Overcoming Sin - Audio Version

  
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This is the audio version of my earlier post concerning what the Bible tells us about overcoming sin. I hope it is a blessing to you.

Blessings, Mark

Posted via email from Taking Heaven by Storm

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

The Holy Spirit in You and Your Resurrection Hope

Below are a few notes taken from my study of Romans 8:9-11

Romans 8:9

Note that being in the Spirit, having the Spirit of God dwelling in you and having the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you are all three equal statements. To have one is to have all three. This verse demonstrates that there is a trinity in the Godhead and that the members of the Godhead are of the same nature.

Romans 8:10

When we are redeemed from sin and death, we yet remain in a corrupt flesh. This is why Paul says Christ can be in you and yet your flesh can still be dead because of sin. When we are redeemed in this flesh our salvation is complete once and for all, but in another sense we have to wait for it's full impact to be realized. Our resurrection is certain and as good as done, and yet, we must still wait for it.

Part of partaking in Christ involves suffering through the miseries of a fallen flesh and proving the power of Christ by overcoming that flesh while still living in it. As we share in his suffering, we move toward that glorious day that we will share in his resurrection too, and then, our flesh will be made alive again in Christ.

Romans 8:11

We can take great confidence in our certain resurrection because it will be accomplished by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. That is one reason why the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is so essential to all believers. If the Spirit does not live in you, how do you expect to be raised from the dead. But, because the Spirit does dwell in you, you can have certain confidence that you will be raised one day from the dead and your mortal body will be made perfect, just as your spirit is already perfect today.

Let us give thanks to God for the indwelling presence and power the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ!