The Gospel's Answer To The "Power" Of Sin - Part Three

Having looked at the power of sin and the wonderful promise the gospel gives us through the Holy Spirit in our last lesson, let’s now look at how the Christian has real "power" to deal with sin! Paul wanted the Ephesians to appreciate this "power" - Ep 1:19-20 "I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven." Notice: it is according to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. By what power was Jesus' resurrection accomplished? "...declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." - Ro 1:4 "...if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Ro 8:11. By the power of the Spirit of God! Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be strengthened inwardly through this "power" or "might" (i.e., the Spirit of God) - Ep 3:16 "God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers" How great is this "might" or "power" in us? Note carefully Ep 3:20, where it is stated that God is:
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, " "able to do" "exceedingly" "abundantly" "above all that we ask or think" "according to the power that works in us"! This should make us appreciate more the statement of Paul later in his letter to the Ephesians: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." - Ep 6:10 (KJV) The source of that strength and mighty power the Lord provides is the indwelling Spirit in the lives of Christians!

Consider, therefore the implications of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the Christian this wonderful promise should serve as motivation not to sin. For you are a "temple" of the Holy Spirit - 1 Co 6:18-20 "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." When you sin, you deeply offend the Spirit! - Ep 4:30 "Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins."; He 10:26-29 "No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy." This wonderful promise should provide encouragement in your fight against sin. You are not alone in your efforts! - Ph 2:12-13 "My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him." You have whatever power you need to overcome the sins you face! - Ph 4:13 "Christ gives me the strength to face anything."; 1 Jn 4:4 "Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world."; 1 Co 10:13 "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." This does not mean that we can become "sinless" - 1 Jn 1:8 "If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts." For we do not have perfect knowledge of God's will, and can therefore be guilty of "sins of ignorance". But it does mean we can overcome those sins of which we are aware! This wonderful promise means we have no excuse for our sins. We cannot say, "I can't help myself". We cannot say, "The devil made me do it". If we sin, it is because we have chosen to refuse the aid God has given us!

What are the implications for the non-Christian? Don't put off obeying the gospel until you have "reformed yourself". Many people mistakenly think that they cannot become a Christian until they overcome all their bad "habits". Yet Romans 7 demonstrates the futility of trying to do this without Christ! God will take you "as you are"... Provided you will:
Believe (trust) in His Son Jesus (that he died for your sins) - 1 Co 15:1-3
Repent of your sins (i.e., have a change of mind in which you decide to turn from your sins and start living for God) - Ac 17:30-31
Be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (an immersion in water as commanded by Christ and His apostles) - Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16;Ac 2:38; 10:48
Then God by His grace will:
Forgive you of your sins (release you from the guilt of sin).
Give you the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who through His indwelling will help you "reform" as you heed the Word of God (free you from the power of sin).

Don't you desire these wonderful promises? Freedom from the guilt of sin? Freedom from the power of sin? By the grace of God, when you obey the gospel you receive...
Not only "the remission of sins" to deal with your past
But "the gift of the Holy Spirit" to help with your future!
To those who desire to accept these gracious provisions of God, I can only tell you to do the same thing the apostle Peter told the people of his day:
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." -- Ac 2:38-39

To receive the promises of the gospel, you must obey the commands of the gospel! Are you ready to do that. If so please contact me.

This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001