God Grants the Trusting Christian Success

Over These Strongholds, Habits and Misbehaviors

 

Verbal Abuse    Bitterness    Unforgiveness    Lusts

 

Loose Morals    Sexual Addictions    Anger    Drug Abuse

 

Materialism    Hatred    Witchcraft    Envy    Violence

 

Alcoholism    Cussing    Evil Thoughts    Fighting    Pride

 

Gambling    Emotional    Abuse    Evil Habits    Greed

 

Cheating    Selfishness    Boasting    Gossip    Gender Issues

 

Idolatry    Laziness    Disrespect    Stealing    Gluttony

 

Lying    Coveting    Foolish    Deeds    Carnality    Strife

 

Exodus 20:1-17   Mark 7:20-23   Romans 1:26-31

I Cor. 3:1-4    I Cor. 6:9-11   Eph. 4:31   Philip. 3:19

Galatians 5:15-21   James 4:1-8   Rev. 9:21

See references for lists of sins.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life andgodliness,

through the knowledge of him that hath called us to gloryand virtue: 2 Peter 1:3

 

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that yemay be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

The Bible is God’s Word

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction inrighteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

    The Bible is God's Book. This Holy Bible is complete all by itself. It holds within its pages all that we need to behave as we should. No other source is necessary for living in righteousness. If this were not true, then the Lord did not actually give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The Lord gave us the Bible so we can be “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” When it comes to successful Christian living, God has not withheld anything we need in order to grow and to live. The Bible alone is enough to outfit all Christians for every good behavior. Scripture alone is our definitive authority.

    Because the Bible is God’s Word, it is our supreme rule and guide. The instructions in the Bible take precedence over anything said or written by man. In other words, the Bible is our final authority for faith and practice. What we believe, our doctrine – and how we live, our Christian living, are both determined by the Bible. The Christian's beliefs and behaviors are not to be decided anywhere else.

 

    Conclusion: It is contrary to God’s Word to say the Bible is not enough by itself to empower a person for all good works. It is a mistake to say we need something else (like psychology) besides the Bible to cause good behavior. [The understanding is that all believers can live by the power of the Holy Spirit when the Word of God is applied to their lives. I Cor. 6:19 Gal. 5:16]

 

Everyone’s Sin Is Due To Adam

Wherefore,as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;

and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5:12

 

For as in Adam all die … 1 Corinthians 15:22

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God … Romans 3:23

 

    Because Adam disobeyed and sinned against the Lord, he died spiritually then he died physically years later. Every person born since is a sinner because of Adam’s sin. Adam, the first man, passed on to each of us a sin nature. Our source of sin is within us and we received that source of sin from Adam. “In Adam's Fall We Sinned All.”

 

    Conclusion: All people are sinners because of Adam. It is contrary to the Bible to say that we have not received a sin nature from Adam. It is an error to say that there are some who are not subject to Adam’s sin.

 

The Curse Of God Is Not Our Source Of Sin

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying,

Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Genesis 3:17

 

    The ground was cursed because of Adam. The curse upon the earth is a result of sin, not the cause of sin. The creation is subject to that curse (Romans 8:19-22). Some wrongly say that people today sin because of the curse at the Fall of Man. God cursed the ground as a punishment and discipline for disobedience. God, the one who gave the curse, cannot sin. The curse itself is not the cause of our sin. Our sin nature from Adam is our source of sin.

 

    Conclusion: It is correct to say we sin because we are the offspring of Adam. It is also correct to say that we sin because we are sinners. It is contrary to the Bible to say we sin because of God’s curse.

 

The Human Body Is Not Our Source Of Sin

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27

 

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

 

    The Lord made man and woman in the image of God. The physical creation itself is not sinful. It was declared to be very good. Instead, the physical creation has been made subject to sin.

 

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not,

but a body hast thou prepared me [for Jesus Christ]. Hebrews 10:5

 

    The Lord Jesus Christ himself took on a human body. Yet, our Lord was without sin. If the human body itself is sinful, then our Lord could not have taken on flesh. The human body itself is not sinful. Thus, the Lord Jesus was able to become flesh for us. In this way Christ was able to become our sin-bearer.

 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

 

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:12

 

    The body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit. If our body itself was sinful, then the Holy Spirit could not reside within us.

 

    If the human body was our source of sin then organ and tissue donations would not be permissible. If one receives a liver transplant, the receiver of the donated organ does not take on the sins of the one who donated that organ. That is absurd.

 

    Conclusion: The human body is not the source of sin. It is wrong to say the human body, our brain, nervous system, or chemicals within our body (the matter) are the source (or solution) to sin. Our sin nature from Adam is our source of sin. Christ, and not chemicals (drugs and medicines), is the only solution for our sinful behavior.

 

Sin Nature Behaviors Are Plainly Recorded In The Bible

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry,

witchcraft,hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

of thewhich I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 (See also the list and Bible references at the beginning of this article.)

 

    The Bible clearly names or gives examples of the kinds of sinful behavior people are capable of doing. It should not be a surprise to find sinful people in society manifesting the same wicked conduct we find in the pages of Scripture. God already knows all of the capabilities of the sin nature. This sin nature we all received from our forefather Adam.

 

    Conclusion: It is an error to state the Bible does not name or give examples of the wicked behaviors people are capable of performing. It is wrong to think God is surprised or uncertain that people are capable of every kind of bad behavior.

 

Sin Is My Problem And My Responsibility

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men,

proceed evil thoughts,adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness,deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,

blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mark 7:20-23

 

. . . but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:20

 

    Sin comes from within ourselves. We are responsible for our own actions and decisions. We cannot blame our bad behavior upon something else. We cannot shift the blame for our evil actions upon someone else. Sin that dwells within is the trouble. We sin because we are sinners. We cannot blame our wickedness on our past, our childhood, our parents, our financial situation, our job, our government, our children, our education or anything else. We are responsible for our sin.

 

    Conclusion: It is against the Bible to say someone other than me is responsible for my own bad behavior and awful choices.

 

Christ Is God’s Answer For The Penalty Of Our Sin

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Corinthians 15:3

 

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for theunjust, that he might bring us to God,

being put to death in theflesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

 

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; Hebrews 9:28

 

    Conclusion: Christ’s death on the cross is the full payment for the just penalty of our sin. God understands our sin nature and all of our sinful behaviors. God himself provided the only solution to escape our due punishment for our sin. That solution is Jesus Christ the Savior.

 

Believing On Christ Brings Forgiveness Of Our Sin

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons ofGod,

even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but haveeverlasting life. John 3:16

 

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said,

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt besaved, and thy house. Acts 16:30-31

 

    Conclusion: The one trusting Jesus Christ as Savior is the one who is delivered from the punishment that he deserves. The believer in Christ and his work on the cross is saved from his sins.

 

God Expects The Christian To Live A Life Of Good Behavior

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1 Peter 1:15

 

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole:

sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. John 5:14

 

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:

go, and sin no more. John 8:11

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may provewhat is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2

 

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 2:1

 

    God desires Christians to live holy lives, set apart from sin. God provides the power for holy living. Holy living is only possible due to the believer’s new relationship to Christ. We will not attain to sinless perfection in this life, yet the Lord does make available the means to be Christ-like in our daily actions.

 

    Conclusion: God expects the Christian to be holy in his manner of living. It is contrary to the Bible to say God does not tell the Christian to have victory over sin (to sin not; to be holy). It is a mistake to say God does not expect a Christian to manifest good behavior (Christ-like behavior).

 

Trusting Our New Relationship With Christ Brings Victory Over Sin

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

How shall we, thatare dead to sin, live any longer therein? … Knowing this, that ourold man is crucified with him,

that the body of sin might bedestroyed [made powerless], that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:1-2,6

 

Likewise reckon [count/consider] ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sintherefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments ofunrighteousness unto sin:

but yield yourselves unto God, as thosethat are alive from the dead,

and your members as instruments ofrighteousness unto God.

Romans 6:11-13 (See also Col 3:3-4)

 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christliveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 

    Sin’s power is broken in the life of the Christian. The one trusting Christ for victory over the penalty of sin can also trust Christ for victory over the power of sin. Daily strength to live a successful Christian life only comes by Christ, who is our life.

 

    Conclusion: God has already provided all we need for power over sin. The solution for sin is found in the Bible. God’s solution for sin is not found in prisons, pills, therapies, social help, mental programs, psychological counselors or any other place. God’s only solution for power over sinful behavior is Christ himself. Victory over sin is found in the person and work of Jesus. It is against the Bible to say there are other solutions to the power of reigning sin – other than Jesus Christ.

 

Christians, Return To Christ!

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.

Romans 6:6-7

 

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5

 

    The Bible is enough! Christ is enough! Simple trust in God’s Holy word is enough. The Holy Bible has been sufficient for Christians throughout the centuries. The Bible is also sufficient for us living today. There is no need to doubt the Bible. There is no reason to doubt that God cares for us and has provided all of the solutions to our sin problems. There is no need to reject the Bible and replace God's Book with other methods of solving our sin problems. Either God has already given to us everything that we need for life and godliness or he has not. Let’s take God at his word and believe him!

 

According as his divine power hath [already] given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,

through the knowledge of himthat hath called us to glory and virtue.

2 Peter 1:3

 

    Conclusion: Only by the LIFE of Christ can we live a successful Christian life.

 

The Bible Has Everything We Need For Good Living

According as his divine power hath [already] given unto us all things thatpertain unto life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him [Christ] that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2 Peter 1:3

 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than anytwo-edged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner ofthe thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

 

    The Christian already has everything needed to live a life pleasing to the Lord. The Christian is not lacking one thing to live for the Lord and to manifest Christ-honoring behavior. The Lord has already provided in His Word all of the knowledge necessary to live a Christ-like life. This knowledge entails a living relationship with the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

    Conclusion: It is contrary to the Bible to say God has not already given the Christian all things that pertain unto life and godliness. It is wrong to say we need something in addition to the Bible (like psychology) to help us to live the way we should.

 

If God Be For Us - Consider These “for us” Verses

Christ died for us even when we were sinners who were far apart from God.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

 

God loves us and delivered his only Son up for us.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for usall,

how shall he not with him also freely give us allthings? Romans 8:31-32

 

Christ was made sin for us.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;

that wemight be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

Christ was made a curse for us.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written,

Cursed is every one that hangeth on atree: Galatians 3:13

 

Christ loved us and gave himself for us.

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us

an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smellingsavour. Ephesians 5:2

 

Christ died for us to make us fit for good works.

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from alliniquity,

and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of goodworks. Titus 2:14

 

Christ has already secured eternal redemption for us.

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered inonce into the holy place,

having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12

 

Christ is right now seated in the presence of God for us.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which arethe figures of the true;

but into heaven itself, now to appear in thepresence of God for us: Hebrews 9:24

 

Christ’s suffering for us is our example to follow.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 1 Peter 2:21

 

Christ laid down his life for us and we should to do the same for one another.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:

and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

 

Study this helpful chart. One side displays a mindset whose foundation is the Bible alone.

The Biblical mindset is set against worldly philosophies associated with psychology.

 

Biblical Worldview

 

Opposing Views

 

The Bible is God’s Word.

 

There is reason to doubt the Bible.

 

God has given  all we need for good behavior.

 

Some things are missing for me to live a godly life.

 

Adam (sin nature) is our source of sin.

 

The Curse is our cause of sin.

 

I am responsible for my sin.

 

I'm a victim and not responsible for my bad behavior.

 

I am made in the image of God.

 

I am not special and am only like any other animal.

 

I always desire to bring honor to the Lord Jesus.

 

I am the most important person in my life.

 

God created heaven and earth.

 

God needed millions of years to make man.

 

Christ-centered life

 

Man-centered life (humanism)

 

Objective science doesn't contradict Scripture.

 

Subjective “truth” questions the Bible.

 

God can handle all my problems.

 

I have problems too big for God to handle.

 

Sin is my problem – Christ is the solution.

 

Sin is renamed a disease. Christ is not the cure.

 

There’s victory is in Jesus!

 

I am doomed to a life of defeat.

 

I am responsible for my sins

 

I am a product of my environment. Sin is not my fault.

 

There is hope in Christ!

 

My life is hopeless.

 

Mature Christians counsel one another.

 

Only a trained professional can help.

 

Esteem others (Philippians 2)

 

Self Esteem

 

 

This is a study of psychology and counseling from the Bible's perspective.

It is not advice for your counseling decisions.

 

© James Utter 2021

 

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