We are answering tough questions from Christian teens about a variety of subjects. The current topics deal with how God saves people.
In our last article we looked at the question of the TULIP in Calvinism. This question is a followup.
You can read previous questions and answers here.
[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]
In light of our total depravity, what part of us is in the image of God? I don’t think ‘total depravity’ really describes the situation accurately if we are a creature made in the image of God. Along the same lines I’ve often wondered ‘can Christians go any period of time without sinning? Even one minute?’ I know I myself can’t seem to go very long without getting angry or having a negative thought as about someone or something but do we have the power through Christ to resist sin even a little?
Great points!
Jesus told the woman at the well that “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) I believe the image and likeness of God is spiritual. Jesus said we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. That gives us some sense of how we respond to God with our emotions, our spirit, our thinking and our physical strength. I think the soul is what is like God.
I think there are a couple of different ways of viewing temptation. We might call it ‘positive’ temptation and ‘negative’ temptation.
First, positive temptation. Jesus taught His disciples to pray – “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13). The word ‘temptation’ means ‘an experiment, a trial, test.’ Israel and the Church have undergone untold tests – many from God. So, what was Jesus asking us to pray? ‘Please, God, no more tests!’?? I think it’s more along the line of asking God not to lead us into trials that include suffering, but whatever happens deliver us from the evil one. That would include persecution for being a follower of Jesus Christ along with the sufferings that come into our lives for other reasons.
Whenever we face persecution and suffering, the devil can find a way to discourage us and bring us to despair of our situation. Our prayer to God is to deliver us from the evil one in those situations. How do we do that? James wrote –
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:6-7
We find strength for trials and testings as we grow in grace and learn the lessons of humility. We have so much Scripture in both Testaments that call on God’s people to obey Him.
Second, negative temptation. I don’t believe God leads us into the temptation to sin. James wrote –
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
James 1:13-14
Notice that each one of us is tempted to sin when we are drawn away by our own desires and enticed. When desire begins (has conceived), it gives birth to sin. When sin is full-grown, it brings forth death. Knowing how sin works in us means we can work on resisting it.
The Apostle Paul promised Christians that God would not allow us to be tested beyond our ability –
“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
1 Corinthians 10:6-13
In the context of a Christian’s ‘liberty,’ Paul wrote –
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16
The Holy Spirit is our great Ally in the battle of temptation. The urge to sin is strong, but Paul made the bold statement that if we ‘walk’ in the Spirit, we would not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
We also have allies in our brothers and sisters in Christ. In the same context, Paul wrote –
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”
Galatians 6:1-5
We could also look at spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 for the real potential of fighting against the temptation to sin. 1 Timothy 6 is another good example. Jesus called on five of the seven churches in Revelation to repent and overcome. I believe He asked them to do something they were able to do.
Can a Christian go any period of time without sinning? I believe we can. It’s not easy, but it seems from Scripture that it is possible. However, I don’t believe Christian ‘regeneration’ means we no longer sin while we’re in these bodies on earth. Some Christians believe they’ve reached that point in their walk with Christ that they no longer sin. First, I don’t find that in Scripture. Second, their behavior shows otherwise. Pride does come before a fall.
[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]
The Next Question
In the next part of our special series, Tough Questions From Christian Teens, we will look at the question of eternal or conditional security. Can Christians lose their salvation?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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