passages we can look at to determine our maturity.

We are not very good at these things when you consider our mentor does them perfectly! But that isn't the point is it? ..
It is not how good are we , it's that we TRY to follow in the foot steps of Jesus, who is perfect at it. With Non-Christians, even though they may do ( what man calls) some good things, could care less about being perfect and Jesus as an example! These things considered by man ,as being good, are not fruits and they count as nothing. When Christians do " good things" they consider that from above and give God all the credit!

 

[Born Again 2004]

I think in James 2:10, God addresses this quite well. I agree about maturity but according to this verse, age really doesn't matter....we all fall short of perfection and need Jesus to see us through, Amen!

 

[B-A-C]

I think in James 2:10, God addresses this quite well. I agree about maturity but according to this verse, age really doesn't matter....we all fall short of perfection and need Jesus to see us through, Amen!

And yet the Bible says some people were perfect and blameless. Even in the old testament without the Holy Spirit.
What James 2 is saying is... no matter how small we think the sin is, it's the same as breaking all the sins. It's not saying you might as well go ahead and sin, in fact it's just the opposite.
It's saying there are no small, "grey" sins. Sin is sin, it's black and white. So don't do any sins.

James 2:12; So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
James 2:13; For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

If we love everyone equally, that's great. If we show mercy to others, there will be mercy for us.
But we show favoritism and partiality, judgment will be merciless for us.

 

[Born Again 2004]

And yet the Bible says some people were perfect and blameless. Even in the old testament without the Holy Spirit.
What James 2 is saying is... no matter how small we think the sin is, it's the same as breaking all the sins. It's not saying you might as well go ahead and sin, in fact it's just the opposite.
It's saying there are no small, "grey" sins. Sin is sin, it's black and white. So don't do any sins.

James 2:12; So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
James 2:13; For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

If we love everyone equally, that's great. If we show mercy to others, there will be mercy for us.
But we show favoritism and partiality, judgment will be merciless for us.

So, we live under the New Covenant now and James is as revelant now as I t was under the Old Covenant. In the ancient days, there were a many of a person who thought they were perfect and justified but God says different, no one is perfect but Him!

 

[Born Again 2004]

And yet the Bible says some people were perfect and blameless. Even in the old testament without the Holy Spirit.
What James 2 is saying is... no matter how small we think the sin is, it's the same as breaking all the sins. It's not saying you might as well go ahead and sin, in fact it's just the opposite.
It's saying there are no small, "grey" sins. Sin is sin, it's black and white. So don't do any sins.

James 2:12; So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
James 2:13; For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

If we love everyone equally, that's great. If we show mercy to others, there will be mercy for us.
But we show favoritism and partiality, judgment will be merciless for us.

So how have you been doing with the not signing thing?

 

[B-A-C]

So how have you been doing with the not signing thing?

For the pre-meditated, habitual sins? Great actually. For the stumbling, I still need to work on it.

 

[Born Again 2004]

For the pre-meditated, habitual sins? Great actually. For the stumbling, I still need to work on it.

Don't we all!!!...?