A Closer Walk With God
Overcoming Sin - Cont.
Having introduced the problem and two ways to help in overcoming sin we will continue by looking at two additional ways to help in our problem. We will start with a third, exercise "self-control". Remember, it becomes sin when we yield to action in fulfilling our sinful desires. If we can control ourselves so as to not yield, then we can overcome sin! How does the Christian exercise self-control? Self-control is but one aspect of the "fruit of the Spirit" - Ga 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." When we become Christians, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives - Ac 2:38 "And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."; 5:32 "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."' The Spirit is God's instrumental agent by which He imparts strength to us - Ep 3:16 "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,". Strengthened by the Spirit, we are able to "put to death the deeds of the body" - Ro 8: 12-13 "So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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." As Paul said: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." - Ph 4:13. It is through faith in God's Word that the Christian believes that he has this divine help - Ep 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,". It is certainly proper to pray for it, as Paul did in behalf of the Ephesians - Ep 3:16 "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,". But equally important, to act upon it, trusting that you are not alone as you try to do God's will - Ph 2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." As an exercise commercial once said: Just do it! The Christian, then, has no excuse for yielding to a temptation - 1 Co 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." But there may be times when we don't take advantage of the strength God provides through His Spirit, and we sin; what then?
Fourth, if necessary, obtain "forgiveness". Remember that sin is victorious when it results in punishment. But if we obtain forgiveness through the blood of Christ, we can avoid that punishment and thereby still overcome sin! - 1 Jn 2:1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." Yes, Christ is truly the "propitiation" for our sins! By His blood, we were forgiven of past sins when united with Him in baptism - Ac 2:38; 22:16; Re 1:5. By His blood, we can be forgiven of present sins when we repent, pray, and confess our sins to God - Ac 8:22; 1 Jn 1:9. At any time the Christian can overcome sins that were committed, by repenting and confessing them to God!
Here are some observations about overcoming sin. If you noticed carefully, you should have seen that at each of the four points in the development of sin, God is able and willing to help us overcome sin!
God helps us to "control our desires" by providing His Word to renew our minds.
God helps us to "limit the opportunities" through His Providence as we pray for such.
God helps us to "exercise self-control" over our actions through His Spirit strengthening the inner man.
God helps us to "obtain forgiveness" through His Son's blood as we repent and pray.
-- Isn't the grace of God wonderful? - 2 Th 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."; 1 Co 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
In this discussion we have concentrated on "sins of commission". That is, sins we commit by overt action on our part. There are also "sins of omission". Sins which come from failing to do what is right - Ja 4:17 "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." Overcoming these sins is similar... Change our desires so we want to do what is right. Exercise self-control so we act as we should when we have the opportunity. When guilty of sins of omission, obtain forgiveness in the same way.
In learning the four points at which we may overcome sin, don't think that we can simply wait until we reach the fourth point to act... That is, to just go ahead and sin, then ask God for forgiveness. There are several reasons why we should not do this:
1) In baptism, we were freed from the power of sin, and should now present ourselves to God as servants of righteousness - see Ro 6:1-23.
2) Though we can receive forgiveness for sin, we might still suffer the "temporal" consequences of sins - Ga 6:7-9 "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
3) If we allow sin to deceive us so as to become "hardened", we may get to the point of sinning "willfully" and lose our salvation! - He 3:12-14 "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."; 10:26-31 "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." So don't take the grace of God lightly and attempt to abuse it!
How much better it would be to praise God for His grace, and use it to overcome sin in our lives! May the promise found in Ja 1:12 help motivate us to do so:
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
Some questions to stimulate your thinking.
Are you engaged in a daily Bible study program which will help you develop the proper kind of desires?
Do you "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation"?
Do you avoid circumstances and companions that you know would entice you to sin?
Do you pray that God will strengthen you "by His Spirit in the inner man"?
Do you ask God daily to forgive your sins, and to help you overcome sin in your life?
