Struggling With Sin?

[holysoldier5000]

"When I want to do good, evil is right there with me." (Romans 7:21) Every day I long to be free from the struggle of sin. Temptation presses in upon me and too many times I fold under its hideous strength. Oh, to be free from temptation! If you struggle with temptation, like I do, then this thread is for you. There is no period in the Christian life when we are exempt from temptation. Some people hope that by simply growing older we will grow out of temptation but that unfortunately is not the case. The older we get the more we discover that the same old temptations, often in a new disguise, are right there besides us biting at our heals and seeking to bring us down.

Temptation is a reality, it is unavoidable, and the only time we will be free of it is when we are dead. But why is this so? Understand that while we are on this earth, the clear revelation of scriptures is that as Christian we are involved in a continual and irreconcilable war. But why would a Christian be involved in this war? Simply because the same grace which reconciles us to God, whose enemies we are before coming to trust in His son Jesus, antagonizes us to the devil who is our master before we come to trust in Christ.

Luke 11:21-22
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.

Before we were Christians we all were possessions of the evil one and an enemy of God. But when Christ freed us we become a friend of God and an enemy of the evil one. And the evil one cannot prevent that transaction but once it has taken place he will then bring all his endeavors to bear upon the life of the man of woman who says that they submit their life to Christ.

1 John 5:19
The whole world is under the control of the evil one.

[B]“But I thought that when you were a Christian you were no longer a slave to sin?â€

[CookinLikeSanji]

HS5K, I just wanted to take this time to thank you for that. You've most certainly changed my outlook for the better.

Many thanks to you.

[Ryupower]

thanks for sharing.

[c_hunter]

Thanks for sharing it, thank you very much..
It helped me. God bless you, tnx for sharing..

[lostlamb99]

Thanks. I just want to share my own experience, if i may. After being tempted I fail most of the time but after asking for forgiveness, I challenge myself to continue living my life for Jesus. Having this in mind turns my failures to stepping stones for me to grow and continue believing in Christ. The most important thing I tell myself is that Christ already died for my sins and if I truly want to live my life for Him, I always remind myself taht my one desire is to be a child after His own heart.
What HS5K said is true. God showed me all of it just recently befor I even read this thread. I'll be praying for everyone. Please pray for me as well. The batlle is still hot in here....

[CrossMovement]

Thank you for that,God bless you! ^_^

P.S. this may be a bit off,but the bunny in C_hunter's sig kinda sounds like the antichrist....

[Sennin]

That is an excellent treatise on the nature of temptation and it offers much consolation. The only thing I would add is that the disposition of humility is the best condition for spiritual combat against the devil because it is the opposite of the root of all sin: pride.

[holysoldier5000]

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." ~ Psalm 51:10

A backslider, if there is a spark of life left in him, will groan for restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We required faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the same grace can bring us to Jesus now. We needed a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as they ever were. Let your personal weakness, Christian, be an argument to make you pray sincerely to your God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hurried to the mercy-seat crying, "renew a right spirit within me." Do not allow the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel's strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life-"renew a right spirit within me." He who sincerely prays to God to do this will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live constantly on the Word of God; kill the lusts that have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has His own appointed ways; sit by the wayside, and you will be ready when He passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances that will foster and nourish your dying graces; and knowing that all the power must proceed from Him, do not cease to cry, "Renew a right spirit within me."

[A_KOJI_FREAK]

That was awsome. Very cool. Very cool. That helped me alot. I've been going through alot of inward struggles added with family issues. Thanks a ton. ^^

[Mave]

Sin no longer reigns but it remains.

That simple statement helps me to understand the nature of the sins I'm struggling with. I totally relate to the Romans verses. Excellent sharing, thanks~

[KA1-EG13]

I totally understand what you mean.

I once fell under the temptation of sin, knowing full and well what it was and that it only grieve me and God. Although I resisted for a little while, I caved in like an idiot and was very miserable afterwards.

I read some verses in the bible (I forget which) that went along the lines of talking about how Esau gave up his birthright for morsal to eat, but afterwards he was sorry for it and wasn't able to find a place for redemption even though he sought it carefully with tears.

I misinturprated this line in the bible, and worried my head of that I somehow had lost my salvation. That fear motivated me, however, to take great steps not do that sin again.

I fortunately came to understand my misinterpratation of the passage, and am now secure about my salvation, although I still have a long way to go in this sin battle.

Walk in the Spirit and the lusts of the flesh shall not be fulfilled.

[The Coldwood]

True evil creates a euphoric feeling. This creates an addiction to continue. The more you sin, the harder it can come back. However, if you truly repent, you can get on the road to recovery.