Overcoming Sin - Audio Version

  
Download now or listen on posterous

Overcoming Sin.mp3 (3338 KB)

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

Grace

I have been thinking a lot this week about the state of my soul and grace and a thought occurred to me this morning that I wanted to share.

Hebrews 13:9 says, "Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace..."

So often we think of grace as connected to our salvation, that thing that God gives us to save us. I think we often miss the fact that it also strengthens us. As I struggle with sin and holiness issues I usually rely on my strength or the impact of other people and their influence to strengthen me. I look to external things for the resolve to live to the glory of God. But as Hebrews says, I haven't really been benefited by those things. I've realized that this week and have been wondering how grace can help me not only be saved but grow in my salvation. I've at least realized this, that is its purpose, i.e. to help me grow in my salvation.

So what do I do now? Well, I engage God in prayer to have grace, which is greater than all my sins, strengthen me to live like a man whose been saved by grace.

I'm sure there is more, but I'll discover it in God's word as he reveals it to me. For now it's just good to know that God thought about sanctification as much as he thought about salvation when he planned all this before he made it.

Praise His Name!