Sin Poll

[DeaconDean]

This is just a simple poll on how you (Baptists) think:

Which is worse:

Actually committing a sin.
Thinking of committing a sin
Neither, both are equally the same wrong.Thanks

God Bless

Till all are one.

[Iosias]

Neither, they are equally wrong.

[JustinWilliams]

If I think about killing my neighbor, it is sin. If I actually kill my neighbor, it is sin. Both are sinful but obviously one is a greater sin than the other.

Jesus spoke of greater and lessers sins and of varying punishment for different sins.

[Project 86]

Is being temped and thinking about sinning the same thing? If so then only doing the sin is sinning but thinking lustful thoughts is also a sin since Jesus is clear on that. Being tempted though isn't a sin since Jesus was tempted but he was without sin.

[daveleau]

Yep, equally wrong according to Jesus. Matt 5:21-30

That's what gets me about some people's beliefs... they think that just because they haven't stolen, raped or murdered that they are a good person. But, there are sins of omission, and sins based on desires never realized, but desires not eradicated from the mind that are equally as problematic.

I do not take this in the same way as temptation. Jesus was tempted, but He did not yield to temptation. Jesus says in the above passage that there is no difference between committing adultery in your heart and in the physical flesh. This does not mean a passing fancy (fleeting, and quickly quashed) is the same, but to lust over someone and allow the temptation to take hold- that is when we are just as wrong as committing the act.

[CooL_Genesis]

Thoughts of immorality of a variety of sorts can pass through our minds at any given time and moment. It's when we dwell on those thoughts that sin enters in. Then, we either play them out in our mind or act physically on them.

It's like looking at a centerfold in a magazine (not necesarily Playboy it could be Victoria's Secret)... you men with wives know what I'm talking about. You pass by the centerfold while flipping through the magazine and you have the choice... dwell on the picture of that beautiful woman, or keep flipping and choose to not let the picture overtake your thoughts and reactions. I'm choosing not to pick up Vickie's Secrets at all and just let the secret remain so... hehe.

In peace and grace,

-Genesis

[Cright]

I think there is a fine line...

I voted sinning is wrong. Here's my reason...

1)Some thoughts of sin are temptation. If you are having these thoughts and don't want them (some time it takes us time to turn away from things, "the renewing of our minds") if this is happening, it's a struggle with temptation and an actual sin is worse in God's eyes.

2) If you are having thougths about something immoral and take the time to enjoy the thoughts, or willfully think these things and not try to get rid of them (example of someone imagining lustful thoughts, knowing it's wrong and not turning away from it). This is sin.

My .02

[rkymtnjesusfreak]

I voted equally wrong.

[arunma]

I voted that it is worse to actually commit a sin. However, I have not sufficiently studied what the Bible has to say on the issue, and so I am certainly open to anyone else's Biblically-informed thoughts on this. After all, we ought to conform our beliefs to the Bible.

[jsimms615]

Neither, they are equally wrong.
So, your saying that thinking about murder and actually murdering someone is the same? No way.

[mesue]

If being tempted is the same as thinking about sin, then I could say that actually committing the sin is worse.
We are not pure minded and random sinful thoughts do jump into or heads whether we like it or not. These thoughts cause us to think but are random and we dismiss them as being irrational and rarely, if ever do they return.
Being tempted is a heart attitude. If I am constantly dwelling on a sin, the random thought comes back a few times and I give them merit, then it is something that I have to deal with on a heart level. Then it becomes equally as bad as committing the sin because I have already done so in my heart.
I won't go to jail for being tempted to murdering someone, but I will have to answer to God as to why I carried that bitterness in my heart for the person I wanted to murder.
I hope I made sense.

[edb19]

Based on Matthew 5 I lean toward thinking about sinning and actually sinning to be equal.

[TwinCrier]

So, your saying that thinking about murder and actually murdering someone is the same? No way.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

I always read 1 John if I'me feeling too righteous.

[mysterychristian]

This is just a simple poll on how you (Baptists) think:

Which is worse:

Actually committing a sin.
Thinking of committing a sin
Neither, both are equally the same wrong.Thanks

God Bless

Till all are one.
Thoughts that are evil or not right are just temptations not sins now if you act upon those temptations, the act is what's considered a sin, or off God's word. You cannot control what thoughts the adversasry throws at you but you can control how you handle them, brush them off by replacing them with the light of God's word, or succumbinng to them and entertaining them, at some point unknown to man in your harboring or entertainment of them, you sin. But as long as you dont entertain for long you wont get in to trouble mentally.

You are loved of God

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
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;

We are continuously engaged in a war. It is not a war of the flesh. It is not a worldly war between people or countries. It is not carnal. It is a war of the mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5 describes our part in this war. Lets look at this verse in detail:


2 Corinthians 10:5
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;


The first words in the verse are "casting down." These are the Greek word kathaireo which means to violently lower or demolish.
Luke 12:18
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down[kathaireo] my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.


2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, . . .

The next word is "imaginations." This is the Greek word logismos which means to take mental inventory; to reason; to make a mental estimation.
We are to demolish or pull down the thoughts, reasonings, and mental inventories which are contrary to God's Word. Those thoughts which build in our mind from our exposure to the world and its ideas and are contrary to the knowledge of God's Word are to be torn down and demolished. This is the believer's war.


2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing . . .

"Every" is the Greek word pas which means every! ALL - the whole thing! Each thought!
"High thing" is the Greek word hupsoma which means an elevated place, height or erected barrier.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height[hupsoma], nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing in life. Not even death. That is the whole span of existence. No spiritual power (angel). No government. No worldly power! Nothing in this present time can separate us. Nothing in the future. Nothing in any dimension - height or depth. This word height is hupsoma. Something raised up high. Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God. These are the thoughts that we are to hold in our minds and get persuaded about. When some imagination or mental reasoning builds against the Word of God and tells you that God does not love you or that you have been separated from God's love - TEAR IT DOWN! Demolish that high thought with the Word of God. NOTHING can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!


2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself . . .


"Exalteth itself" is the Greek word epairo which means to raise up.
Acts 27:40
And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up[epairo] the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

John 4:35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up[epairo] your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
When mental reasonings and thoughts are raised up high as barriers in our mind we are to tear them down with the word of God. We need to raise our vision to the Word of God and demolish worldly thoughts and reasonings that have been hoisted up in our minds.


2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, . . .
"Against" is the Greek word kata which means against, down or in opposition to.

"Knowledge" is the Greek word ginosis which means experiential knowledge. This verse specifies that it is talking about "the knowledge of God." We are to tear down or demolish mental reasonings and every high thought that raises itself above the knowledge of God. When our thoughts are contrary to God's Word they have raised themselves up to a level above the Word of God. They have set themselves above and in opposition to God's Word. Our warfare is to tear down these high thoughts.

[mlqurgw]

The outward act of sin is a result of the heart concieving sin. Everything we do is mixed with sin. Thank You Lord for giving me a righteousness that is not my own but Yours. He is the Lord our Righteousness.

[DeaconDean]

The outward act of sin is a result of the heart concieving sin.

Exactly, is that not what James taught us here:

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." -Jas. 1:14-15

God Bless

Till all are one.

[mysterychristian]

Exactly, is that not what James taught us here:

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." -Jas. 1:14-15

God Bless

Till all are one.
You are Righteous Now!


Righteousness, today, is God given justification (http://www.cortright.org/justify.htm) whereby a believer can stand before God without any sense of guilt, condemnation, or shortcomings.

It is being "right" before God. Righteousness is not something that can be earned by good works. Righteousness is given to a person by God when that person accepts Jesus Christ's work in his or her place.

When you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, God makes you righteous. (Romans 10:9-10) You are saved, born again, given sonship, justified and made righteous.

None of this is based upon your works. You receive from God because you have confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead.

Righteousness is given by God because we need it; not because we deserve it.


You cannot become righteous by confessing your sins, working for your church, memorizing the 23rd psalm, or keeping the ten commandments.

It is not your worthiness, works, or your goodness that makes you right before God.

None of us is good enough or strong enough to earn righteousness.

We are righteous because God has made us righteous in Christ Jesus.

II Corinthians 5:21
For he [God] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.


Some Christians teach that a person can be born again, righteous before God, one minute and then do something wrong and become unrighteous.

They go on to say that if that person does not work to become righteous again he or she will not be saved and will end up in hell.

This is absolutely NOT TRUE! Eternal life is ETERNAL. Saved is Saved. When the spirit of God is born within a believer that person is righteous before God at that moment and forever.

It is the nature of God, holy spirit, born within that makes us righteous. It is God's righteousness we receive:

Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith [believing action] of Christ, the righteousness which is of [or from] God by faith [believing].


Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of [or from] God which is by faith [believing action] of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:


You cannot be an unrighteous person if you are born again. God has made you righteous, wise, sanctified, and redeemed.

I Corinthians 1:30
But of him [God] are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.


So, if believers have the righteousness of God why do they still live in guilt and condemnation?

Why do they still focus on their faults and failures?

You can get out of this negative rut by believing what God's Word says about you.

There is no fear, worry, fault or failure - God has made you righteous. Simply believe what the Word says and stand.

You must change your heart to line up with the Word and then you will have confidence toward God.

I John 3:20-21
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

So long as your heart (the innermost part of your being) is accusing you and finding fault you cannot have confidence toward God.

Even the most simple promises of God become difficult to accept when you are condemning yourself.

Line up your thinking with the righteousness that God has given you and you will be able to boldly live with confidence toward God and receive all that He has promised.

You are loved of God

[Pepperoni]

If I think about killing my neighbor, it is sin. If I actually kill my neighbor, it is sin. Both are sinful but obviously one is a greater sin than the other.

Jesus spoke of greater and lessers sins and of varying punishment for different sins.
Did he??? :confused:

[JustinWilliams]

Did he??? :confused:
Yes. Read Luke 12 beginning around verse 41 and John 19:11.


Blessings,

Justin

[JuJube]

Sin is sin, and separates us from God. It is the consequences that vary. Some consequences may be greater that the others.

[JuJube]

Sin is sin, and separates us from God. It is the consequences that vary. Some consequences may be greater that the others.
OOps, forgot to finish. I say that if the sin is in your heart, that you have done it. Just thinking it (being tempted ) is different. There is an old saying. Birds will always fly over head...but don't let them nest in your hair. Maybe sounds silly, but it's true.

[BubbaScott]

If you think of it, your actually doing it in your head. So, whats the differance.

[BereanTodd]

I said that actually commiting it is worse, but follow this reasoning.

Jesus is clear in the Sermon on the mount that hating someone is the same as killing them, that lusting for a woman is the same as having commited adultery with her. So on that level I think it is fair to say that the thinking over the sins and commiting them are equal.

But I vote that commiting is greater. Why? Because if you have commited the sin, you first thought it over ... so you have double sinned in effect. First by considering and letting it take hold in your mind, second by giving in and commiting it.

[JuJube]

Thoughts will come to you, but whether you dwell on them is the difference.

[RajunCajun86]

interesting thread, i said it is sin to actually commit the sin, to be tempted and think of sinning is not sin, to think lustfully or hatefully would be though, have to agree with cright....fine line