The Propensity to Sin

“So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.” Matthew 18:8

Recently, I had a conversation with someone I have known for some time, trying to convince me that people are born into homosexuality.

“You’re right, “ I said. “We are all born into sin.” 

Romans 5:12 tells us, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

When ruled by our flesh, we each have a propensity toward certain sins. Each of us may have a different struggle with sins such as gluttony, drunkenness, lying, adultery, homosexuality, covetousness, greed, and the list could go on and on.

But, it’s still sin.

We can’t excuse it away, or take a pill to fix it. The answer is a real, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He is the answer. He is the Great Physician.

We must choose to be ruled by God’s Spirit rather than our flesh.

I John 3:9 tells us, “Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.”

May the Spirit of the Living God dwell in you richly, keeping you from the propensity to sin.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Whilst studying the Biblical issue of "Sin", I spoke to a good & wise friend of mine on Sin's issue. We came to an understanding that, not all words (in fact, No words regarding our sinnability), when we break them down (anatomically) have the exact Same Equivocal Meaning. For example, it's not just Potential that we have to Sin, neither is it simply a Tendency to Sin that we have, but, it's an a unavoidale "Propensity" (because of our "Fallen Nature's), our "Compelling Yieldability" (like a Compulsion) to do that which we know we shouldn't. This is why we are exhorted to "Work out our salvation with Fear & Trembling, becsuse the time is short". Neither is it just a predilection, But rather an "Innate" yieldability to gratify the lists if our flesh. You might ask then, "Is there no hope?" or, "What can we possibly do, in order to constrain/restrain ourselves, in order ot to Sin, in order to override this "Propensity" which is innately inside me/us? How do I Not yield to Sin? There's a Simple answer to this (which is quite humbling)! And that is; We Can't (Not Totally), and that's because only the Lord Jesus Christ is INCAPABLE of sinning. We have to Strive (having God's Holy Spirit in our very being) to as much "Total unyieldingness" as possible, whilst Daily Believing, Trusting & Conforming ourselves into His Own Glorious Likeness as possible. And even then, having the honesty & courage to admit when we get it wrong, repent, and do the right thing. We'll always have this Propensity to yield to temptation & Sin, knowing the Grace of God & appreciating & showing our gratitude to God, we can live in peace with God and direct our minds & thought's against our own Propensities. All we who are truly "Born Again", I love you all (In the Lord). Vince
Anonymous said…
Well said, Vince! May we constantly cling to Him!

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