Christians - Sin

[michel]

In a thread of mine, I asked to receive comments about a situation with which I was struggling; this reply at first made me feel O.K, but then I started to think............

Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonWater
I think you did right Michel. There was no need to be rude or insulting by no showing or calling it off especially when it's so clear that you are very committed to your wife. The thing you have to remember is that a feeling is just a feeling, you can't control what you feel but you can determine why you feel that way and prevent your emotions from controlling you. There is no need to feel guilty over anything you feel. I think the most important thing is to be open and honest with your wife about the whole thing. There's nothing wrong with having a feeling, it's only if you act on it that problems could arise and you have complete control over what actions you take in this regard. And it sounds to me like all that's happened from your actions is you've wound up with a few friends.

Thanks for your reply; I am not sure that , as a Christian, the thought is sin-free, that being said, is the thought not just as much of a sin?
[/quote]

Is having a sinful thought not a sin in itself ?

 

[Enoch07]

Depends. Everyone has thoughts of something sinful time to time. Its human nature. If you try to block out or ignore it you will drive yourself insane. Some thoughts are sinful just as thought. Like coveting. Also thoughts of being with someone else other than your partner while your with your partner or while your "alone" can be considered adultery, just as much as acting on the thoughts.

Some thoughts are not. Like when you are tempted to steal something (for whatever reason) yet you do not act on it. Therefore since you was tempted but did nothing wrong, you have not sinned.

Sin is in human nature. It is our responsibility to keep it in check as much as possible. What you have to remember is that you will mess up time to time. God understands this and this is why we can repent and cleanse ourselves of sin. This is not a license to sin all we want. If you repeatedly sin and keep asking for forgiveness of that sin, it makes God angry. So self-discipline and self-control are key.

 

[Enlighten]

Hi, In the bible it states:

Mat 5:28 - But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Therefore yeah I would say the thought itself is a sin.

 

[ἀλήθεια]

If Satan tempts us by putting an evil thought in our minds, we are are to resist him and he will flee. We can rebuke the evil thought. If we relish the thought, we are giving in to Satan.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(James 4:7)

We can ponder the word of God instead of giving in to evil thoughts.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Christians have the power to direct their thoughts to God and those things mentioned in Philippians 4:8.

 

[ChristineES]

Sin is the breaking of God's rules. What "rules" mean to me is that we are a part of Christianity so, in order to a Christian, we have to follow the rules that God gave us. But what about those who are not Christians- since they don't have the same rules, would those things still be considered a sin for them? Unfortunately, I don't even have an answer for that question.

 

[thewindblows]

In a thread of mine, I asked to receive comments about a situation with which I was struggling; this reply at first made me feel O.K, but then I started to think............






Thanks for your reply; I am not sure that , as a Christian, the thought is sin-free, that being said, is the thought not just as much of a sin?

Is having a sinful thought not a sin in itself ?[/quote]


if you are a true christian then you should not have to ask this question, the answer is very plainly stated in the word of God.

 

[sojourner]

Is having a sinful thought not a sin in itself ?

if you are a true christian then you should not have to ask this question, the answer is very plainly stated in the word of God.[/quote]
So, "true Christians" are never allowed to question what may be "plainly stated" in the Bible? Wow!
Why do you feel that's the case?

 

[jtartar]

Hi, In the bible it states:

Mat 5:28 - But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Therefore yeah I would say the thought itself is a sin.

Enlightened,
The thinking about something is only a sin if you would carry it out if you had the chance.
Consider what James said about the process at Jam 1:14,15. Here sin is only a sin when it is accomplished. The idea gives birth to sin, but only sin brings forth death.
Think about this; Was it a sin for Jesus to tell about looking a a woman so as to have a passion for her. He had to be thinking about the whole process, but he sure would NEVER do such a thing.
Any intelligent person thinks of things that he could do that are not the right thing to do. What does he do then?? He removes the thought from his mind, because he knows that he would not do this thing. This is not a sin, the sin is, would you do the thing if you had the chance, or do you try to make the thing happen?? If you do it is a sin!!!

 

[Zadok]

If Satan tempts us by putting an evil thought in our minds, we are are to resist him and he will flee. We can rebuke the evil thought. If we relish the thought, we are giving in to Satan.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(James 4:7)

We can ponder the word of God instead of giving in to evil thoughts.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Christians have the power to direct their thoughts to God and those things mentioned in Philippians 4:8.

I think I agree with what is said in this post. Satan came to Jesus and tempted him with evil thoughts but Jesus used a correct understanding of scripture to help him reject the thoughts that came as temptation and recognizing the purpose in the thoughts rebuked Satan. (See Luke chapter 4)

Zadok

 

[Kathryn]

When a thought or temptation crosses our mind, we often can't even help that. There's no sin in that.

The sin would be to dwell on it, fantasize about it, allow ourselves to daydream about it and give that "brain time" to a sinful scenario. That would be the first sin.

The second sin would be then to act on those temptations.

But with God's grace, we can overcome temptations and tempting thoughts. This sometimes takes strength that we don't have individually - we must rely on God's help in those times. He promises to help us - and He WILL help us - but we have to ask for that help,and then accept that help.

In other words we have to submit our thoughts and actions to God.

 

[2nd mouse]

In a thread of mine, I asked to receive comments about a situation with which I was struggling; this reply at first made me feel O.K, but then I started to think............






Thanks for your reply; I am not sure that , as a Christian, the thought is sin-free, that being said, is the thought not just as much of a sin?

Is having a sinful thought not a sin in itself ?[/quote]

Thoughts are not sins. It's what you do with the initial thought.

A thought can become a sin when you start to entertain the thought. For example when you see an attractive women and the thought picture enters your mind of her in her underwear. Right then you have a choice to make. The choice you make now is where the sin is. You can choose to look away and move on with your day or you can choose to play with that thought and take her top off.