Can sinning be overcome?

[Dorothy Mae]

When Paul said that he was the chief of sinners, he was speaking of the fact that he was "before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious..." (1 Timothy 1:13).

And as for me, I am not glad that I sin less than other men...I would much rather have it that other men also sin less.

Yes I agree with you regarding Paul's statement. But still, one is on shaky ground when one essentially prays/says "I am glad I am not like this sinner here." Those who compare themselves with others are making a mistake. God does not compare us to others. We are compared to what we claim we are. "By your words will you be judged." What is more, it can have pride woven into it if we boast of our not sinning and that is dangerous because God opposes the proud.

If people ask me if I think I am better than others, for example, I respond that it depends upon what we are talking about. In some matters I am better than average and in some matters I am worse that average. We are not to boast in any righteousness we have done although we ought to have done righteous deeds if we follow Jesus. What are we allowed to boast of? It says so in Jeremiah and of this I can, in the sight of God, boast that I have more of this than most but less than some. And that is what we are allowed to boast of. While I am quite pleased that I have obeyed Him from time to time, it is not a matter that I can boast of before men although I can savor its sweetness. So if we sin less, we can savor this but we ought not to boast of it before men and God. This boasting does not have good fruit.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

Yes Apostle Paul is the chief hypocrite for hypocrites to follow, being the chief of sinners.

Or, He was that chief and became the new chief of good example. ( non sin)

2 choices, follow peoples predicted great swelling words of vanity, or the good examples of the good things of the Gospel of Christ.




1 Titus 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.


1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.



2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Being a hypocrite is not a charge one can lay on Paul. He lived what he believed and to the utmost such that when he believed followers of Jesus were committing blasphemy, he had them murdered. When he began to follow Jesus, he did so with all of him. He practically lived out what he believed, the opposite of a hypocrite who speaks words they do not practically live out. Hypocrites express good theology that is divorced from real life.

 

[gordon777]

Being a hypocrite is not a charge one can lay on Paul. He lived what he believed and to the utmost such that when he believed followers of Jesus were committing blasphemy, he had them murdered. When he began to follow Jesus, he did so with all of him. He practically lived out what he believed, the opposite of a hypocrite who speaks words they do not practically live out. Hypocrites express good theology that is divorced from real life.

Apostle Paul brought before the council, tells them earnestly how he had lived in all good conscience before God until that day.

Paul is then brought before Governor Felix, and confesses before them, that, that which they call heresy, He so worships the God of his fathers, believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having hope towards God, of a resurrection of the dead, just and unjust. This is how Apostle Paul confesses how he exercises himself, to always have a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man. (More verses for never giving offence, and when some give offences to avoid those people. 1 Corinthians 10:32. 2 Corinthians 6:3. James 3:2. Philippians 1:10. Romans 16:17.)

The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, which is also of a good conscience, sincere faith, which some swerve aside to vanity.

We are to hold the faith and a good conscience, not like some who have put away concerning faith and made shipwreck. ( they are delivered unto satan to learn to not blaspheme.)

We are to draw near to God, with a true heart in full assurance of faith, and our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Apostles had a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly.

We are beseeched by the workers with Him, to not receive the grace of God in vain. God hears us and accepts us in the day of salvation and succours us, we are to behold as now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The Apostles giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed. But in all things approving themselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.

Whatever we do it is to, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.. ( committing sin is not giving glory to God)

Giving no offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, even as Apostle Paul pleased ALL MEN IN ALL THINGS, not seeking his own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

What saves us is the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ( To assure our hearts before God and our heart to not condemn us. 1 John 3:18-21.)




Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:





No scripture can be taught against the practical examples of the Apostles, nor against the purpose of that good conscience /belief in the rising of Christ from the dead, and also of non causing of offence to anyone. ( in all things giving glory to God.)

Those who do commit sins, ( those of this world/and any man that is called a brother.) fornicators, covetous, railer, drunkards, are to be judged, and pout away from ourselves those wicked persons.





1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

[reddogs]

I suppose one could by going into a coma or be brain dead.

How do you read this verse ...

Romans 6:11-12
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

 

[gordon777]

How do you read this verse ...

Romans 6:11-12
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

We do not obey lusts, when we do not desire them any more.


Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

 

[gordon777]

There is either the will of God, or the will of man, there is not both, it is easy to hear any word anyone speaks, if they believe in the will of God, or they follow the will of man. ( whether they have the Spirit of truth, or the spirit of error/antichrist.)

 

[gordon777]

In fact, all strife, contention, all these threads on all of these forums, show there is desire for debate, not for edification, as that is only in charity and love is not in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth, if Christ did the contention of people on the forum, all would be dead, but He layed HIs life down to let us know that is the true love of God. ( and everything else is deceit, of the MANY false prophet teachers He said would come with subtilty )