Do I Have to Stop Sinning to Be Saved?
Persistent alcohol use leads to a breakdown of numerous body organs including the brain, heart, liver, and nerves. Over time, the mind and body deteriorate leaving a fraction of what use to be, along with a marred footpath, affecting the many who cross it. With that said, it’s smart to stop sinning.
Sin has a similar story, but, drags the soul into the equation. So, if you’ve ever wondered if you need to stop sinning to be saved, let’s go over what sin is, how sin affects your life, and ultimately what God has to say about whether it’s necessary to stop sinning to be saved.
What is Sin
Sin causes an uneasy feeling, from my experience, because sin points a narley finger declaring, something is wrong here, change it.
Over the ages sin has demanded attention. It’s complexity begs to be pick apart and understood by some, shunned by others. Sin taints the reflection of those who indulge it’s allure.
In the beginning a wise serpent drummed up a appealing idea that maybe God was withholding something.
A need-to-know burned. The thought quickly became action, which changed the course of their own lives and that of their offspring unending.
Although, bad behavior is the outward expression of the thought, all senses are flooded with the odor of sin from first thought, because, the motivation of sin to destroy whatever it contacts, remains consistent.
The bible defines sin in several ways.
- Rebellion against God’s will. Deuteronomy 9:7
From the beginning, Jesus has been clear about what is good and acceptable. We can be sure, anything outside of what’s written is rubbish. God has the final say. But, we have been given ability to combat temptation toward rebellion as written in 2 Corinthians 10: 5-6.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
- Inherited nature toward wrongdoing. Romans 5:12
There are two prominent men. Adam, who broken perfection and caused an inherited nature. Then there’s Jesus who preserved perfection, died perfect, conquered death, therefore providing a bridge to eternal life as written in Romans 5:20-21
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
While we are not under the law as presented in the OT, God’s moral law is still as relevant today as it ever was. Protesting this is futile, it’s no different than following the laws of the land. Commit a crime, do the time. Thankfully, we don’t get what we deserve as a disciple of Christ. As is written in 1 John 3:5-6
And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Sin is the result of a mindset without closely guarded boundaries.
Consider how sin affects your life.
Like alcohol, sin has a drastic effects on our life. Fact remains, one sin isn’t a make or break decision, nevertheless, overdose happens in an instant everyday.
In the end, the wage for sin is death and is motivated to the corruption of our mind and soul.
James expressed it well, we are enticed by the corruption already living inside. Our nature paired with life experience create desires, and we want those desires met, on a regular basis. Once established, desire becomes actionable, maturing into bad behaviors, known as sin.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:14-15
Sin will ruin our life. From the top to the bottom, it’s a corrosive that weaves through the mind tainting our belief systems, habits, likes and dislikes. Sin even has the ability to present our own dislikes as desirable.
Key here, is to guard your mind, because sin is the result of a mindset without closely guarded boundaries.
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28
We do need to stop sinning, but we can sin and be saved.
There is a drastic difference between practicing sin and sinning due to our nature.
When we are saved, a whole multitude of things change.
There’s joy where misery lived.
Clarity where confusion crept.
Desire for good where evil laid.
Passion where complacency lived and so much more.
Thing is, while many things change, Salvation doesn’t wiped the slate of our bad habits and essentially, everything we were taught out. God doesn’t strike us down with amnesia, although,come to think of it, that would likely be the easier route.
Yes, we are instantly forgiven and free of shame, but, just like we had to learn all those bad things, likewise we need to learn the ways of Jesus.
All that to say, sin can happen after being baptized in Jesus name, for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. The difference is, we are no longer a slave to sin.
There should no longer be a compulsion toward it since becoming gross and indecent with God’s perspective.
It’s possible to stop sinning.
We are given all the tools and power to stop sinning as we need. God isn’t going to call us to do something and not provide the necessities to complete the task.
I often say, if laundry commercials told me that their product kind of got the stain out, almost got it clean I would be a customer.
Jesus isn’t a halfway kinda God. He is all in, all powerful, all everything.
Sin will poison our life. Walk away and take no part in it. It’s imperative we guard our mind and lead our heart to the will of God.
That way, sinning will no longer be the main issue. Getting close to the Lord and growing in faith will.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
