Christian Living

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Do Christians Have to Sin?

Luke 22:40 “Pray that you may not [at all] enter into temptation.” Luke 22:46 “Get up and pray that you may not enter [at all] into temptation.”

Here is one of those hot buttons in the church. Many people believe that it is absolute non-sense to even suggest that Christians don’t have to sin. However, I would like us to just sit back and lets take a close look at Scripture and see what Christ says to us about this hot button topic. First let’s be clear in saying that I’m in no way suggesting that we Christians (me included) don’t sin. All we have to do is look within ourselves to find out that we do. However, what I would like to do is to see what God has to say about our sin.

Many times we Christians are facing some difficulty in our professional, personal, or private lives and we think that it is our enemy or adversary Satan who is responsible for what we define to be hardship or trouble. But God says in His Word that your iniquity has separated you from your God. God has not changed His view on sin for His children. He hated our sin before we were His children and He hates it even more (if that’s possible) since we’ve become His children. Dare I say that most of the struggles, hardship, troubles, and difficulty we as Christians face in our lives are not attacks from the enemy, but the chastening/discipline hand of our loving Heavenly Father trying to bring us back into intimacy and close fellowship? Our sins separate us from Him and make us unable to live in His love. We pray and our Heavenly Father does not hear because He says if we regard iniquity in our hearts He will not hear our petitions.

Let me say emphatically that we do not have to enter into temptation or sin ever. Why, you say, do you speak such blasphemy? Well if I’m speaking blasphemy, then our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is speaking blasphemy. In the above verses, Christ tells us plainly, simply, and sweetly that we do not have to enter into any temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will always also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. I love the Lord Jesus and I believe every word He says from Genesis to Revelation. If He says it then it is possible. With God all things are possible. How is this accomplished? Christ tells us to pray that we do not enter into temptation.

Elsewhere, the Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing or stopping. You say I’m busy with work, my family, and many other things how can I pray without stopping? Praying without ceasing doesn’t mean that you must be on your knees or prostrate several times a day. It simply means to have that internal communication or fellowship with Christ in your heart (your thoughts and feelings). Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners, His Divine influence upon our hearts), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

We must meditate on His words and saturate our mind with His words. This is how we have the mind of Christ as the Scripture states. He never tells us that He will prevent the tempter from tempting us anymore. No, but that communion (through prayer) with Him will prevent the tempter from being successful. Isn’t it wonderful to hear from the Lord Himself that we do not have to sin. I love that.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you that in Christ I no longer have to yield to sin and that union with Him prevents the tempter from gaining access. I can come boldly before the throne of grace and receive your ever flowing mercy any time I need mercy. Amen (So let it be)

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author, Silent Assassins of the Soul (not yet published; coming soon)

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