how to stop sinning

What every Christian needs to know about sin by Alan Ballou.

Behind every sin there is an evil desire. That’s because sin starts at the point in which our evil desire is conceived, imagined, or visualized in our mind, as if we were living it out (1 John 1:13-15). Once we have planned an evil desire out, as if we are going through with it, or once we have visualized it as if it is happening, we sin. Check it below.

James 1:13-15

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. NKJV

Most of us think we sin after doing something that is wrong, but as you can see, according to the verses above, sin actually starts long before that. We need to know that, if we ever plan on stopping sin in our life.

I know that many spiritual people have told you that you cannot stop sinning, but that is false. We can live here on Earth today and “never stumble” if we do certain things (2 Peter 1:10). Read it in your Bible. That one verse should show you that those who say that we cannot stop sinning do not know what they are talking about.

Some even say that if you try to stop sinning, it is same as “not believing in Jesus” and they use Romans 4:5 as their evidence, but they are false, too. Read the first chapter of my book “How To Stop Sinning” on Amazon, for free and you will see how I have answered most of these false teachings with scriptures that you can read out of your Bible. If you have a question, just ask.

I know things get confusing with one preacher saying this and another saying that, but consider this. The Bible says that there will be great numbers of teachers who will tell you what you want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4), and twist the truth in order to draw disciples (followers) after themselves (Acts 20:29-31). That’s happening everywhere today.

So don’t be tricked by the sheer number of people who are going in the wrong direction. According to Luke 13:22-28, among the people who are seeking to enter the Kingdom of God, more people will get it wrong than those who will get it right. That’s shocking, but if you would simply read the verses I give you as references out of any Bible, except the ones that have come out recently, then you would see that I’m speaking according to what is written. It says, “Many will seek to enter, but not be able” (Luke 13:24).

You need to know that the people who are going in the wrong direction are very easy to spot using scripture because in order to join them, you too would have to believe that Jesus Christ lied in verses like Matthew 5:27-30 below.

Matthew 5:27-30

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’   28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. NKJV

Most bet their whole life that Jesus lied in verses like those. Imagine that. That’s the same Jesus Christ Who said that “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35), and “Why do you call Me Lord, but do not do what I say” (Luke 6:46). Let those verses sink into your mind and then ask yourself if you want to join a large group of people who willingly reject most of what Jesus said. Like it says in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, they do not put up with sound doctrine (the written doctrine), and that is how you can recognize them.

Therefore, if you join a group that calls Jesus, Lord, but ignore what He says, you will never have to worry about hearing verses like those again until you die and face the Jesus Christ written about in the Bible. He said that the Word we reject would condemn us on the last day (John 12:46-48).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and with God (John 1:1). That same Word became flesh (John 1:14), and that same Word is Spirit (John 6:63). That same Word living  inside of us can make us “born again” (1 Peter 1:22-25), set us free from sin (John 8:31-39, Romans 1:28-32), and save us (James 1:21). We are supposed to allow it to judge our attitudes and thoughts (Hebrews 4:12).

Now, if you are one of the “few” who believe Jesus Christ, then my job is very simple. I’m trying to reach people who believe, because I have wasted enough time on those who reject what is written. I’m looking for brothers and sisters who may have mistakenly wandered away from the truth so that I can help save a “soul” from death (James 5:19-20).

 James 5:19-20

19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. NKJV

That one verse alone should tell you that the “once saved, always saved” movement is a bunch of bologna. Get this. There are sins that lead to death, and there are sins that do not lead to death (1 John 5:16-17).

 1 John 5:16-17

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. NKJV

That’s right. Certain sins can keep us out of the Kingdom of God. We need to know what they are. Here is the first list.

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. NKJV

Notice that it says “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 21, above). That doesn’t say that those who have been forgiven for these things can continue in them because  just a few verses below these, the Bible says that those who belong to Christ “have” crucified their flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). Therefore, we need to repent of these sins. Check the next list out, below.

 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV

Here is another group of sins that lead to death. In other words, they will keep us out of the Kingdom of God. In case you didn’t know, in the end Christ will weed out of His kingdom all who practice these sins (Matthew 13:40-41), and then hand the Kingdom back to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). Check it!

Ephesians 5:3-7

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. NKJV

Here is yet another list, and notice again that these sins prevent us from having any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (verse 5, above). Do not let anyone deceive you (verse 6)! God’s wrath comes on who, according to verse 6, above? Imagine having God’s wrath on you, but someone is trying to cast the devil off  you. We will talk about healing on a different Sunday, Lord willing.

I know that this is scary stuff when you first read it, but it’s the truth that will sanctify us after we are saved (John 17:17). Reading the truth to the point of retaining it, while accepting and believing it, is what will make most of these sins simply fall off (Romans 1:28-32, John 8:31-39). Check these verses and simply believe what they say.

Also, refuse to speak against it (Romans 10:6-8). We have to continue in our faith in order to remain Holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight (Colossians 1:21-23), and faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). Living by faith is a condition of justification (righteousness, Hebrews 10:36-39). Check it!

I attended church for many years before I even picked up a Bible and then I could not believe that someone I trusted, had decided that I never needed to hear any of these verses in church. These things have been hidden from us for so long that even the people we place on pedestals and consider to be pillars of the faith, ignore these verses.

We can sin in our thinking and that is why renewing our mind is so important (Romans 12:1-2). That is our first order of worship after coming to the Lord. In fact, no one can test and approve what God wants them to do until they first renew their mind. That’s how important our mind set is.

Notice the process, in the verses below. If we belong to Christ, we should seek and set our mind on the things above (verses 1-2, below). Then, put to death what belongs to our Earthly nature (verses 3-4), because the wrath of God comes on the “sons” of disobedience (verse 6). We used to live that way (verse 7), but now we need to put off the old man and put on the new man (verses 8-10).

 Colossians 3:1-1o

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. NKJV

One of the questions I ask during a seminar is, “How do Christians fight?” I want you to be honest with yourself and answer that question. Think about this. I would imagine that you have been in church for many years since you are reading this post, but if your answer doesn’t match the verses below, could you have possibly been fighting like a Christian is supposed to fight, before now?

 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. NKJV

If you took every thought captive and made it obedient to Christ, how long would you listen to someone speaking directly against what Jesus says in His Word? The human philosophy they are filling you up with is what is keeping you from fighting. We “have to” fight in order to remain in the faith and we have to “take hold” of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12). Test it by checking that verse in your Bible!

Get this! If we walk according to the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires (lust) of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). So if we could keep our mind on the things of the Spirit, which is how we walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:5-8, below), we would not sin, since sin starts with a conceived desire in our thinking. However, if someone can keep our minds filled with junk, we will not be able to accomplish that.

I’m here to plead with church attending, Bible carrying Christians, who have no idea what is keeping them in bondage to sin and keeping them under condemnation. Look at the verses below and tell me who the righteous requirements of the Law will be fulfilled in?

 Romans 8:4-8

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NKJV

Those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit are the ones who have no condemnation in them. The rest will be very shocked to the point of weeping and gnashing of teeth in the end. The people who live according to the Spirit, or walk according to the Spirit, as it is written in some Bibles, have their mind set on the things of the Spirit (verse 4-5, above). They have true life and peace (verse 6).

What’s your mind filled with and who are you allowing to fill it? Would you allow Jesus Christ, Who is the Word, to fill your mind? If so, then be filled with what your Bible says. Sinful desires make war against our very souls (1 Peter 2:11). If you have come to trust something that is against these verses then you have no need of these verses since philosophy has blinded you from the truth. For those people I have two questions. Who sends the strong delusion and why, according to 2 Thessalonians 2:11-15, below?

 2 Thessalonians 2:11-15

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. NKJV

The Gospel I preach calls you to have “salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (verse 13, above). The condition is to believe. Through the Spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the body (Romans 8:12-13, below). Whoever does not sow to please the Spirit, will be very shocked one day, really soon according to Galatians 6:7-8, below. Imagine trusting in someone who proclaims a message that is exactly opposite of what is written.

 Romans 8:12-13

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. NKJV

 Galatians 6:7-8

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. NKJV

Do those verses say that we can live according to the flesh and reap eternal life? Hello? If you do not believe Jesus Christ, why carry a Bible and call yourself a Christian (Christ follower, Acts 11:26)? That confuses people who are really trying to make it. I’m Alan Ballou; a servant.  http://www.howtostopsinning.com