Wrestling with Sin

All humans have sinned against God Almighty at least once in life (Romans 3: 23 and 5:12). The Apostle Paul warns about sin's payment being death to our spiritual walk with God in Romans 6:23. Contrary to popular belief, the temptation to sin does not just go away when individuals accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The struggle with sin is real. 1 John 2: 1-2 KJV gives us hope,

"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: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Sin also known as unrighteousness, reminds me of a weed. In the beginning it seems insignificant. [like small sins we often say I can handle this or we think the problem is not a threat to our spiritual walk]. You can mow over a weed and it seems to disappear but it is still there dormant awaiting the chance to sprout up again. {Sin can lay dormant but always seems to demand attention eventually} Often frustrated land owners who have ignored the warnings and allowed the roots to grow, spread out, thicken underground will end up with a big problem that results in drastic measures needed to dig the deeply implanted weed up by the root. \|\ Sin's roots are much harder to dig out than natural weeds because the root of sin ?what is grounding the root; feeding or strengthening the weed? maybe something totally different than what is manifesting above ground\|\. The other existing weeds surrounding it are not affected by the weed that was dug up by the root. Any fast growing ground covering weeds will continue to grow eventually invading the area where the previous rooted-up weed existed. Sin roots are often fertilized by bad influences, changes in life, lack of spiritual growth, destruction, violence, torment, abuse, unhealthy relationships, war, and wrong thoughts and/or actions. The owner may try to dig up the weeds with a root puller tool, spray the notifiable weeds with store bought weedkiller on weeds in the front, side, and back lawn areas, sidewalk areas, garage areas, street and curb areas but unfortunately some hidden weeds are still there or the available resources are ineffective. To destroy, kill, and root out the negative weeds in our life; We must find out what our root of sin is; bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, offense, greed, impulsiveness, malice, uncleanness, impure hearts, worry, fear, hatred, coveting, ungodly striving, rebellion, disobedience to God, selfishness, love of money, or pride. Some people of faith will not reach out for outside assistance until they face tremendous losses. To get rid of an overgrowth, Other landowners may call for professional support/assistance. They schedule a lawn service to come out and apply strong chemical weed killer to the complete yard, concrete areas, and garden areas. The professional companies have already performed research, experimented with the products available, and know how to address the issue. However, after they arrive, the technician will look at the surrounding neighborhood area, examine the weather, take into consideration the season, view closely the weeds, and decide which product(s) will work best and after treatment they also offer a guarantee because the problems is not always resolved quickly.

Different scriptures listing sins and acts of unrighteousness:

1 Timothy 6:10 New King James Version

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Deuteronomy 29:17-19 New Living Translation

¹⁷ You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. ¹⁸ I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.

¹⁹ “Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin!

Job 5:2-4

² For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one.

³ I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.

⁴ His sons are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

Proverbs 3:30-32

³⁰ Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;³² For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord

Proverbs 14;29-31

²⁹ He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

³⁰ A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Hosea 9: 15-17

¹⁵ “All their wickedness is in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds, I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more .All their princes are rebellious.¹⁶ Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes, were they to bear children, would kill the darlings of their womb.”

¹⁷ My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.

Romans 1:18-32

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 13:12-14

¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk ^[a]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Galatians 5:19-21

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 12:15

¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Jude 1:11-13

¹¹ Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. ¹² These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; ¹³ raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Christians who read their bible, pray, fast, and attend church on a regular basis still have struggles with doing the right thing and choosing the pathway that is pleasing to the Lord God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Crucifying fleshly sinful desires, destroying the works of the enemy of our soul, bringing down strongholds in life, being free from fear, idolatry, lust, and pride are not always as easy as some would have you believe. Sin often begins in times of prosperity, rest, boredom, after spiritual victories, and during times of weariness. Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 26: 41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Christians have to remain in a watchful state for things, emotions, thoughts, actions, and people that distract attention away from loving God and doing His will above all else.