Intentional Sin

[Blake]

I would like to know if any members here sin intentionally. No judgment here, I sin intentionally. I don't think it should come as any real surprise, but I could be wrong. I know I am a sinful man and I have a long way to go, but I value transparency and honesty from my brothers and sisters.

I know it's wrong. I know that there are great areas of weakness in me. I want to know how many of you have struggled with sin(s) which entice you into sheer willingness, and you don't have to say what it is.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Who doesn't? =/
I struggle with idolatry. I love my anime, y'know, and let it get in the way sometimes...

 

[Willie T]

"Whatever is not of faith is sin" Well, that right there removes me from the company of all the perfect people who never have any doubts, and have conquered all sin......... or, at least, "say" that is the way it is. But then, isn't lying also a sin?

 

[Gary]

1 John 1
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

[Jesse]

I do, I hate it and I don't think we're supposed to intentionally sin because of that verse in Hebrews. Mine has to do with anger, it's getting better but it's still there. I am like questdriven, too, I have idols, and I hate it but maybe not as much as I should because I still have them (computer, sports).

 

[YosefHayim]

Of course. But when you're a Christian, though you persist in sin, the grace of Christ is working through us to end it. Eventually, since the irrevocable process of sanctification causes the outer man to perish and the inner to be renewed, you will hate the sin you persist in more and more. Like when paul battled himself. I don't what I don't want, and want to do that which I don't. In other words - when I steal, I return with more dripping with guilt; and when I hate, I forgive them which I hated and hate myself; and when I masturbate I'm only raping myself; and when I yell, I burn myself...

And I turn to God and say I'm a piece of bleep, unworthy for him to keep.

And he says "Are you calling me a liar? For you are fearfully and wonderfully made, through me , and for me." Psalm 139:14, Colossians 1:16-17

 

[Willie T]

We all intentionally sin. We do it right here on this forum when we type some of the posts I have seen just about all of us retaliate with.

(I said, "just about", so that whoever may be reading this can feel justified in saying they are one of the few who has never done that.)

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...and when I masturbate I'm only raping myself...

Whoa! Waaaaaaay to much information!

For you are fearfully and wonderfully made, through me , and for me." Psalm 139:14, Colossians 1:16-17

...which includes your God given biological desire to procreate. It's not evil to have sexual desire.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I do, I hate it and I don't think we're supposed to intentionally sin because of that verse in Hebrews. Mine has to do with anger, it's getting better but it's still there. I am like questdriven, too, I have idols, and I hate it but maybe not as much as I should because I still have them (computer, sports).

As an ex-rageaholic, I bet you don't get angry intentionally. That is what the OP is asking.

Being deceived into sinning is not intentional sin. It often feels like we go along for the ride completely intentionally, but that is probably more not true, than it is true.

 

[Jesse]

We all intentionally sin. We do it right here on this forum when we type some of the posts I have seen just about all of us retaliate with.

(I said, "just about", so that whoever may be reading this can feel justified in saying they are one of the few who has never done that.)

We're not supposed to though, Hebrews 10:26 says if we go on sinning willingly after we received the truth, there is no sacrifice for sin left. Idk, it's one of those warning verses.

 

[Jesse]

As an ex-rageaholic, I bet you don't get angry intentionally. That is what the OP is asking.

Being deceived into sinning is not intentional sin. It often feels like we go along for the ride completely intentionally, but that is probably more not true, than it is true.

It gives me hope that you once dealt with this issue. Like I said, it's getting better already.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

We're not supposed to though, Hebrews 10:26 says if we go on sinning willingly after we received the truth, there is no sacrifice for sin left. Idk, it's one of those warning verses.

I'm of the opinion that if a person is really and truly purposely sinning with no deception involved then they probably don't have the Holy Spirit inside of them to begin with, but the passage there in Hebrews does talk about sanctified believers doing that. Which is utterly amazing to me, personally. And I would agree that it is the habitual characteristic of intentional sin that is the most telling, not the intentional sin itself.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It gives me hope that you once dealt with this issue. Like I said, it's getting better already.

I have dealt with it (written with complete humility, knowing there's always the next five minutes of life ahead ). Rage is a lack of faith in God's ability, or willingness, or way he will take care of you as one of his own. Out of that lack of faith we lash out and try to manipulate and steer things into our favor. Having faith in God's provision means believing you don't have to resort to sin to take care of yourself. This is true of all sin. If we were in an open Bible study we could examine the scriptures together about this.

Bottom line is, I've learned that victory over sin is about you changing your mind about sin. We already have the power to not sin. What we need is training in using that power to crucify the sin nature. Sometimes you gotta take the lumps before scriptural truth about sin makes it way from your mind to your heart. The scriptures, coupled with our daily experiences, work to change our minds about not resisting the way we should when the deceitfulness of sin comes a knockin'.

Recent threads made me realize how we Christians don't have a lot of trouble confessing struggle with sin, but few of us take advantage of opportunities to share our victories.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Do you intentionally sin?

I've hestitated to answer the poll because it's a hard question.

Have I intentionally sinned? Yes.

Will I intentionally sin again? I don't expect to, but I'm wise enough to say, 'yes', I will probably sin intentionally again.

Do I consider myself an intentional sinner? No.

 

[Jesse]

I have dealt with it (written with complete humility, knowing there's always the next five minutes of life ahead ).

Usually I don't say things like that out loud haha.

Rage is a lack of faith in God's ability, or willingness, or way he will take care of you as one of his own. Out of that lack of faith we lash out and try to manipulate and steer things into our favor. Having faith in God's provision means believing you don't have to resort to sin to take care of yourself. This is true of all sin. If we were in an open Bible study we could examine the scriptures together about this.

This makes perfect sense to me, thinking about it, I do lack trust in God. At least you opened my eyes to that fact, now I can at least pray and ask him to help me in this area.

Bottom line is, I've learned that victory over sin is about you changing your mind about sin. We already have the power to not sin. What we need is training in using that power to crucify the sin nature. Sometimes you gotta take the lumps before scriptural truth about sin makes it way from your mind to your heart. The scriptures, coupled with our daily experiences, work to change our minds about not resisting the way we should when the deceitfulness of sin comes a knockin'.

The power not to sin is part of the grace God gives us. He also told us that He would give us a way out of temptation every single time so as not to fall all the way into sin (1 Cor 10:13).
Maybe we should all hate our sin more, after all it is a hindrance to our relationship with God and the blessings He has for us. Christ died because of it, it's worse now when we sin because is the blood of Christ, not the blood of lambs.

Recent threads made me realize how we Christians don't have a lot of trouble confessing struggle with sin, but few of us take advantage of opportunities to share our victories.

That's true, I'm thinking the testimony forum should be the most active, right?

 

[Blake]

I have habitual sin that I deal with. I fight with it and I fail more often than I succeed. Do I not have the Holy Spirit? Honest question, nothing baited about it.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I have habitual sin that I deal with. I fight with it and I fail more often than I succeed. Do I not have the Holy Spirit? Honest question, nothing baited about it.

Your struggle with sin is exactly the sign you have the Holy Spirit. If you didn't have the conviction of the Holy Spirit within you your life would be marked by conviction-less, intentional, habitual sin. That's why I resist the flagrant attitude about sin in the church today that gets disguised as the grace of God. It's not that we have to be beating ourselves up about our sin, it's just that a heartfelt concern about sin and staying in God's fellowship through forgiveness--no matter how many times we have to seek it--is the mark of a true saint of God.

You care. That's a good sign. Be encouraged. Keep caring, and he'll keep working.

 

[Jesse]

Your struggle with sin is exactly the sign you have the Holy Spirit. If you didn't have the conviction of the Holy Spirit within you your life would be marked by conviction-less, intentional, habitual sin. That's why I resist the flagrant attitude about sin in the church today that gets disguised as the grace of God. It's not that we have to be beating ourselves up about our sin, it's just that a heartfelt concern about sin and staying in God's fellowship through forgiveness--no matter how many times we have to seek it--is the mark of a true saint of God.

You care. That's a good sign. Be encouraged. Keep caring, and he'll keep working.

I'm right there with Blake because I know I have idols and I try not to and that is the key: we try to do it in our own power. When God has said all along that in our weakness, He is strong. Instead of fighting and struggling in our will power, we yield and submit to God and in Him we overcome, after all Jesus is the overcomer and He lives in us. Amen!

 

[Jethro Bodine]

This makes perfect sense to me, thinking about it, I do lack trust in God. At least you opened my eyes to that fact, now I can at least pray and ask him to help me in this area.

God will whatever passages of scripture he will to walk you through your struggle, but for me this was a biggie:

"1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battlewithin you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." (James 4:1-2 NASB)

We get angry because we don't get what we want. And we think bullying people and things does get us what we want. I had to realize that's what I was doing. And that I was doing that instead of asking God for what I needed and wanted. And the reason I wasn't asking God for it was because I didn't have faith in him to answer. (Mental note in regard to another discussion we had: Gift of faith: that person prays a lot, and with power and conviction of faith, often with tears and loud cries.)

The power not to sin is part of the grace God gives us. He also told us that He would give us a way out of temptation every single time so as not to fall all the way into sin (1 Cor 10:13).

Yes. What goes wrong is we don't take the way he has provided, not that we've encountered something that really is bigger than our potential to resist.

Maybe we should all hate our sin more...

I do think that's exactly the key to overcoming sin--changing your mind about it to the point of hating it. God's helping us see sin for what it is and how destructive and hurtful it is to us and especially others. For me, victory over rage meant seeing how destructive it is to others and how antithetical it is to 'love others as yourself'. And of course, it has meant life and peace to me by removing it as a hindrance to enjoying the good land he has brought me into through Jesus Christ.

That's true, I'm thinking the testimony forum should be the most active, right?

Oh, that's right. We have one of those, don't we.

 

[Blake]

Your struggle with sin is exactly the sign you have the Holy Spirit. If you didn't have the conviction of the Holy Spirit within you your life would be marked by conviction-less, intentional, habitual sin. That's why I resist the flagrant attitude about sin in the church today that gets disguised as the grace of God. It's not that we have to be beating ourselves up about our sin, it's just that a heartfelt concern about sin and staying in God's fellowship through forgiveness--no matter how many times we have to seek it--is the mark of a true saint of God.

You care. That's a good sign. Be encouraged. Keep caring, and he'll keep working.

I needed that today. Satan does his best to make me feel like I'm fallen despite all the good things I see the Lord doing in my life.

I do care. Sometimes the flesh is weaker than at other times, sometimes I have great endurance... but I still fight with it all the time it seems like. And I feel like it has the victory more than I do. I often wonder if it's going to take me to hell if I die before winning. I wish that I had never become accustomed to it. I wish this chain could be broken and I struggle to understand why it can't be lifted from me.