Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians

The Foundation of Jesus Christ
Lesson 10

How is sin avoided?

Many terrors and forces in this world attempt to twist the Word of God, and apply false interpretation to lead people into sin. If you have the words of the Bible contained deeply within your heart, that Truth can never be touched by anything of this world. The Word belongs to you when it is contained within your heart, and can never be, changed, misinterpreted, diluted or removed.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:11 AV)

Many terrors and forces in this world attempt to twist the Word of God, and apply false interpretation to lead people into sin. If you have the words of the Bible contained deeply within your heart, that Truth can never be touched by anything of this world. The Word belongs to you when it is contained within your heart, and can never be, changed, misinterpreted, diluted or removed.

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. (Psalms 39:1 AV)

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (James 3:5-10 AV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:1-14 AV)

Those who walk in the Spiritual Life do the things of the Spirit. Those who walk in the Natural Life do those things of the flesh.

Carnally minded means to be concerned with the of natural life and walk in the flesh, governed by the instincts of nature.

Spiritually minded means to be concerned with spiritual life that serves and is governed by the LORD GOD.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. (1 Timothy 5:22 AV)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9 AV)

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 AV)

Once sin is hidden, it has no control and can do no damage. If we are loving one another, sin can never enter our relationship. It is very important, however, that when we are alone that we face these hidden sins and obtain forgiveness and cleansing from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:1-13 AV)

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:14-23 AV)

A servant is responsible for working, assisting and attending to a master. The master of Natural Life people is uncleanness. They attend to their lives by being constantly in the company of and serving their master sin. Through their serving of all things unclean, they become unrighteous and wicked.

The master of Spiritual Life people is righteousness. They attend to their lives by being constantly in the company of and serving their master righteousness. Through their serving of all thing righteous, they become holy.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:1-3 AV)

We must look to Jesus Christ as the finisher of our faith, who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4 AV)

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:5-13 AV)

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (Psalms 19:13 AV)

The great transgression is caused through sins of presumption. Lucifer was an angel of light at one time and was loved deeply by the LORD GOD. He committed the greatest transgression when he became proud of his beauty and form and felt that he could be like the LORD GOD. As a result, He fell from heaven, and will be brought down to hell. Christians should avoid any sin caused from their pride, lest they want to suffer the same punishment as Lucifer.

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein. "How is sin avoided?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ Jan 2004.   <http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin7.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein. (2004, January) "How is sin avoided?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ Retrieved   from http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin7.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein (2004) "How is sin avoided?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ (January), http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin7.htm (accessed )

About the Authors

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad.

Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Philosophy student of Liberty University, and a Homeschool parent and child advocate. She is well-known as a counsleor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.

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