Why are many if not most professing Christians still slaves to sins?

[cs80918]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

[gospel]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

Salvation is God's part...He does that part perfectly!

Renewing our mind is our part

Some of us don't even know we're supposed to renew our mind

Some of us that do know, do not study enough or have teachers that teach us how

The vast majority of Christians are saved but are going about their life as if they are unsaved...

Talking like, dressing like, acting like people in the world with no idea of what it means to be a child of The King


It's like being born of a very wealthy family, having maids, butlers, chauffeurs and the whole works

Yet living like someone who is in poverty,

Catching the bus, walking, eating soda crackers, tuna and beans out of the can, wearing tattered clothes, un-bathed, unshaven, lacking medical attention, going to public school in the poorest neighborhoods....

and choosing as friends and running buddies, those who despise your family and would beg borrow and steal to get what you already have and try to get it anyway but the right way

 

[Loner]

I agree with what gospel has already said but will just add this: I think too many Christians are serving the Lord with a divided heart and will therefore fall into sin more easily, people who serve with this undivided heart will be those who are walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit and thus becoming slaves of sin.

[candy]

We still live in the fleshly body.  The body we're in craves sin as it was born in it.  It doesn't know any way else to behave.  We have to take our thoughts captive to Christ or they will sink us into sin.  Sinning starts out with the thoughts.  Eventually, we get so worked up, and don't think Satan doesn't take advantage of this, that we sin to give into those thoughts.  If we could always take our thoughts captive, there would be way less sinning in my opinion.  The Holy Spirit inside us helps us by convicting us when we're about to blow it.  Gospel's right when he talks about renewing of the mind.  This renewal of the mind is what prevents us from sinning.  Only Christ can renew our mind.  It is a work for us everyday to be living in a body that wants to sin with a renewed mind from Christ.  That's why many of us are so conflicted.  Anyway, let's let the renewed mind of the Spirit win over the fleshly body.  My thoughts.
Candy

[Talking Donkey]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

Perhaps this will help.

Rom 11:32 For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Isa 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Peace

[xheathen]

I can only speak as to what happened to me. We know that God does not always work in peoples lives in the same way so how much use it will be I don't know.

When I was reborn most of my wants changed at once. However, my body did not follow along. As I read more and obeyed more I acted more like I should. Several sinful actions kept with me and bothered me more and more until  began to doubt my salvation. These kept bothering me until I shed tears over it knowing that I must not be saved. When that happened the thought crossed my mind "but you love the brothers.

[p.rehbein]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

I'm wondering how we arrived at the conclusion that "many if not most professing" Christians are "still slaves to sin?"  Was there a scientific survey I missed?  Did someone do a worldwide head count of Christians and then determine which were still slaves to sin, and which were not?  Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

[cs80918]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

I'm wondering how we arrived at the conclusion that "many if not most professing" Christians are "still slaves to sin?"  Was there a scientific survey I missed?  Did someone do a worldwide head count of Christians and then determine which were still slaves to sin, and which were not?  Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

We can not address a problem if we are unaware of it.

You can look up information about sin in the Churches.

What is the divorce rate of people in Christian churches?


http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-03-14-divorce-christians_N.htm

How many Christian live together before marriage?

How many Christians fornicate?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/34.28.html



Do you really think all those people in your church are as holy as you think they are?


http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/20.7.html

My people fail because of a lack of knowledge.

[gospel]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

I'm wondering how we arrived at the conclusion that "many if not most professing" Christians are "still slaves to sin?"  Was there a scientific survey I missed?  Did someone do a worldwide head count of Christians and then determine which were still slaves to sin, and which were not?  Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

We can not address a problem if we are unaware of it.

You can look up information about sin in the Churches.

What is the divorce rate of people in Christian churches?


http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-03-14-divorce-christians_N.htm

How many Christian live together before marriage?

How many Christians fornicate?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/34.28.html



Do you really think all those people in your church are as holy as you think they are?


http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/20.7.html

My people fail because of a lack of knowledge.

Sorry but your statement and your premise along with your well documented facts and statistics contradict what the bible says....

Those who are saved are no longer enslaved or in bondage to sin

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Christ has set us free...PERIOD!

The fact that what we see with our eyes contradicts what we cannot see does not make it untrue....

Whom the Son set free is free indeed...not just free but free INDEED!

The problem lies in number one...people actually knowing they are free!

Many Christians are taught a gospel that differ greatly from The Gospel Jesus taught and from that which Paul taught...

Those "other" gospels tend to keep people in the mindset of a yoke of bondage and it is the mindset of a person that keeps a free man living like a slave!

For instance, when Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation many black slaves did not get the "good news", until months and in some cases years later and even at that, many of those who did, chose to stay on the plantations free indeed yet choosing to live as slaves....having no idea how to navigate through life in the liberty of a free person, without the constraints of rigid control influenced and enforced by fear and punishment.

Sadly many Christians see God in this manner, as an overseer who would control us with rigid constraints, harsh discipline, fear and punishment...

...In a strange uncanny way...it is this slave mentality that nurtures and encourages rebellion

As a teenager attending public high school, I remember many of us teen-age boys would go hang out around the girl Catholic high school.
Why?

Although it seemed like it would be quite the opposite...it was common knowledge that quite a few Catholic girls were itching to get into trouble.

In other words, the restraints, harsh discipline and measure of control that was imposed upon them had produced rebellion rather than innocence.    

I'm only using Catholic School as example and not an aspersion against the denomination

On the other extreme, in Muslim nations , despite all their Holier than thou, 5 times a day prayers, washing hands and feet and all the other rigid disciplines.... sexual molestation and even the consuming of alcohol are best kept secrets

Strange how that works ...isn't it  

In any case its something to consider and it is supported by scripture

1 Corinthians 15:56
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Thank God for Grace which is the Freedom from The Bondage of Sin!

[p.rehbein]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

I'm wondering how we arrived at the conclusion that "many if not most professing" Christians are "still slaves to sin?"  Was there a scientific survey I missed?  Did someone do a worldwide head count of Christians and then determine which were still slaves to sin, and which were not?  Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

We can not address a problem if we are unaware of it.

You can look up information about sin in the Churches.

What is the divorce rate of people in Christian churches?


http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-03-14-divorce-christians_N.htm

How many Christian live together before marriage?

How many Christians fornicate?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/may/34.28.html



Do you really think all those people in your church are as holy as you think they are?


http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/march/20.7.html

My people fail because of a lack of knowledge.

........and you have missed my point entirely, unless you are simply disguising this under the label of "PROFESSING Christians," which, of course, is not the same as Christian...............shoot, I could "profess" to be an All-American running back, but that wouldn't make it true.  And as your comments have been about folks being a slave to sin who PROFESS to be Christians, then I again referr you to my comment.............especially the last sentence.

God bless

[cs80918]

I guess I am wrong, people who PROFESS to be Christians that sit next to you and I at church are not slaves to sin.

Professing Christian don't fornicate, don't co habitat before marriage, etc.

[cs80918]

Why do you think I made this post?

I made it in the hopes that anyone professing to be a Christian that is disobedient or lacking biblical knowledge will realize that as Christian we are no longer slaves to sin.

It is a simple message, but many in the church haven't gotten it.

There are statistics that back up my statements on this.

[Beta]

I am not sure we actually need 'statistics or 'surveys to know that most Christians are still deep in sin....even if we vociferously contradict such assumption.

All we need to do is to look at 'Society around us .
There seem to be more Criminals than our prisons can hold....and
most 'Christians' break the Commandments of God.
We really don't need to look very far at all ....Sin is everywhere !

Why ?...Disobedience to the Word of God either based on Unbelief or Ignorance ...not to mention Selfwill !

[DaveW]

I would submit that it is a product of several centuries of lack of proper discipleship.

Matt 28.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

[Beta]

I would submit that it is a product of several centuries of lack of proper discipleship.

Matt 28.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

[fish153]

I would submit that it is a product of several centuries of lack of proper discipleship.

Matt 28.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

[Beta]

I would submit that it is a product of several centuries of lack of proper discipleship.

Matt 28.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

[Jimmy]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

It is interesting that you have judged "most professing Christians" to still be slaves to sin.  Perhaps it is simply that "most professing Christians" really are not Christians.  Perhaps they are not now or perhaps never were a part of God's kingdom.  There are any number of reasons for that.  You have named some.  But at any rate it is a choice they have made.

[p.rehbein]

I guess I am wrong, people who PROFESS to be Christians that sit next to you and I at church are not slaves to sin.

Professing Christian don't fornicate, don't co habitat before marriage, etc.

this is still a bit confusing..............are you saying that ALL who profess/claim to be a Chrisian are true Christians?  And you still do not seem able to grasp my point, so I will restate it in hopes you come to an understanding of it.

Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

I hope you can now understand what I am saying................God bless............

[cs80918]

I guess I am wrong, people who PROFESS to be Christians that sit next to you and I at church are not slaves to sin.

Professing Christian don't fornicate, don't co habitat before marriage, etc.

this is still a bit confusing..............are you saying that ALL who profess/claim to be a Chrisian are true Christians?  And you still do not seem able to grasp my point, so I will restate it in hopes you come to an understanding of it.

Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

I hope you can now understand what I am saying................God bless............

Maybe, I used the wrong words.  I will say that many people in Churches or many people who claim to be Christians are unaware of the freedom we have from sin.   

Wow, why am I having such a hard time communicating this?  God help me.

There is a problem in the preaching in our churches about sin.  Christians have more freedom from sin than many of us realize. 

The world teaches us that sinning is winning.  That being holy is losing.

Example:

When a guy has sex with a pretty girl outside marriage, you will often hear other guys say something like "way to go"

As if they won a prize for their sin.   

I just think the teaching in many churches is really lacking on the victory in Jesus that we have over sin.

With many Christians it is a very real and ever present battle they are going through, but it doesn't have to be that way.

I forget the figures, but something like 50% of pastors have a porn addiction.  Also, some pastors have a glutton problem with food and a greed problem with money.

[Talking Donkey]

I guess I am wrong, people who PROFESS to be Christians that sit next to you and I at church are not slaves to sin.

Professing Christian don't fornicate, don't co habitat before marriage, etc.

IT IS WRITTEN:  Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

THE SELF RIGHTEOUS ARE A LEGEND IN THEIR OWN MIND.

PEACE

[MaddSkillz]

This pretty much backs up the idea that freewill is a myth.

You wanna stop sinning, right?  Then why do you continue to do so?

There's no time in this existence on earth that you are completely free of both outside and inside influence.  Thus you are never free to have a "freewill."

The premise of freewill for humans is flawed.

[7angels]

I guess I am wrong, people who PROFESS to be Christians that sit next to you and I at church are not slaves to sin.

Professing Christian don't fornicate, don't co habitat before marriage, etc.

this is still a bit confusing..............are you saying that ALL who profess/claim to be a Chrisian are true Christians?  And you still do not seem able to grasp my point, so I will restate it in hopes you come to an understanding of it.

Seems to me that if a person is the "slave of sin," that would pretty well preclude them from being a Christian would it not?

I hope you can now understand what I am saying................God bless............

the answer to your question is found by looking at rom 10:9 which says Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  there is no other requirement to be saved.  but there are other promises within the bible that require more from us to allow us to have those promises.  every promise in God's word has a prerequisite that needs to be met before we can get the promises of God.  even salvation requires something in order to be saved.  a christian can be saved and go to heaven and yet never live in the promises of God.  those that live in the promises are referred to in the bible as overcomers in Christ.  according to statistics made from christian ministries is that there are only about 8%of all christians live the victorious life of God as overcomers in Christ, 8 out of 10 ministries do not last past the 5 year mark and 9 out of 10 ministries never make it to retirement.  only about 10%of all christians tithe regularly, and ect.  i hope this helps

God bless

[Catalyst]

Disobedience?

Lack of biblical knowledge?

Lack of faith?

Incorrect preaching?

Preachers/pastors/priest that are still slaves of sin and are unable to instruct their flocks correctly on this subject?

Biblical knowledge does nothing for you.  It's not about what you know, it's about how you live. 

The ONLY determinant for you to get into heaven, is getting the love right.  1 john 4:16-18.  If you went yoru whole life and never sinned (work with me here...) but you hadn't got the love part right, you aren't heaven bound, 1 john 4:16-18.

Imagine you have to change from a righty to a lefty in basketball.  You can watch all the film, read all the books, know all the information, but it won't make you a natural lefty, until you do it a billion times and are changed.   

I'd also question you on what you mean by slaves to sins.  Scripture doesn't talk about slaves to sins, it talks about slave to sin.  Paul describes that "sin" as an entity like presence inside of you and says you are EITHER indwelled by IT or by the Spirit.  And whenever one is there, is the one you obey. 

So, once gone, always gone, that sinful part of us.  But, it's probably not gone, yet from most of us.

[Catalyst]

Professing Xians..... the term is a problem. 

Anyone can profess to be Xian.  It doesn't matter what you say you are.  It matters what you have become. 

Xian is a term that has ZERO MEANING in the Church today.  It should be wiped from the vocabulary and done away with.  Here's why.  If I had a hundred of you in a thread, and asked for a definition of the word from each of you.  Then sit you down and followed up with the same questions to see what the rote answer really MEANS to you, there would be 110 different answers from a 100 count sampling.   When you say the word, you can agree on a cliche of it's meaning, but the details, or what it REALLY MEANS there will be no agreement.

So consider this.  If you ask me if I'm Xian.  And I answer yes.  The word means something different to me than to you.  I really didn't answer your question at all.  All I can claim is I believe I am.  Since you think it means something other than I do, I don't know if in YOUR understanding I'm Xian or not. 

[Lively Stone]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

[Willie T]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

You think he/she is a Christian?  I didn't get that impression.

[Catalyst]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

Because they would have more education than your bigotted comment shows you have.

IXOYE was a sign that spelled fish, usually drawn with a fish made of two arcs around it.  You probably only know it as a catchy bumpersticker.  The I is Jesus name.  The X is Jesus title, The O is GOD, the Y is for being God's Son, the E is for being SAVIOR.
It stands for Jesus Christ, God son savior.

The people that used that sign, died horrific martyred deaths.

Your blatantly, pick at someone to show how holy you are, and out of ignorance, just insulted every martyr that died to build the church you so ingraciously denigrate by claiming to be a member of.

THE X has been used for Christ since Christ had died.  It's a symbol of Christ.  It's as much a symbol of Christ as your "holy cross" is around your neck.

Nice to show your self righteous colors.

[Catalyst]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

You think he/she is a Christian?  I didn't get that impression.

I'm glad I don't base your approval on my being. 

What praytell gives you the impression that as I defend scripture in every thread I've entered, I'm not Xian?

Is it because I don't gang up on the same people the "holy huddle" does?

[Bitter Sweet]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

Because they would have more education than your bigotted comment shows you have.

IXOYE was a sign that spelled fish, usually drawn with a fish made of two arcs around it.  You probably only know it as a catchy bumpersticker.  The I is Jesus name.  The X is Jesus title, The O is GOD, the Y is for being God's Son, the E is for being SAVIOR.
It stands for Jesus Christ, God son savior.

The people that used that sign, died horrific martyred deaths.

Your blatantly, pick at someone to show how holy you are, and out of ignorance, just insulted every martyr that died to build the church you so ingraciously denigrate by claiming to be a member of.

THE X has been used for Christ since Christ had died.  It's a symbol of Christ.  It's as much a symbol of Christ as your "holy cross" is around your neck.

Nice to show your self righteous colors.

From my husbands village;

[Bitter Sweet]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

Because they would have more education than your bigotted comment shows you have.

IXOYE was a sign that spelled fish, usually drawn with a fish made of two arcs around it.  You probably only know it as a catchy bumpersticker.  The I is Jesus name.  The X is Jesus title, The O is GOD, the Y is for being God's Son, the E is for being SAVIOR.
It stands for Jesus Christ, God son savior.

The people that used that sign, died horrific martyred deaths.

Your blatantly, pick at someone to show how holy you are, and out of ignorance, just insulted every martyr that died to build the church you so ingraciously denigrate by claiming to be a member of.

THE X has been used for Christ since Christ had died.  It's a symbol of Christ.  It's as much a symbol of Christ as your "holy cross" is around your neck.

Nice to show your self righteous colors.

From my husbands village;

Just wanted to add that the X means chrst which means cross. To be a Christian in the Orthodox sense means a person that crosses him or herself. I remember being told to prichrsti myself which meant to do the father son and holy ghost thing with my fingers on my forehead shoulders and center.

[Willie T]

Well, it's a fact.  I just looked in several Bibles, and every one of them has "Jesus X" all over the place. 

[Bitter Sweet]

Well, it's a fact.  I just looked in several Bibles, and every one of them has "Jesus X" all over the place. 

Christ and Chrst aren't the same, Christ is anointed one. When we call ourselves Christians are we saying we are the anointed ones or people that take up the cross? 

Never mind, I'm a renegade Orthodox so it don't matter. 

[Catalyst]

Why anyone who is a Christian would use 'Xian' and expect to be taken seriously... 

Because they would have more education than your bigotted comment shows you have.

IXOYE was a sign that spelled fish, usually drawn with a fish made of two arcs around it.  You probably only know it as a catchy bumpersticker.  The I is Jesus name.  The X is Jesus title, The O is GOD, the Y is for being God's Son, the E is for being SAVIOR.
It stands for Jesus Christ, God son savior.

The people that used that sign, died horrific martyred deaths.

Your blatantly, pick at someone to show how holy you are, and out of ignorance, just insulted every martyr that died to build the church you so ingraciously denigrate by claiming to be a member of.

THE X has been used for Christ since Christ had died.  It's a symbol of Christ.  It's as much a symbol of Christ as your "holy cross" is around your neck.

Nice to show your self righteous colors.

From my husbands village;

.
Why, you don't agree with lively, you aren't a true "believer" at all!!

Just wanted to add that the X means chrst which means cross. To be a Christian in the Orthodox sense means a person that crosses him or herself. I remember being told to prichrsti myself which meant to do the father son and holy ghost thing with my fingers on my forehead shoulders and center.

[Catalyst]

Well, it's a fact.  I just looked in several Bibles, and every one of them has "Jesus X" all over the place. 

Do you always face your ignorance with bitter sarcasm? 

Old "notes" from older historical religious people used it, and that is available to anyone doing the research.  But since you know it all, why would you research. 

Let's see, then there was constantine's sigil used the X for christ, and if you search that historical period you will find it everywhere....
 
But, again, don't let facts get in the way of trying to step on the back of another to make yourself look closer to God.  It wouldn't be Christian of you.  And, you do have your image to protect, right?