Why do we do the things we do?

[chihuahua14]

Have you ever done something wrong/sinful and wonder why you did that? You can't understand why you did something. What is the Christian and biblical answer to this?

 

[Charlie24]

Have you ever done something wrong/sinful and wonder why you did that? You can't understand why you did something. What is the Christian and biblical answer to this?

The Apostle Paul had something to say about that in Rom. 7.

He said that he found a Law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.

He had already addressed the "The sin nature" in Rom. 5,6.

He concludes that with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the Law of sin.

The sin nature is always present and if you turn to the flesh (self-effort) the result will be sin.

 

[chihuahua14]

Thanks that is very informative. I just don't understand why I have done some of the things I have done. I guess it is like you said the sin nature and the flesh and also we are deceived and also we do not know any better about some things. When you know better you do better. And also maybe some of the circumstances we have to live with in this evil world can cause us to be more sinful but I am not too sure about that last statement what do you think?

 

[Charlie24]

Thanks that is very informative. I just don't understand why I have done some of the things I have done. I guess it is like you said the sin nature and the flesh and also we are deceived and also we do not know any better about some things. When you know better you do better. And also maybe some of the circumstances we have to live with in this evil world can cause us to be more sinful but I am not too sure about that last statement what do you think?

I don't pretend to understand the human nature. Sometimes we sin off impulse, sometimes we get caught up in a situation and just don't take it to God, and sometimes we know beforehand what we are about to do is wrong according to the Word of God, and do it anyway.

There is one thing I do know, if we are not aware that we have this sin nature we will have a very difficult time of overcoming sin in our lives.

The key, I think, is in what Paul said in Rom. 6:16.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

We have no chance of obeying righteousness if we don't have the proper relationship with Christ. That means we must take time to earnestly read the Scripture for it's truths, we must find time alone in prayer. We must fill our heads and hearts with God's Words.

That is the only chance we have of being a work in progress rather than a failure and a slave to sin. The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the will to be a work in progress, we must put forth the effort.

 

[chihuahua14]

that helps a lot thanks

 

[Rhema]

What is the Christian and biblical answer to this?

(Romans 7:15-25 NRSV)

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, (I agree that the law is good. But) in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.​

Let me know if that makes sense.
Rhema

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Have you ever done something wrong/sinful and wonder why you did that? You can't understand why you did something. What is the Christian and biblical answer to this?

It's all in James 1.

 

[chihuahua14]

@Rhema @Bob Carabbio Thank you both for your help.

 

[KingJ]

Have you ever done something wrong/sinful and wonder why you did that? You can't understand why you did something. What is the Christian and biblical answer to this?

We are created in a 'weak' flesh that is prone to sinning Matt 26:41.

Scripture teaches us that we all 'know' evil Gen 3:22, are born in an environment of sin Psalm 51:5 and are all guilty of sin 1 John 1:8. We are able to sin daily as we live in an environment that has true free will. God has given us time and space to choose to either do what is good or what is evil. It is possible to be a Christian and still 'battle' with sin. As we read Paul state in Rom 7:15.

Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us

What is important to grasp is the type of sin we are battling with. Paul used to murder Christians. After his conversion he no longer murdered, but yet still stated what he did in Rom 7:15 as he battled with other 'lessor' sins.

The type of sin we commit points to our love of evil and how far we are from being sold out to a love of what is evil.

So, always judge yourself in fear and trembling before a holy God. You can repent of all lessor sins, but for the bigger sins, 'true repentance' will encompass 'making things right'. IE If you stole, return it.

Phil 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Cor 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

 

[Foghorn]

Have you ever done something wrong/sinful and wonder why you did that? You can't understand why you did something. What is the Christian and biblical answer to this?

it is the law of sin we all have in us until we die. Read Romans 7.

 

[Foghorn]

I don't pretend to understand the human nature. Sometimes we sin off impulse, sometimes we get caught up in a situation and just don't take it to God, and sometimes we know beforehand what we are about to do is wrong according to the Word of God, and do it anyway.

There is one thing I do know, if we are not aware that we have this sin nature we will have a very difficult time of overcoming sin in our lives.

The key, I think, is in what Paul said in Rom. 6:16.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

We have no chance of obeying righteousness if we don't have the proper relationship with Christ. That means we must take time to earnestly read the Scripture for it's truths, we must find time alone in prayer. We must fill our heads and hearts with God's Words.

That is the only chance we have of being a work in progress rather than a failure and a slave to sin. The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the will to be a work in progress, we must put forth the effort.

I don't believe there is anyone alive who understands the sinfulness of sin.