Can we sin in a dream?

[Beckrl]

i don't believe that we can sin in our dreams or our thoughts...i don't believe that we can control either...if we could control our thoughts then we would never sin at all....

jesus didn't say if you think about looking at a woman with lust...he said if you look at a woman with lust (a physical act)...

Also to add to you comment "woman" should be translated wife. Meaning if a man lust after another man's wife, he commit adultery. Notice the subject were adultery.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matt.5:27,28)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...gs=G1135&t=KJV

[ed2]

Also to add to you comment "woman" should be translated wife. Meaning if a man lust after another man's wife, he commit adultery. Notice the subject were adultery.




http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...gs=G1135&t=KJV

good point on the translation woman/wife...but since the subject is adultery, is this talking about the action, whether it be looking at another mans wife with lust or the physical act of adultery or is it talking about the thought of looking at another mans wife with lust or the thought of committing the physical act...

i was just addressing the point that i don't think our bad thoughts or dreams are sin...

god bless

[IsItLove?]

I don't believe we sin in dreams, but three things can happen:

1. A dream can generate a sinful thought and if not checked, can culminate in a sin.

2. A dream can suss out a harboured sin or sinful attitude within that God may be wanting us to deal with.

3. A dream that envisions sin can be generated by the enemy in order to get us distracted from our devotion to God in order to bring a false guilt on us---self-condemnation.

Sweet!!!!!!!!!
Understanding!!!

[IsItLove?]

i don't believe that we can sin in our dreams or our thoughts...i don't believe that we can control either...if we could control our thoughts then we would never sin at all....

Jesus didn't say if you think about looking at a woman with lust...he said if you look at a woman with lust (a physical act)...

Yep, its what you do with desire.


I think perverted desire though is a consequence of sin and handed down through the generations because of the sins of the fathers.
This does not count against us as a transgression but still is our sin nature which is something that causes us to be unacceptable and must also be forgiven/transformed.

If something perverse is exposed in me in my dreams I consider it a blessing.
Because I can now confess and seek God in this regard.
It think it is so because we restrain our selves/hearts sometimes to the point that we dont know them. We dont let them out to sin all they want so we often dont know the depths of our depravity.

I pray God show me everything so I can bring it before you!
Sometimes He shows me in my dreams, and I am like yuck, Father is that really in me.

But not all dreams are from God like my wise sister has said.

[ZAB]

Can we sin in a dream? Jesus says in Matt. 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

When I'm awake I can recognize such thoughts and repent, but in a dream I feel such thoughts are harder to put down till after I wake up. I feel a large amount of guilt when this happens and repent after I wake up.

Hello,
If you are referring to the very normal occurrence of "nocturnal emission" (aka "wet dream"), then no, I do not believe that to be a sin. Rather, it is most likely a very necessary biological process. According to Wikipedia, Saint Augustine had this to say about it:

"Saint Augustine held that male nocturnal emissions, unlike massturbation, did not pollute the conscience of a man, because they were not voluntary carnal acts, and were therefore not to be considered a sin. Augustine did, however, pray that he may be released from the "glue of lust" and thus recommended the beseechment of God's assistance in clearing one's soul of all such carnal affections. Saint Augustine interprets the references to the uncleanliness of discharge of seed (and menstruation) in Leviticus as symbolizing disorder and unruliness as opposed to the seed forming a human being through conception which symbolizes the form and structure of a just life."

I fear I may not have a good understanding of what "lust" truly is. Can we look at a member of the opposite sex we find attractive without it being lustful?

Thanks in advance.

There is a VERY fine line between appreciation and lust. Of course it is possible to gaze upon something (or someone) beautiful without it being contaminated. In our day and age, however, it is difficult. Perversion has been flaunted and tries to invade us everyday.
Here's some Scriptural examples of what I mean:


Righteously:

• "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee" (Song 4:7).

Unrighteously:

• "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 Jn 2:16).
• "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1)

The danger lies when the woman's beauty "takes thee":
"Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids" (Prov 6:25).
There is a conception period when sin occurs; a very small amount of time when "lust conceives" and brings forth sin. Choices (sometimes subtle choices) are made during this moment that cause us to sin or not:

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (Jas 1:14-15).

Hope that helps you,

Z.

[VerticalReality]

The important thing is that you confess and repent when you awaken. So, I would venture to say, "yes," we can choose sin in our sleep; it's just another realm of temptation.

I have found myself in dream-states where I had to wrestle, was able to choose, and have not been bothered by those types of dreams in years.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:9

Edit: I can be attracted to a member of the opposite sex, but what I do in my heart with that attraction is where guilt or innocence is established. That entails having a brief moment to make up my mind.

I'm not sure about the dreams being a sin part, but I am in agreement with you about having to wrestle and make choices in dreams.

I strongly believe that we can influence or maintain self-control in our dreams, and I also believe that the Lord will guard our minds even as we sleep if we seek Him about it.

[Chaston]

Hello,
If you are referring to the very normal occurrence of "nocturnal emission" (aka "wet dream"), then no, I do not believe that to be a sin. Rather, it is most likely a very necessary biological process. According to Wikipedia, Saint Augustine had this to say about it:

"Saint Augustine held that male nocturnal emissions, unlike massturbation, did not pollute the conscience of a man, because they were not voluntary carnal acts, and were therefore not to be considered a sin. Augustine did, however, pray that he may be released from the "glue of lust" and thus recommended the beseechment of God's assistance in clearing one's soul of all such carnal affections. Saint Augustine interprets the references to the uncleanliness of discharge of seed (and menstruation) in Leviticus as symbolizing disorder and unruliness as opposed to the seed forming a human being through conception which symbolizes the form and structure of a just life."



There is a VERY fine line between appreciation and lust. Of course it is possible to gaze upon something (or someone) beautiful without it being contaminated. In our day and age, however, it is difficult. Perversion has been flaunted and tries to invade us everyday.
Here's some Scriptural examples of what I mean:



Righteously:

• "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee" (Song 4:7).

Unrighteously:

• "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 Jn 2:16).
• "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1)

The danger lies when the woman's beauty "takes thee":
"Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids" (Prov 6:25).
There is a conception period when sin occurs; a very small amount of time when "lust conceives" and brings forth sin. Choices (sometimes subtle choices) are made during this moment that cause us to sin or not:

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (Jas 1:14-15).

Hope that helps you,

Z.

Thank you it really does!

But I have one question. If Song 4:7 (along with the whole 4th chapter) was written by Solomon (which in context seems pretty lustful to me), wasn't his love/lust of women over God his downfall?

[Chaston]

Yep, its what you do with desire.


I think perverted desire though is a consequence of sin and handed down through the generations because of the sins of the fathers.
This does not count against us as a transgression but still is our sin nature which is something that causes us to be unacceptable and must also be forgiven/transformed.

If something perverse is exposed in me in my dreams I consider it a blessing.
Because I can now confess and seek God in this regard.
It think it is so because we restrain our selves/hearts sometimes to the point that we dont know them. We dont let them out to sin all they want so we often dont know the depths of our depravity.

I pray God show me everything so I can bring it before you!
Sometimes He shows me in my dreams, and I am like yuck, Father is that really in me.

But not all dreams are from God like my wise sister has said.

Great post!! Thanks!

[Chaston]

I'm not sure about the dreams being a sin part, but I am in agreement with you about having to wrestle and make choices in dreams.

I strongly believe that we can influence or maintain self-control in our dreams, and I also believe that the Lord will guard our minds even as we sleep if we seek Him about it.

Awesome point!

[ZAB]

Thank you it really does!

But I have one question. If Song 4:7 (along with the whole 4th chapter) was written by Solomon (which in context seems pretty lustful to me), wasn't his love/lust of women over God his downfall?

Yes, that is the natural interpretation. However, many scholars agree that the Song of Solomon is an allegory concerning Christ and His bride (Eph 5:25-32).

The point is, it IS possible to see women from a pure heart and with pure eyes, motives and intentions.


Z.