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Why are Christians indulging in sin rather than overcoming?

Hobie

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It seems that Christians are giving up at overcoming, they are drifting into evil addictions that destroy their connection with, and separate them from God. Rather than confess their sin they are tending to justify it in one way or another and become even more under its spell. We have this from Gods Word..
Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Yet, Christians seem to be digging in deeper into sin and iniquity and entrenching themselves even further, so what is happening. Well, the problem is our sinful, or carnal, nature, the propensity to sin which we has come down from Adam. Propensity to sin is a proneness or tendency to sin which every human being possesses. It is this nature that leads us to sin against God as scripture tells us
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Now many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the work of salvation, which is repentance. Many think that repentance is a work the sinner must do for himself in order that he may come to Christ and obtain grace. But while it is true that repentance must precede forgiveness, for it is only the broken and contrite heart that is acceptable to God, yet the sinner cannot bring himself to repentance, or prepare himself to come to Christ. The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Holy Spirit and as man responds to it, he advances toward Christ in order that he may repent. Peter clearly presented the fact that repentance is the gift of God through Christ in Acts 5:31.
Acts 5:31
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification, and it cannot be experienced except as it is given by Christ. So how do we come to repentance, the sinner must come to Jesus, just as he is, and believe that the word of Christ is true, and, believing the promise, he must pray and ask, that he may receive the gift. When sincere desire prompts men to pray, they will not pray in vain. The Lord will fulfill His word, and will give the Holy Spirit to lead to repentance and drawn to God and in faith, and not only believe in but obey the precepts of the law.
 
Why are Christians indulging in sin rather than overcoming?
I think the word "indulging" is misplaced. I don't indulge in sin and I do not think most Christians indulge, either. The word "indulge" means "to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of" sin. Christians do sin, but most do not indulge.

So, if you are willing, I will amend the question to ask, "Why are Christians still sinning instead of overcoming all their sins?" and one of the most salient answers provided by scripture is in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-54
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.... Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality....


On this side of the grave we remain corruptible (able to sin) but on the other side of resurrection we will be incorruptible.
 
I think the word "indulging" is misplaced. I don't indulge in sin and I do not think most Christians indulge, either. The word "indulge" means "to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of" sin. Christians do sin, but most do not indulge.

So, if you are willing, I will amend the question to ask, "Why are Christians still sinning instead of overcoming all their sins?" and one of the most salient answers provided by scripture is in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-54
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.... Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality....


On this side of the grave we remain corruptible (able to sin) but on the other side of resurrection we will be incorruptible.
Well, if you look at the percentage committing adultery, taking things which don't belong to them, and in the bondage of sin and addicted to it, and wanting more, then you have to ask yourself, what would call it.
 
Well, if you look at the percentage committing adultery, taking things which don't belong to them, and in the bondage of sin and addicted to it, and wanting more, then you have to ask yourself, what would call it.
The repentance that comes from Salvation is a one time event. In sanctification we repent until we go to heaven, not to be used as an excuse to sin. Repentance during sanctification is not some magical process that frees us from sin: we have to use self control and effort to refrain from sinning hereon out. The Holy Spirit reminds us and convicts us of sin but we are the ones that have to actively change our behaviours.
 
It seems that Christians are giving up at overcoming, they are drifting into evil addictions that destroy their connection with, and separate them from God. Rather than confess their sin they are tending to justify it in one way or another and become even more under its spell.
It seems? Do you know this as a fact?
 
Well, if you look at the percentage committing adultery, taking things which don't belong to them, and in the bondage of sin and addicted to it, and wanting more, then you have to ask yourself, what would call it.
Sinners sin. We should not be surprised they do so. Christians should be better at not-sinning, but none will be incorruptible this side of resurrection.
 
The repentance that comes from Salvation is a one time event. In sanctification we repent until we go to heaven, not to be used as an excuse to sin. Repentance during sanctification is not some magical process that frees us from sin: we have to use self control and effort to refrain from sinning hereon out. The Holy Spirit reminds us and convicts us of sin but we are the ones that have to actively change our behaviours.
So we do it ourselves through our own 'effort', or does God gives us the strength and power to overcome?
 
Because we fail to understand:
1. The absolute holiness and purity of Almighty God.
2. How hideous, vile and disgusting just one sin is.
3. The incredible love and mercy that Jesus displayed in suffering such a horrific death.
 
So we do it ourselves through our own 'effort', or does God gives us the strength and power to overcome?
My personal belief is that the Holy Spirit convicts of of sin by reminding us of God's holiness and through Bible verses that "pop" into the mind at specific times when we feel tempted to sin but that it is our own willpower that we have to use to stop ourselves from caving in to the sin. Also, by regularly reading scripture and by prayer, we have a better chance of refraining from sinning.
 

Why are Christians indulging in sin rather than overcoming?​


Because it's fun???
 
Now many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the work of salvation, which is repentance.
Nope - The FIRST STEP in becoming Born Again is to be CONVICTED OF YOUR SIN by the Holy Spirit, which, being the hearing of God's WORD TO YOU (Rom 10:17), is also the source of saving FAITH if you surrender and REPENT.
 
Nope - The FIRST STEP in becoming Born Again is to be CONVICTED OF YOUR SIN by the Holy Spirit, which, being the hearing of God's WORD TO YOU (Rom 10:17), is also the source of saving FAITH if you surrender and REPENT.
The Bible says God GRANTS repentance. In other words, it is not something a person does but something God does to a person. After you are saved if you sin you then repent to stay in touch with God.
 
The Bible says God GRANTS repentance. In other words, it is not something a person does but something God does to a person. After you are saved if you sin you then repent to stay in touch with God.
Spoken in true Calvinistic fashion: if you're "Elect", then you'll become (or are already) saved, and you WILL persevere until you die physically. And you have no choice or say in the matter. TULIP proves it.
 
Spoken in true Calvinistic fashion: if you're "Elect", then you'll become (or are already) saved, and you WILL persevere until you die physically. And you have no choice or say in the matter. TULIP proves it.
I've noticed that you have said many times before that you don't know much about theology which is very strange in light of this post of yours, since you are now saying that God granting repentance is Calvinism. But in reality it isn't Calvinism, it is what the Bible actually says. So you are obviously not correct.
 
I've noticed that you have said many times before that you don't know much about theology which is very strange in light of this post of yours, since you are now saying that God granting repentance is Calvinism.
FALSE ACCUSATION. God convicting of SIN is Bible. If Calvinists agree, then good for them.

What I SAID was: I'm not knowledgeable about ACADEMIC Calvinism, ACADEMIC Arminianism, or ACADEMIC anything else. I'm an engineer, by trade and I know the Bible, and what it says pretty well. I believe that what I write runs in agreement to what the Bible says, and IF THAT runs parallel to what this or that "Systematic", or "denominational theology" teaches, that's fine.

Bottom line - Jesus said that NOBODY can come to HIM unless they're DRAWN TO HIM by Father God (John 6:44). To the degree that "Calvinists" (or any other "ists") agree with that, then they're being accurate.

No Conviction of SIN = No born again. Bringing folks to God is the Holy Spirit's job John 16:8.

OUR job is "bearing witness of the truth", and it's the Holy Spirit's job to PROVE IT to them.

The "Calvinist difference" is THAT NOBODY HAS ANY CHOICE ABOUT ANYTHING. It was determined before creation whether you were "Elect" or not. IF you're Elect, then you're included in the Atonement, and YOU WILL be Born Again, and YOU WILL persevere.

To the Calvinist, If you're NOT "Elect", then you're nothing but Firewood, God will NEVER "Convict you of SIN", and you will NEVER have the possibility of becoming Born Again. THAT rejection was determined before Creation, and it's impossible for it to be anything else. Jesus didn't die for you, and you're not included in the Atonement.
 
The "Calvinist difference" is THAT NOBODY HAS ANY CHOICE ABOUT ANYTHING. It was determined before creation whether you were "Elect" or not. IF you're Elect, then you're included in the Atonement, and YOU WILL be Born Again, and YOU WILL persevere.
That may be your version of the "Calvinist difference", but Calvinists hold that man does have free choice. Free to choose what ever he wants. Problem is that he wants only what his fallen nature desires, and is a slave to those lusts.
 
That may be your version of the "Calvinist difference", but Calvinists hold that man does have free choice. Free to choose what ever he wants. Problem is that he wants only what his fallen nature desires, and is a slave to those lusts.
It takes an exceedingly sharp hermeneutical broadaxe to split a hair that fine.

In practical terms, the "Elect" Calvinist HAS NO CHOICE, particularly since God's "Grace" is irresistable ("I").

"The Non-Elect" is hell-bound, and has no choice in that matter either.
 
FALSE ACCUSATION. God convicting of SIN is Bible. If Calvinists agree, then good for them.

What I SAID was: I'm not knowledgeable about ACADEMIC Calvinism, ACADEMIC Arminianism, or ACADEMIC anything else. I'm an engineer, by trade and I know the Bible, and what it says pretty well. I believe that what I write runs in agreement to what the Bible says, and IF THAT runs parallel to what this or that "Systematic", or "denominational theology" teaches, that's fine.

Bottom line - Jesus said that NOBODY can come to HIM unless they're DRAWN TO HIM by Father God (John 6:44). To the degree that "Calvinists" (or any other "ists") agree with that, then they're being accurate.

No Conviction of SIN = No born again. Bringing folks to God is the Holy Spirit's job John 16:8.

OUR job is "bearing witness of the truth", and it's the Holy Spirit's job to PROVE IT to them.

The "Calvinist difference" is THAT NOBODY HAS ANY CHOICE ABOUT ANYTHING. It was determined before creation whether you were "Elect" or not. IF you're Elect, then you're included in the Atonement, and YOU WILL be Born Again, and YOU WILL persevere.

To the Calvinist, If you're NOT "Elect", then you're nothing but Firewood, God will NEVER "Convict you of SIN", and you will NEVER have the possibility of becoming Born Again. THAT rejection was determined before Creation, and it's impossible for it to be anything else. Jesus didn't die for you, and you're not included in the Atonement.
You said before that God granting repentance was "Calvinism". I pointed out it was the Bible. You basically erected a strawman. Now you are backtracking and talking about sin for some reason.
 
You said before that God granting repentance was "Calvinism". I pointed out it was the Bible. You basically erected a strawman. Now you are backtracking and talking about sin for some reason.
Nope I didn't. Calvinism AGREES with that, of course. but that doesn't make it "Calvinism", and I "back pedaled" nothing. "Calvinists" always tell me I "don't understand" their paradigm. And at the Academic level, I agree. All I know is what "TULIP" states, and Calvinists tell me that I'm not "Accurate" about that either. But since I really don't care, that's O.K.
 
Nope I didn't. Calvinism AGREES with that, of course. but that doesn't make it "Calvinism", and I "back pedaled" nothing. "Calvinists" always tell me I "don't understand" their paradigm. And at the Academic level, I agree. All I know is what "TULIP" states, and Calvinists tell me that I'm not "Accurate" about that either. But since I really don't care, that's O.K.
If TULIP is not understood (academically or not) then you do not know what TULIP states, you've refuted yourself, and you've no business telling anyone anything on the subject until a correct understanding is garnered.
 
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