Overcoming Sin

Do you ever wonder how to go about "overcoming sin"? We are told in Romans that we are to "not let sin reign" in our mortal body so that we "obey its lusts." (Romans 6:12). But, how do you do that. How do you stop sin from reigning supreme in you?

Before you say, "Well, Paul was special, he had it better, he was closer to Jesus, it was easier for him", don't forget Paul is the one who talked about the war inside him between the flesh that wanted to sin and the spirit that wanted to obey God. He needed an answer to this question just as much as you and I need an answer. So, what is the answer.

First, there is a very practical answer in scripture. Flee temptation! Our pastor is always telling us that we should resist the devil, but flee temptation. We cannot resist temptation; we will loose. The bible does not tell us that God has given us a way to resist temptation. No, it tells us that He gives us a way to escape it. So the very practical means for "overcoming sin" is fleeing temptation.

Nevertheless, you might ask, 'How do I do this? Temptation is a strong lure, it is enticing, and I have a difficult time fleeing from it. What can I do?' Here is where your mind comes into play. You overcome sin when your mind tells your heart the truth. Listen to Paul.

Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead is never to die again; death no longer is master over him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:6-11)

Notice that our belief about who we are is influenced by what we know. We believe we are alive in Christ, because we know we were crucified with Him. We also believe or consider that we are dead to sin because with Christ we died to sin, and sin no longer has mastery over us. Knowledge of who you are in Christ is the key to overcoming sin. The more you understand who you are in Christ, the more you will live like that person. In other words if you know you are dead to sin, you can believe that sin is no longer your master, and therefore, you are empowered by your knowledge to flee temptation and thus overcome sin.

May God grant us a clear knowledge of who we are in Christ, and may that knowledge empower us to overcome sin.

Posted via email from Taking Heaven by Storm