Is it possible to live a sinless life?

[Elrond]

Like Abimael said above, it is we who choose to sin. God has given us a way out of every temptation (1 Cor 10:13), and we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6), thus sin has no hold on us. Since this is the case, why do we sin? Because we want to. We place our desires before Gods. We think we know better than God.
We cannot live sinless lives, as we were conceived and born into sin. It is part of our nature from the beginning. But once we're saved, once we're given our new nature, we can live sinless lives if we will only rely 100% on God. But how many of us are 100% committed to God 100% of the time? I know I'm not, and I doubt any of us are. I would like to be, but I'm not.

Elrond

"As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy lkeness when I awake." Psalm 17:15

 

[Drew]

But once we're saved, once we're given our new nature, we can live sinless lives if we will only rely 100% on God.

I believe that the Scriptures indeed agree with you here. I think of Romans 8 in particular as support.

 

[Imagican]

Do you really think He died for nothing?

If it's impossible not to sin, then it's not our fault we've sinned. Therefore we didn't deserve to be punished anyway. So there was no need for Jesus to take any punishment for us.
So if it is impossible to live a sinless life, the logical conclusion would certainly seem to be that Jesus died for nothing.

You can't imagine how statements such as this above pains those who know and love God and His Son. Not for OUR sakes, but for those that do NOT know Them.

No, oftentimes it's NOT 'our fault' that we sin. But that doesn't negate the FACT that we have the ability to LEARN the difference between that which we do that is AGAINST God and that which we do that is OF God. And it IS our fault when we CHOOSE to do that which is against God. But even then, THERE is THE purpose of Christ's death................We ARE able to receive forgiveness for that which we are able to repent of.

Adam and Eve introduced sin into the lives of ALL men. We are 'born into' their sin. But there IS forgiveness. There is 'another way' other than living FOR sin.

No, we CANNOT live without 'sinnning'. But that is NOT to say that we are unable to 'be forgiven' for that which we do that is 'sin'.

Nothing that has ever been done by God is without purpose. Not one instance of His intercession with man has 'been in vain'. it was done FOR a purpose and most of MONUMENTAL significance.

That many will never come to an understanding of this is very sad indeed.

Blessings,

MEC

 

[OnFireForChrist]

First of all, I would recommend you to read Romans. It is all about how it is inexcusable that we should be sinful.

God is just and infinitely so; by nature, we were made in the same original holiness, but through Adam, we inherited original sin. It is always possible that we could live perfect lives, because God gives us all the graces we need to avoid sin and do good; however, because we are disposed to sin, we tend to reject the graces God gives to us and therefore fall into sin as a punishment for our pride. It is not the fault of God that man is damned, but the fault of man, for God provides all things to make us pure and holy, but we reject them of our own free will. If it were not possible, God would not ask it of us. We do not have original holiness, so holiness is harder to obtain, but we can be just through faith and grace, if we perservere in both. It is impossible with men, but it is not impossible with God.

 

[Catholic Crusader]

Is it possible to live a completely sinless life from beginning to end?....

Nope. Adam and Ever were created sinless, but they sinned.

The New Adam and the New Eve are the only two who led a completely sinless life.

 

[Arj]

Then does your first act of rebellion as a born again christian damn you to eternal condemnation with no more forgiveness? :-?

 

[Catholic Crusader]

Then does your first act of rebellion as a born again christian damn you to eternal condemnation with no more forgiveness? :-?

Nope. God is a forgiving God, if your repentence is sincere.

 

[stranger]

He is John Wesley's comment from the book 'a plain account of Christian perfection'. . . .

" 8. In August (1738)following, I had a long conversation with Arvid Gradin, in Germany. After he had given me an account of his experience, I desired him to give me, in writing, a definition of "the full assurance of faith," which he did in the following words: --

Requies in sanguine Christi; firma fiducia in Deum, et persuasio de gratia divina; tranquillitas mentis summa, atque serenitas et pax; cum absentia omnis desiderii carnalis, et cessatione peccatorum etiam internorum.

"Repose in the blood of Christ; a firm confidence in God, and persuasion of his favour; the highest tranquillity, serenity, and peace of mind, with a deliverance from every fleshly desire, and a cessation of all, even inward sins."

This was the first account I ever heard from any living man, of what I had before learned myself from the oracles of God, and had been praying for, (with the little company of my friends,) and expecting, for several years. . . "

It may sound presumptous but I had a similar experience in from Feb to May 2001. . . even my thought life changed and there was not the slightest hint or evidence of the fallen nature during that period. This is what it means to 'enter His rest'. Unfortunately, just as His rest can be entered it can also be lost. Fortunately, His rest can also be re-entered God willing.

 

[Gzuz the Man Child]

It is only possible for you to live a sinless life after being born-again, and after you have been crucified and it is no longer you that is living, but Christ living in you. (Gal. 2:20) Only Christ will live a sinless life, and only a believer with Christ living in them will do it. Simple as that. Believe you are dead, and he is now living in you. Have faith. Then watch it come to pass.

 

[Cornelius]

I agree with Gzuz, it is not possible before your rebirth. Secondly, God would not tell us to do something that is not possible. Its possible only when we use faith , without faith its impossible to please God. So what we must have faith in , is that its already done (Jesus said: It is finished) Then, without "seeing" it, we first agree with God , then we will start seeing HIM giving us the victory.

I know this is a strange thought, but then: Is anything too hard for God?

We have to think about this: Would God have told us this, if it was impossible to do?
1Pe 1:15 but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;
1Pe 1:16 because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

The reason we never get to this point, is we are coming to it from the wrong direction. We want to do it, then we fail, because we do not realize that God has already placed Christ (the Holy One) in us to do it.

I cannot..........but HE can.

That's why its called the :Good News

 

[brakelite2]

There is an aspect to this which just occured to me. In heaven, before creation, God had His laws that governed the universe. The angels were subject to these laws, and they very likely were similar to those Ten Commandments with which we are familiar, all based on the love of God for His creatures and the love of His creatures for one another.
When Lucifer rebelled, (iniquity was found in him) it was to all intents and purposes a rebellion against the government and rule of the Creator, thus an expression of dissatisfaction with the laws of the Kingdom of heaven. If we admit that obedience is a commandment of God, but claim an inability to do so, are we not repeating Lucifer's claim that the laws must therefore be somehow unfair? And therefore accusing the Lawmaker of being unfair?

 

[Cornelius]

If we admit that obedience is a commandment of God, but claim an inability to do so, are we not repeating Lucifer's claim that the laws must therefore be somehow unfair? And therefore accusing the Lawmaker of being unfair?

You are right.

What is sin other than being disobedient?

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (Obeyeth not = shall not see life )

(How do we "obeyeth the Son" ? Well the Son is equal to His Word, so we have to obey the Word )

Jesus also said that we cannot "love " Him as some say they do, without being obedient:

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. (no obedience = no love for Jesus )

Jesus also tells us: Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it

( Following Him , means obedience in all things,loosing our own lives. No loosing of the old live = loosing eternal life )

 

[brakelite2]

This discussion has shown up on every Christian board for years in one form or another. Because God is all powerful, we must all agree that He can do anything. Even making a man sinless. But perhaps we are asking the wrong question. Rather than "can we live without sin?" perhaps we should be asking "do we desire to live without sin?" Is it our true heart-felt yearning to live a life holy and without blame before Him in love? Is it our desire in the deepest recesses of the heart to live without sin that God may give us the desire of our heart? God responds to a faith filled prayer, thus do we seek righteousness? Do we hunger and thirst for it that we may be filled? Do we see God's commandments, all of them, as simply that? Commandments and not suggestions?

 

[Ant]

Is it possible to live a completely sinless life from beginning to end?

I have commited what you may call "sins".

Guess what?

I'm still perfect in every way. :-D

 

[Rebel]

Can we live without sin?

Without Jesus Christ, no. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5

With Jesus Christ, certainly. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:19

 

[brakelite2]

The first thing God requires of us after being born again is to seek His righteousness. Not our own, but His. What is His righteousness if not perfect obedience to all His commandments? Our own righteousness is certainly not obedience to all His commandments, but if we seek His righteousness, if we hunger and thirst for it,Jesus promise to us is that we will be filled. God's righteousness comes to us in two ways. It is imputed to us the moment we accept Christ's sacrifice on calvary. We are accepted as children of God and are looked upon and regarded by the God-head as if we had never sinned. This is justification. The second way we receive His righteousness is by God imparting it to us by the work of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. Our characters are changed and we are transformed into the image of Christ.. This is an ongoing process that will last to the day we die. It is called sanctification.
Any known sin must be confessed and submitted to the Holy Spirit that He may free us from it's power. If we refuse to repent of any sin, and we hold on to it and cherish it desiring to continue in it rather than seeking the freedom God offers, we trample upon the blood of Christ and place ourselves at risk of losing our salvation. The Holy Spirit strives with men but will withdraw Himself if constantly and stubbornly resisted, as the Phasrisees did as attested to by Stephen.
Acts 7:51 ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 ¶ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him:

Right now I believe the Holy Spirit is withdrawing from the earth. Have you noticed that those who desire and seek heavenly things are indeed increasing in righteousness and boldness in proclaiming the word of God to this final generation? And have you also noticed how much more strident is the opposition and how much more addicted to sin are those who resist the gospel?
There is a significant gap appearing between those who would follow Christ and those who would not. There is a much reduced 'grey' area in the middle today than there was when I first became a Christian 30 years ago. Those winds of strife being held back by the power of God spoken of in Rev 7:1. (See Jer 25:32,33.) I believe also are being loosed. The marked increase of storms and increase in war and crime world-wide is evidence that Satan has been given more freedom to work his evil upon the world. These crisis' are being permitted by God to bring people to repentance. Time is short. Jesus is soon to come. Those who seek a heavenly kingdom must now seek also God's righteousness that when He comes, He may indeed find a church without blemish and without spot.

 

[3AM]

Yes, I believe that a person who has excepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savoir can....live a sinless life.
Because Jesus Christ said it can be done.

'go and sin no more' (John 5:14 & 8:11) are the exact words of Jesus Christ.

BUT, there is just one catch.

A person has to believe Jesus Christ, FIRST....to know that what Jesus said, is a reality to be attained to.

And, that is what seperates a Bible-believing person, from a unbeliever of Jesus Christ.