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Is It Possible to Live the Christian Life?

Is It Possible to Live the Christian Life?

There is good news and bad news on this subject. I will start with the bad news:

1 John 1:8 tells us that we Christians cannot get rid of indwelling Sin: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Moreover Galatian 5:17 tells us that our flesh [Old Man, Old Adamic nature] will be habitually expressing an opinion and urging us (with strong desire) to sin:
"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that you* may not do the things that you* would."

Thus one should not hope to escape from temptation in this life, nor from the ability to sin. But given that problem, it does not follow that in fact we will ever sin. We might follow the strong desire of the Holy Spirit, instead of the strong desires (lusts, covetings) of the flesh.

But things are worse than that. James 3:2 informs us that
"in many things we all stumble."

So that is the bad news. So long as we live in this life, we are going to be committing many sins.

On the other hand, it is never necessary for us to sin. In any given situation we have the power to glorify and please the Lord. 2 Peter 1:2-4 encourages us with the information that the Lord has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and virtue; whereby He hath granted unto us His precious and exceeding great promises; that through these you* may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust."

Therefore, at the outset we must realize (1) we do have the ability to life the Christian life. But (2) sadly, we are going to fail at it a lot.

And it may be little consolation that we might life in such a way as to satisfy our consciences and not be observed by men as sinning. For God knows our hearts and our many actual stumbles.