If you're here to view the pictures of Isaac and Eli, please scroll down past my ramblings.
Now onto more verses concerning sin:
(1 Pet 4:1-2 NASB) "Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, {2} so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
If we are willing to suffer with Christ, then we are willing to be free from sin. When I sin, I am telling God that I don't like what he has planned for me. Whether I do that consciously or subconsciously, that is what my actions declare. I really think my way is better. If I didn't, then my life would be completely his.
Until we're willing to give up on going our own way we will not be able to take that step into a flesh that has ceased from sin. When we completely submit ourselves to God and his will, we will be free. Our life will be transformed from a selfish display of humanity into the will of God.
A sinless life is about suffering. It is about denying yourself your will. It is about taking on the life of Christ daily. We cannot keep our old self alive and the new self at the same time. One of them has to die. We have to choose.
(2 Cor 4:11 NASB) "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."
We need to be constantly dying to our selves if we want to live the life Jesus has planned for us. The goal - that our life will be the life of Jesus. Our flesh needs to be Jesus' flesh.
(2 Cor 7:1 NASB) "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
We are called to be holy. We can argue all day on whether holiness can be attained here on earth. If we do that, we will miss the point. It is clear that our heart needs to be at the place of seeking holiness in our lives constantly. That would happen naturally if we were to do what the previous verse said and continue to die for ourselves and live for Christ.
(Gal 5:13 NASB) "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Freedom in Christ. One of the more abused concepts in Scripture. Our freedom is not for us to endulge in more earthly pleasures or to enjoy life more. We are given freedom so that we will love one another.
Gal 5:16 NASB) "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
How do we stop sinning? By walking in the Spirit always.
(Eph 2:1-3 NASB) "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, {2} in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. {3} Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."
Walking in sin needs to be a thing of the past for those who follow Christ. We shouldn't use his grace as an excuse to continue in our sin.
(1 John 2:16-17 NASB) "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. {17} And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever."
