TheSuperNews
21st July 2006, 07:57 PM
Understanding how we can still be a sinner, and yet still successfully actually stop sinning, can be illustrated by the example of a successful Alcoholic Anonymous person in recovery.
Once you are an Alcoholic you are always on some level addicted to Alcohol, your body is always biologically very susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol, But once youstop drinking it and get free from the strong compulsive needs of alcohol, by practicing the twelve step program, you are in recovery, and you can be just as decent and productive a person as a non-addict.
So an alcoholic's situation is analogous to our sinful state, where we habitually sin. But we may think we are only an occasional sinner, until someone (or the Word of God) points out that we are indeed an active sinner. Then we can go one of two ways, we can make excuses and avoid stopping sinning by rationalizing that "everybody sins, or i sin so little, it's not hurting anybody. It's normal to sin once and awhile, God allows it" Or we can work the "12 steps", confessing our sins, and depending as the AA programs encourgage, to admit we are basically powerless in and of ourselves (by our own will power) to overcome sin, and begin to consistently depend on the filling of Holy Spirit, and the life of Jesus Christ, the Great Overcomer to take charge of our lives and defeat sin in us.
And so like the successful recovering alcoholic who actually stops drinking alcohol by working the 12 steps, and relying on God's power, we as sinners can stop sinning. Although we never stop having the core weakness or brokeness for sin, and thus we can be still called "sinners", we can enjoy a sin-free, like an alcoholic free, relationship with God and others...and reap all the blessings.
Soooo, where are we as christians when we say, "Oh, it is normal to sin, everybody sins, my religion teacher says we can never stop sinning, i have tried, i always sin again, therefore that would be like becoming a liar to try or even think i could stop sinning!"
We are all sinners because our flesh is weak, but we can work God's program (sanctification), confess, turn away from sin and towards God, forgive others, and as we so desperately need, have God forgive us, and become submissive to the power of Holy Spirit to take control of bodies and minds, and cause us to stop sinning.
Once you are an Alcoholic you are always on some level addicted to Alcohol, your body is always biologically very susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol, But once youstop drinking it and get free from the strong compulsive needs of alcohol, by practicing the twelve step program, you are in recovery, and you can be just as decent and productive a person as a non-addict.
So an alcoholic's situation is analogous to our sinful state, where we habitually sin. But we may think we are only an occasional sinner, until someone (or the Word of God) points out that we are indeed an active sinner. Then we can go one of two ways, we can make excuses and avoid stopping sinning by rationalizing that "everybody sins, or i sin so little, it's not hurting anybody. It's normal to sin once and awhile, God allows it" Or we can work the "12 steps", confessing our sins, and depending as the AA programs encourgage, to admit we are basically powerless in and of ourselves (by our own will power) to overcome sin, and begin to consistently depend on the filling of Holy Spirit, and the life of Jesus Christ, the Great Overcomer to take charge of our lives and defeat sin in us.
And so like the successful recovering alcoholic who actually stops drinking alcohol by working the 12 steps, and relying on God's power, we as sinners can stop sinning. Although we never stop having the core weakness or brokeness for sin, and thus we can be still called "sinners", we can enjoy a sin-free, like an alcoholic free, relationship with God and others...and reap all the blessings.
Soooo, where are we as christians when we say, "Oh, it is normal to sin, everybody sins, my religion teacher says we can never stop sinning, i have tried, i always sin again, therefore that would be like becoming a liar to try or even think i could stop sinning!"
We are all sinners because our flesh is weak, but we can work God's program (sanctification), confess, turn away from sin and towards God, forgive others, and as we so desperately need, have God forgive us, and become submissive to the power of Holy Spirit to take control of bodies and minds, and cause us to stop sinning.