Don't try not to Sin!

[Cntrysner]

After the Spirit of Christ indwells us we should not again ask for forgiveness of sin for we are already forgiven all our sins if He truly is in us. If we sin it grieves the Spirit and because of our union with Him we will feel that grief, He is the Persuader that died for us and turns us from sin.

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 
Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil. 

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[enoob57]

1 John 1:9 (KJV)

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

[Cntrysner]

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 
2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 
2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 
2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 
2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

[AnOrangeCat]

17 hours ago, Cyoder said:

So how do we navigate this?  In my mind, you have to try.  If I just pray about it and take no action, I'm going to keep doing it.  I saw this with alcohol.  God freed me from this, but I had to do my part as well.  The need to drink was gone but I still thought about drinking.  I know God will not give us more than we can handle, but we still have to handle it.  Never giving up, failing, asking forgiveness and striving to do better.  Not out of obligation but to please God.  It's a feeling, not a conscious thought to try harder.

I'm 100% behind this. Imagine someone praying to God for a good wife, yet secluding himself away from the world.  Or in the case of an alcoholic or a drug addict they keep their addiction at their fingertips. Without some action that aligns with our prayers we're in a faith without works type situation. It might be a struggle full of failure and frustration along the way but it's a necessary struggle.

[Marathoner]

This is why we listen to the Lord. When the Lord instructed me to dispose of the tobacco I possessed and everything associated with it's use (lighters and ashtrays), I obeyed the Lord and did what He told me to do. Because I listened to His voice and obeyed His word, His promise to deliver me from addiction came true. I never suffered from withdrawals and I was a pack-a-day smoker for 30 years.

I remain free of that lethal addiction to this day. 

Trying to do good and praying according to rote or formulas accomplishes nothing; that's what Muslims and other religious devotees do. The Spirit of the Lord is the One we listen to and obey. When the Lord bids us to do something --- and we do what He tells us to do --- that is how we do those good works we were created in Jesus Christ to walk in.