In a couple places on a couple blogs I have mentioned not only am I a sinner but that I sin everyday and am going to sin some more. Of course I don't believe I presented it exactly like I'm saying it here but that seems to be exactly how it has been taken.
I have decided to say what I mean when I express that I am indeed a sinner that sins often.
You have sinned today!
No? Carefull. Your answer could be a sin.
I bet you have sinned. I almost know you have. Why do I say this? Well, if it were possible for you to live one day sin free it would be possible for you live everyday sin free. I don't think that is possible. If you disagree then I guess you can walk on water too? Let's check it out.
I bet I can eliminate most everybody with one question. Did you drive today? Think it through here. Hmmmm.....Well, maybe a couple questions then. Did you do the speed limit all the time, everywhere? Did you come to a complete stop at that stop sign? Did you follow the legal distance from the car in front of you? Did you use your blinkers?
Every person should obey the government in power (Romans 13:1). Are you sure you followed every single driving rule? If you did then I know exactly what your sin is. It's in your mind.
I bet your pretty tired of all those people tail gating you aren't you? Tired of them flying by. Tired of the endless angry looks. I bet you have some choice words you have at least thought about for that guy that just wouldn't get off your butt and then flew by with nasty looks.
If your really obeying every law then your most likely holding up traffic which in itself is against the law. Did you pull over to let that chain of cars go by?
So what's my point? My point is I'm a sinner! Your a sinner! Were all a bunch of sinners! The example given was just driving down the road. Need I go into surfing around the internet? Eyes linger a little too long on some sexy thing? What about us all writing in our blogs. Ever get a little prideful? Never? How about jealous? Not even a little? Some blogs are pretty popular. Wouldn't you like yours to be too?
"Well Michael, I sat at home yesterday and read my bible all day long. I didn't turn the TV on. I didn't see anyone. I prayed and meditated on God's Word all day! Certainly I didn't sin."
Are you sure? Are you proud you did that? You never once strayed in thought? Was it a work or was it out of love? Was there something you were avoiding? God would rather have you go help somebody than hide in your house under the pretense of studying.
For those of us who have a past of mass sin it's even tougher I think. Memories come out of nowhere. Did you linger on it? Did you wish you could go back there? Did you miss it? Carefull, your entering into a no mans land. Sin follows closely on those memories.
Were all a bunch of sinners! Everyday! All the time! You are going to sin again. You might just have. You might have just read this line and told a lie. Think about it. You'll get it.
15 comments:
We are all a bunch of sinners. But sin should not be defined as simply actions.
The primary Greek word rendered "sin" is "hamartia". This word was originally an archery term, literally being the degree by which an archer "missed the mark" or fell short of the target. The essential idea being conveyed by the use of this word, since a Christian's aim is to be Christlike and righteous, is that of "missing holiness"; thus "hamartia" means to sin; to depart from God's standard of holiness; to become unrighteous; to fail to live up to what God requires of us.
So Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and fallen short of the Glory of God" is really a great explination of sin itself, as well as being an assessment of the human condition.
For all have Hamartia (missed the mark) and fallen short of the glory of God.
So one could have gone through a whole day without committing a single 'wrong action' but we are not righteous or holy in our own right. Thus by definition, we are sinful by simply not being perfectly in line with God and His character. No matter how many days may pass without a wrong action or thought.
Point taken. It's a great point too.
I was simply trying to point out accidental sin or unintential sin......that we make mistakes.
Another thought on sin not simply being a bunch of actions that I sorta touched on is that most sins....or at least most of the ones I become aware of in my life...are in my mind. Nobody else even knows I'm sinning. Just me and God.
"If we cover our sin, God wil uncover it; If we uncover it to God, He will cover it with His own blood."
I've read your testimony. Truly a blessing for us to read a testimony like that.
May God will continue to speak to your heart and will lead you all the way to His path.
God bless you.
I was just trying to add another perspective, I wasnt implying you were wrong.
As to hidden sin and only you (or me) and God knowing about it. scary stuff huh?
I use Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 to remind me.
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Magi,
Perspective taken. I did not think you were implying I was wrong. I thought your comments very instructive.
I am always interested in the original language. I wish I was fluent in reading Greek and Hebrew but all I can do is goto Strongs and piece things together.
Ms. Elove, Thank you for you kind words. Things I have read on your blog have been a blessing to me so I am very glad the Lord returned the blessing.
I cant speak or read the originals either but find that whenever I take the time to do a little research, especially since I am studying to be a history teacher, I am blessed with a great insight and better understanging of Jesus' character. We miss so much in english.
P.S. I just read youre testimony and the greatest thing you could do as far as Bible study goes is to read different translations. Together, they give such a better understanding of the meaning of scripture than any one Bible on its own.
Michael, your humility dealing with sin is refreshing.
I would like to offer something for your consideration, however. While it is true that our flesh is sin and we cannot conquer sin in the strength of this flesh, there is a dimension of this topic that you may have overlooked.
There are many Scriptures that tell us we can be victorious over sin:
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4
We will have to battle the corruption of the sin nature until God gives us a new body, that is for sure. But we do not have to give into the temptations of sin. Jesus gave us a great example of how to do that in the face of His own temptation.
Let me affirm here that the victory over sin lies in Jesus, not us. To say that we cannot live victoriously (even for one day) is to deny the ability of Christ to strengthen us to overcome sin.
I always tell people that the secret to forgiveness of sin is "Keeping our accounts with God short".
When the Spirit of God convicts you of your sin, that is the time to confess it, and repent.
I am so thankful that sin cannot bind me...His Grace is greater.
Gordon,
I purposly left that aspect out. I left for work this morning thinking....I bet Gordon catches that. I wasn't sure how you would address it but I was prepared with my answer but now my answer has gone *poof*.
What has throwen me for a loop is, "To say that we cannot live victoriously (even for one day) is to deny the ability of Christ to strengthen us to overcome sin".
I certianly am not saying that! If Jesus didn't give me the ability to live victoriously I would be stoned right now, probably drunk too. I proably would be divorced from the marriage. The most likely senerio would be me sitting in a bar since I got off early today, offering some girl to get high with me and working my way into her pants.
Believe me. I know all about Jesus giving me the ability to overcome. Everyday I don't get all bent out of shape that life isn't fair and go get wasted is a victory. My wife can often be heard saying, "Reality is hard", to which I often say, "Wanna go back?". It's always no!
Everything I listed in the post is not finger pointing. It's things I deal with. I drive too fast. Most of the time I do it without even thinking about it. I slow down and I'm that person fustrated that everyone is on my butt.
My eyes have lingered. I caught myself lingering today when I stopped at the store. When I looked away I lingered on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover.
That is why I said in one of your post that I'm just me. I can't be worried about my witness, if my dad's visit was any indication my witness is just fine.
I have had this verse, "To say that we cannot live victoriously (even for one day) is to deny the ability of Christ to strengthen us to overcome sin", used very leagalisticly towards me too. Like I should walk around with my head down and my tail between my legs a beat puppy because I caught myself in sin yet again.
Now I'm off to blow stuff up on the X-box with my stepson.
Hi Michael..
Thank you for the message. I agree with you that we are all a bunch of sinners - we're not perfect...we're not Jesus, we're just humans.
Your last comment says,
"I have had this verse, 'To say that we cannot live victoriously (even for one day) is to deny the ability of Christ to strengthen us to overcome sin', used very leagalisticly towards me too."
Ironically, your comment further reinforced your point (at least that's how I see it).
Admitting that we are bound to sin is like admitting that we are weak and we need Christ's grace and strength to be victorious everyday. So when we say that we are sinners we are not denying His grace & power, we are actually professing how weak we are and how strong He is.
Please correct me if I'm wrong. (btw.. I'm not a biblicist)
thanks and God bless.
Michael, there will always be the temptation to sin. We still have this sinful body that pulls us that way. I sense that perhaps, though, you are placing a burden of guilt upon yourself for the fact of temptation to sin as much as for the commission of sin.
It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was in every point tempted like we are, but He did not sin. He did so because of His righteousness. This same righteousness is imputed to us.
You are very willing to talk about what your life was before you were saved. Let me point out, you are not that same person anymore. In Christ, you are a new creature. Let me encourage you to contemplate your new identity in Him. It can revolutionize your life.
It is a wonderful blessing to watch God at work in your life.
"...Are you sure? Are you proud you did that?..."
Oh yes! Very roud. I'm a humble believer and I'm very proud of my humility!
You are correct. We are naturally sinful. All sin is really about pulling away from God, doing what we want, not what He wants.
Even if we sat around doing nothing but praying all day, it would be rare, I think, that that is what He was asking us to do. There is much work to do. Feeding ouselves spiritually is not all He has asked.
And in getting out in the world and doing His work we will certainly have stray desires and selfish acts.
Good post.
I believe it is a false humility to contend for the necessity of sinning in the life of a believer.
The question is how you define sin. To define it the way you do is to make the very fact of being a human a sin. I don't think the Bible supports this view.
I do admit we are not perfect and we often make mistakes, yyet I don't believe a Christian sins everyday in deed, word, or thought. The Bible says plainly we have been set free from sin. Is this only in some methaphorical sense? I do not think so.
The Bible also says, he who sins is of the devil. As I said, the difficulty lies in how we define sin. We should not add too much to what the bible says about sins.
I can testify that I make mistakes, yeah, every day, but I deffinitely do not sin every day. I no longer practice sin.
miclx,
Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your comment.
Many people when I posted this took it the wrong way.
"I can testify that I make mistakes, yeah, every day, but I deffinitely do not sin every day. I no longer practice sin".
The key is "practice sin". If you also noticed I commented earlier that I am not finger pointing here. It's all things I catch myself doing. "I can testify that I make mistakes", those mistakes are sin, but "I no longer practice sin".
Nobody is perfect. Only Jesus.
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