Why do Christians sin so often?

Why do Christians sin so often?

I believe Christians in sin either don’t understand the gospel or don’t apply the power of the gospel to their lives.

Most people, including Christians, feel God may forgive their sins and allow them into the Kingdom of Heaven—yet imperfect people will mar a utopia as they cause pain to themselves and others. The true gospel is "Jesus died a horrible death then rose from the dead BECAUSE He was morally perfect, to switch places with we imperfect people". Trusting Christ is therefore salvation—to be changed as we cannot change ourselves unto perfection.

The knowledge that in judgment I will be transformed to be morally perfect—neither God nor ready to go to Heaven today as I remain imperfect—can still be transforming, saving knowledge. A prisoner who is promised release but who reforms their behavior (lives in light of the future) becomes eligible for early parole. A prisoner who continues their ways in prison extends their stay in prison.

Therefore, Christians who have a different gospel (try real hard to be better, God will forgive me) often remain trapped in sin—a prison of their making.

Are you saying those who pray for change have a better chance than those who try to change themselves?

I think we do not support one another enough, so even when we choose to live right we get overwhelmed. There are other factors, too.

Also, I think that we haven't perfected child rearing. There are different approaches, and its hard to figure out how to handle particular situations. A child who learns young will do the right thing usually, but how can you get children to actually learn? Even when they think they are listening the gears often aren't turning in their heads.

WOW! That's is a wide subject.

Some sin because they are babes in Christ
Some sin because they are carnal
Some sin because they try to live their life in the Law vs in Grace.
Some haven't been taught

I think this just might be a short list.

Some are just hard headed like me.

I think most genuinely want to lead honest faithful lives; however the lure of dissociation from actions in favor of self-interest is sometimes too hard to resist.

All people act in much the same way. Some of these things are considered sinful by one religion or another.
Christians are absolutely no different in this.
I am quite sure God, if he takes note at all, has a single standard and a single way of dealing with these things.
However I think it more likely that Sin is a human concept, But that it is a useful one, to regulate social behaviour.

BilliardsBall said:

Why do Christians sin so often?

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Because we're human. Even those we think of as being the holiest people on the planet still sin all the time.

Perhaps someone will respond to this:

Therefore, Christians who have a different gospel (try real hard to be better, God will forgive me) often remain trapped in sin—a prison of their making.

DavidFirth said:

Some are just hard headed like me.

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Relatable

I think that you are saying some people appear to believe that if they are just trying to be right
God automatically forgives them their "so often sins".

But the Gospel according to you @BilliardsBall teaches that to be trusting Christ means that we will be changed, even without trying and certainly with not sumptions that God will forgive each sin we commit. Am I right that it is what you are saying? I tend to agree with this one.

"Sin so often"? LOL

Like the two extra cookies I ate yesterday?

I wonder what you were thinking when you wrote that some people "sin so often"?

savagewind said:

I think that you are saying some people appear to believe that if they are just trying to be right
God automatically forgives them their "so often sins".

But the Gospel according to you @BilliardsBall teaches that to be trusting Christ means that we will be changed, even without trying and certainly with not sumptions that God will forgive each sin we commit. Am I right that it is what you are saying? I tend to agree with this one.

"Sin so often"? LOL

Like the two extra cookies I ate yesterday?

I wonder what you were thinking when you wrote that some people "sin so often"?

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God accepts people conditionally. No one is accepted "trying to act right". But if someone is born again and has trusted Christ, all their sin, not just their "so often" habitual sin, is washed away.

Trusting Christ does provide some changes without our effort. Other changes require our willful effort. Remember that Jesus, not David, beat Goliath. Trust Jesus for change, too.

What I meant by "sin so often" is that some Christians are born again but seem to have forgotten their forgiveness in Christ. Knowing I'm forgiven is one motivation that actually works to sin less.

BilliardsBall said:

Perhaps someone will respond to this:

Therefore, Christians who have a different gospel (try real hard to be better, God will forgive me) often remain trapped in sin—a prison of their making.

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where is this quote from?

BilliardsBall said:

What I meant by "sin so often" is that some Christians are born again but seem to have forgotten their forgiveness in Christ. Knowing I'm forgiven is one motivation that actually works to sin less.

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This, IMV, is a cardinal principle for transformation and activates the potential to sin less. Like walking a tightrope - you never walk by looking down or backwards (looking at failures and "trying" not to sin), a sure way to fall, but rather you look to where you are going (looking unto Christ our forgiver and who has forgiven us). This gives us balance and helps us not to fall.

KenS said:

where is this quote from?

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I was quoting my own post, since you were the sole person to actually address what I wrote.

We sin because we're sinners. We don't sin when the mind of Christ guides our mind. Ergo we sin at those times we are not being led in our minds by the mind of Christ.

II Cor. 11:3