
Christians can and do have besetting sins, which are those that we continually struggle with and have a weakness towards. The Bible gives examples of people who struggled with besetting sins, such as Abraham, Isaac, Samson, David, and Solomon. While Christians are set free from their sins and are no longer slaves to sin, they will continue to struggle against sin for the rest of their lives. This is because what the flesh wants conflicts with what the Spirit wants. However, Christians should not change their view of the sinfulness of their besetting sins and should strive to get rid of them.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Definition | "A sin that we continually struggle with and have a weakness toward" |
Biblical Reference | Hebrews 12:1 |
Other References | Genesis 20:1-18 |
Nature | Persistent, deeply rooted, ensnaring |
Examples | Gossiping, lying, losing one's temper, lust, greed, addiction, deceit, manipulation |
Christian View | Christians are not automatically perfect and sinless when saved, but will continue to struggle against sin |
Overcoming | Recognise the sin, seek help, adopt a stance of faith, exercise self-discipline, cultivate a spiritual mindset, pray |
What You'll Learn
- Christians do not become perfect and sinless when saved
- Christians will continue to struggle against sin for the rest of their lives
- Christians should avoid tempting situations and relationships
- Christians should pray for wisdom and strength to change their habits
- Christians should saturate themselves in Scripture
Christians do not become perfect and sinless when saved
While Christians are saved by the grace of God, they do not become perfect and sinless. The Bible teaches that, while we are in the flesh, we will always struggle with a sin nature. No one will be "perfect" (sinless) until we reach heaven.
The apostle Paul rebuked Peter for showing favouritism (Galatians 2:11-13). Late in his ministry, Paul calls himself the "chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). Peter, James, John, and Paul all admitted that they were imperfect.
Christians do not automatically become perfect and sinless when saved. Instead, they will continue to struggle against sin for the rest of their lives. They are constantly fighting against their sinful nature, as what the flesh wants conflicts with what the Spirit wants (Galatians 5:17).
Besetting sins are those that Christians continually struggle with and have a weakness towards. Everyone has besetting sins that they constantly grapple with, whether it be gossiping, lying, losing their temper, or lust.
Christians are called to lay aside "the sin that so easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1). They should avoid tempting situations and relationships, making "no provision for the flesh" (Romans 13:14, NKJV). They should pray for wisdom and strength to change their habits and saturate themselves in Scripture (Psalm 1:1-2; John 17:17).
Although Christians do not become sinless, they can have consistent victory over sin through God's grace and power. They can be careful to avoid situations that expose them to danger and plan not to sin. They can deny themselves, confess their sins, and turn from them.
In conclusion, while Christians are saved by God's grace, they do not become perfect and sinless. They will continue to struggle against sin and need to rely on God's power and grace to overcome their besetting sins.
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Christians will continue to struggle against sin for the rest of their lives
Christians do not become perfect and sinless when they are saved. Instead, they will continue to grapple with their sinful nature, as the desires of the flesh conflict with the desires of the spirit. This internal conflict is described in Galatians 5:17, which states that "the flesh has desires contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires contrary to the flesh."
The concept of besetting sins is elaborated in Hebrews 12:1 of the King James Version of the Bible: "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." The word "beset" in this verse is derived from the Greek word "euperistatos," which means "cleverly placing itself around, to exert tight control; hence easily entangling." This verse highlights the ensnaring nature of sin and the need for Christians to persevere in their struggle against it.
While Christians may never be completely free from sin, they can find solace in the knowledge that they are forgiven through Christ. As stated in Colossians 2:13-14, Christians are assured that the Lord forgave all their sins at the cross. Additionally, Hebrews 10:12-14 reinforces that Jesus' sacrifice was a once-for-all-time offering that made them perfect forever.
To overcome their besetting sins, Christians are advised to take several steps. Firstly, they should avoid situations and relationships that tempt them and make them vulnerable to sin. Secondly, they should cultivate a mindset focused on spiritual things and saturate their minds with Scripture. Lastly, they should rely on Christ's power and discipline to help them implement these changes. While the struggle against sin may be ongoing, Christians can find strength and guidance through their faith.
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Christians should avoid tempting situations and relationships
Christians do not become perfect and sinless when saved, but rather, they will continue to struggle against sin for the rest of their lives. It is a constant battle against our sinful nature.
To avoid falling into besetting sins, it is important to recognise and avoid tempting situations and relationships. For example, if you are tempted by drinking, stay away from bars. If you are tempted by lust, avoid places that sell pornography. If you are tempted when travelling alone, make sure you are accountable to someone and plan your free time with things that will build you up in the Lord.
It is also important to pray for wisdom and strength to change habits, and to saturate yourself in Scripture.
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Christians should pray for wisdom and strength to change their habits
Christians should recognize that besetting sins are persistent, deeply rooted, and a constant struggle. They are the sins that one wrestles with most often and are the most troublesome. These are the sins that keep haunting Christians, threatening to control them and hold them in bondage.
Christians should also be aware that they can be fooled about their worst failings and may need skilled help in diagnosing what is truly wrong. They may think they have their lives under control, but there could be a besetting sin lurking beneath the surface.
To overcome besetting sins, Christians must first know and understand the facts about what God has done for them in Jesus Christ, specifically in His death and resurrection. They must recognize that they have been united with Jesus in His death and share in His resurrection life. This knowledge provides the basis for all victory over sin.
Secondly, Christians must adopt a stance of faith. They must consider themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. They must affirm this truth and exercise their faith, trusting that God will fulfill His promises.
Finally, Christians must engage in a struggle or fight against sin. They must not yield to sin but instead, yield themselves to God and serve Him. They must resist the devil and flee from temptations. By doing so, they can gain victory over their besetting sins and live a life that glorifies God.
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Christians should saturate themselves in Scripture
The Bible gives us many examples of people who struggled with besetting sins. Abraham, the father of faith, repeatedly lied about his wife to protect himself. Both David and Solomon had a weakness for women, and their lust proved troublesome. The apostle Peter struggled with the fear of man and denied knowing Jesus three times.
Despite their besetting sins, God worked through these individuals in powerful ways. This gives us hope that God can use us too, despite our struggles. We should not excuse or sugar-coat our besetting sins, but we also should not lose hope or give up the fight.
The Bible provides us with instructions on how to conquer our besetting sins. First, we must know the facts: Jesus Christ died and rose again to forgive and free us, and we have died and risen with Him. This is the basis for all victory over sin. We must also adopt a stance of faith, seeing ourselves as dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Finally, we must engage in a struggle or fight against sin. We must say no to our old master and yes to our new one, serving God with joy.
It is important to remember that victory over besetting sins may be immediate or gradual. We must make no provision for the besetting sin, removing ourselves from tempting situations and relationships. We should cultivate a mind that is unfavourable to the besetting sin, saturating ourselves with Scripture and spiritual things. And we must rely on Christ's power in our lives, walking in the Spirit and praying for wisdom and strength to change our habits.
In conclusion, Christians who are struggling with besetting sins should saturate themselves in Scripture by keeping their minds focused on God and His kingdom. This will help to create an environment that is not conducive to the thoughts and temptations of their besetting sins. By following the examples set forth in the Bible and relying on Christ's power, Christians can conquer their besetting sins and live a life that is pleasing to God.
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Frequently asked questions
Hebrews 12:1 in the King James Version of the Bible says: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Examples of besetting sins include gossiping, lying, losing one's temper, lust, greed, addiction to drugs, manipulation, dishonesty, and deceit.
Christians can overcome their besetting sins by:
- Recognizing and resisting temptation
- Seeking help from God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
- Praying for wisdom and strength to change their habits
- Saturating themselves in Scripture
- Immediately seeking God's mercy and grace when they sin