Is There a Difference Between Being Sinfulness and Weakness?

Weakness is a condition of the fall. In our fallen state our natures are subject to the weakness of this state. We are all weak because of the flesh, but unlike animals who are beholden to the dictates of the flesh, human beings are created higher than the beasts and endowed by their Father in Heaven with divine capacities to use their free will to choose holier ways. If we respond to our fallen weakness in pride and choose not to yield to God and his laws, then our weakness will become sinfulness.

Weakness makes us susceptible to temptation, but only when we yield to temptation and give the natural man power over our spirits (our divine nature) do we sin. Thus weakness is not the same as sin.

Notice in the following passage that the natural man is an enemy to God, but also notice that it is not the human soul (not our spiritual element) that is fallen.

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him.” — Mosiah 3:19, Book of Mormon

Because of the special capacities human beings have as children of God, created in his image, we are able through Christ to become a saint, to have our natures changed; or in other words to overcome sin through Christ and see our natural weakness loose power over our spiritual strength.

How is it done?

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” — Either 12:27, Book of Mormon

From these passages we learn that a person can be in a state of weakness without being in a state of sinfulness. We learn that there is a difference between weakness and sin, and that the fall, which brought us into this state of weakness was given to us by God that we might be humble and exercise faith in him; learning that his grace is sufficient to overcome our weakness.

“The Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.” — Jacob 4:7

Weakness and sin are different but the cure is the same, if we turn to God for a remission of our sin and humbly walk in his way, then our weakness and sin can be overcome through Christ.

“God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty… That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:26-31