RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP

WHY DO I STILL STRUGGLE WITH SIN?

I thought I was already free in Christ?
Should I still supposed to be struggling with this sin?
Why am I still having a hard time overcoming temptation?

A person who has gone through a Victory Weekend retreat where in we establish spiritual principles from Scripture, experience spiritual freedom and encourage spiritual fruit, one might say, “I thought I am free since whom the Son sets free is free indeed?”

But how come I am still feeling the pull of the sin I used to struggle with?

I love how John Piper put it:

“I know of no other way to triumph over sin long-term than … to gain a distaste for it because of a superior satisfaction in God.”

When you and I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalms 34:8), then there will be such a distaste to our old life that that would no longer be a pull to go back to it.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)




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Paolo Punzalan's avatar

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Paolo Punzalan

Husband, father, pastor and most importantly, Christ follower.

11 responses to “WHY DO I STILL STRUGGLE WITH SIN?”

  1. AntiPharisee Avatar
    AntiPharisee

    Anyone who claims He/She is not struggling with any SIN is a hypocrite. I attended Victory Weekend before, the funny thing is how VCF leaders freak out when they learned it doesn’t work for me.

    What I experienced in VW is this: “Beware of sin! It desires to be your Master. This activity will deliberate you from that sin. Confession is good for clearing a guilty conscience. List specifically your sins and submit that to your leader. Ask the Holy Spirit to examine you and point out your shortcomings.”

    While it supposed to be like this: We are called to be Christ-conscious, not sin-conscious. His sacrifice did away with sin (Heb 9:26). We have been set free from our sin by his blood (Rev 1:5). Live free from fear and condemnation. You were forgiven 2000 years ago (Col 2:13). Jesus said your forgiveness is not based on confession, but his blood (Mt 26:28). His blood is a necessary and sufficient condition for your complete forgiveness (Heb 9 & 10). The blood of Christ has cleansed your conscience so that we may be free to serve God (Heb 9:14). Because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice, the Holy Spirit chooses to remember your sins no more (Heb 10:17). He will only ever convict you of your righteousness in Christ (Jn 16:10).

    Reply
    1. paolo Avatar
      paolo

      dear antipharisee

      thanks for your comment. while victory weekend is the starting point to a life of TRUTH, REPENTANCE and FAITH, it definitely is not a CURE ALL. That is why the 3rd session is very important and critical – the CROSS… which is the hinge to all the other sessions. not understanding what Christ did on the cross for us (the Gospel) will only end up “trying harder” and end up frustrating for the participant. ultimately leading to legalism.

      i appreciate your thoughts.

      https://paolopunzalan.com/2012/06/behave-to-belong/

      Reply
  2. AntiPharisee Avatar
    AntiPharisee

    That is why majority of the participant in Victory Weekend end up frustrated, just like the person you mention in your blog. What you say is true, Victory Weekend is NOT a cure all and it will never be, but it is far from what is happening, VCF leadership zealously promote VW, theology, doctrines, programs and if you express those things don’t work with you then your spiritual life will be classified as a failure.

    You said that Victory Weekend is a retreat were WE ESTABLISH spiritual foundations YET the bible said NO Man can lay a foundation other than Jesus Christ.

    Reply
    1. paolo Avatar
      paolo

      The person in the blog was a hypothetical situation which is why I said, “A person who has gone through a Victory Weekend retreat … might say, “I thought I am free since whom the Son sets free is free indeed?”

      I’d love to sit down with you and get your thoughts and insights. You have very good grasp of God’s Word. I’m sure I can learn lots from you.

      What’s your name and which church do you go to?

      Hard to converse lang kasi with someone who’s anonymous.

      Thanks. God bless you.

      Reply
  3. AntiPharisee Avatar
    AntiPharisee

    In my previous comment I am comparing your hypothetical situation to reality, on what is happening, how Victory Weekend participant end up frustrated, things like “Do’s and Don’t ” are imposed.

    I am just an anonymous web surfer and my identity is not important. I am thankful though that you do not delete my comments just like other VCF pastors, where I am just putting my comments and they shut me down from their sites.

    Reply
  4. Junjin Avatar
    Junjin

    The first step in the transformational process is to help people identify the lies(sin) in their lives and replace them with the truth. Confronting sin is unavoidable. Jesus talked more about hell(the consequence sin) more than heaven. I understand that it is very difficult to face sin. In fact it is impossible to have victory over sin apart from having a saving knowledge of the love of God.

    Reply
    1. AntiPharisee Avatar
      AntiPharisee

      Junjin, the first step is introduced them to Christ. it is not our job to transform them. Even the Holy Spirit do not convict us from sin. If that is how you view the gospel, then you have a distorted understanding of evangelism. The good news defined as the absence of bad news.
      Some evangelists think scaring the hell out of people
      is a good way to win disciples for Jesus, but fear is an appalling basis for any relationship. Jesus is not interested in shotgun weddings.
      Apostle Paul, the greatest church planter in the Bible, preached the gospel without ever mentioning hell.

      Reply
      1. AntiPharisee Avatar
        AntiPharisee

        I will echo what I said earlier, we are called to be Christ Conscious NOT SIN conscious.

  5. grace Avatar
    grace

    You can’t teach forgiveness without repentance. It’s like teaching the Cross without Resurrection. God favors a holy and blameless heart. It is not a becoming sin-conscious but merely accepting that we have offended God. We are blessed in these times that we are able to repent our sins. Back in the old testament, when people offend God and did not repent, consequences and judgment are upon them already. They need to do a perfect animal sacrifice. Jesus died for our sins, the same way. All God is asking us to do is acknowledge our sins and lay them down at the foot of the Cross because He is the perfect lamb for us. Again, it is not becoming sin-conscious but more of Savior-conscious.

    Imagine the boldness of Peter’s teachings after being baptized and filled by the Holy Spirit –
    “Acts 2:37-41
    New International Version (NIV)
    38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
    40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

    “Acts 3:19
    New International Version (NIV)
    19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”

    Huge topic about the Holy Spirit also,
    “John 16:8
    New Living Translation (NLT)
    8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”

    He is a gift to us. It is a great blessing that He is in us to remind us always of God’s love and mercy. Yet we must be careful not to offend Him. He dwells in righteous hearts. Great topic going on here. 🙂 I always love discussing about the gospel!

    Reply
  6. AntiPharisee Avatar
    AntiPharisee

    Preaching repentance don’t actually lead people to repentance. A law mindset will emphasize what people need to do (works) to be right with God (What I learned in Victory Weekend, things to do to be righteous). In the Old Testament, sinners repented by bringing a sacrifice of penance and confessing their sins (Num 5:7). But in the new we bring a sacrifice of praise and confess His name (Heb 13:15). We don’t do anything to deal with our sins for Jesus has done it all. Our part is to change our mind( Repent), believe the good news, and say thank you Jesus. Analyzing our sins and repenting from it only produce temporary changes. It is the goodness of God that’s transforms us.(Rms 2:4)

    Worrying not to offend God seems innocent and sounds good,but before you knew it, you will end up conversing to talking snakes. It promotes self righteousness and hinder you from coming to Jesus. God is not preoccupied with sin, because Jesus dealt with it 2000 years ago. The truth is God is holy and He won’t accept you no matter what you do. His acceptance and favor come not by your righteousness, but by His grace alone.(Rms 3:10, Eph 2:9)

    Reply
  7. obedienceoffaith Avatar
    obedienceoffaith

    Antipharisee, you committed the fallacy of generalizing and the strawman fallacy. I have been into your circle before where there is no submission to Christ and where there is tolerance for sins. I ended up in slavery. But praise God because He made me realize that He is the one who GRANTS repentance! (2Tim.2:25). Your type of theology is hyperdispensationalism, where the law, though it can’t save (true), is not believed to be obeyed if one becomes a Christian (antinomianism). The CROSS is emphasized during Victory Weekend (though I’m not a member of Victory nowadays). Yes, it’s true that Jesus paid it all, but the evidence that a person has truly understood what Jesus has done for him will flee, leave his sin and avoid any opportunity that leads to it. It is not moralism, because it is the Holy Spirit who empowers the person to repent and live a pure life. I believe conviction is one of the activities of the Holy Spirit 2 Cor 7:8-11–it’s after Jesus’ resurrection. If the law doesn’t apply to Christians, why are there passages like 1 Corinthians 9:9 , James 2:9, Philippians 4:8 (again, a command given after Jesus’ death and resurrection) etc. Repentance is not repentance if there is no change in action. The Holy Spirit is not that weak to leave us unchanged.

    You also mentioned:
    ‘You said that Victory Weekend is a retreat were WE ESTABLISH spiritual foundations YET the bible said NO Man can lay a foundation other than Jesus Christ.’

    An activity is different from a person. It doesn’t mean that Jesus is being neglected to be the foundation just because their ‘establishing’ spiritual foundations on the said activity. We cannot be established in Christ in a ‘vacuum’. There should be an avenue for that (like that of Paul’s ministry).

    Reply

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