Struggling With Sin? You do not want too. You want to stop. You still fail. What to do?
As a believer in eternal security from the very moment of belief on Christ’s finished work (Ephesians 1:13-14), there has been a drastic change in our Spirit, in our inner person which has been born again. Made a New Creature and MADE the very righteousness of God IN CHRIST. This NEW US which Apostle Paul calls THE SPIRIT is real.
Are we perfect in the Spirit? God says YES. How about our minds though? Our minds still need renewing by the Word of God. Our mind is where our beliefs are. The new us at our core being has been changed but we still have ‘wrong old thoughts and wrong old beliefs’ about many things. By reading the Word of God we start seeing who Christ has transformed us into. Now FREE FOREVER from our debt of sins we ‘change our mind’ (the very definition of the Bible English word REPENT) about many things as we read the Bible and see God’s truth as the Holy Spirit COMFORTS us.
These changes in beliefs work outwardly into our lives effortlessly as by believing right will result in how see things and determine decisions and how we respond to others in love. Our inner beliefs allow God to work through us and so we do the good works Christ has set before us to accomplish.
Salvation happens in a moment. Our core being made eternal by belief on Christ’s FINISHED WORK (John 3:14-18, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13-14) but our sanctification is an ongoing process in our life as we change our mind by the truth of the Word of God that the Holy Spirit guides to BELIEVE.
We need to focus on God’s Grace and not our failures in sin.
When we focus on not sinning it is the same as following The Law and the Bible is clear that the result is we will sin more, not less. It is the opposite of how the world thinks. The world view is all about our performance. Do good to be good. Keep in mind that it is Satan who is the ruler of this world.
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become EXCEEDING SINFUL. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:12-14 KJV)
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” (Romans 3:20 KJV)
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)
“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.” (1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)
As believers, we are not under the Old Covenant of Law following by self righteous efforts. We are under the New Covenant which has replaced the Old Covenant. We are under the GRACE OF GOD through Jesus Christ. So when you fall into sin, God wants us to be focusing on a Christ conscious, not a sin conscious. This means that when you struggle with sin (we all will), God wants you to be conscious that in Christ you have forgiveness of sins through His blood. ALL your sins were already paid IN FULL by Christ on the cross 2000 years ago. God foreknew every sin you will commit in your life, before you were born. And Jesus paid for them ALL.
God wants us to be conscious that “…the was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
When we are Christ-conscious, we will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1 KJV)
We believe that we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21 KJV)
So when you STRUGGLE with sin and feel a failure, don’t be overly conscious of your failure and feel bad or condemned. Instead, be conscious of who you are in Christ, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue your walk with God!
Confess your sins to God which means to AGREE that you sinned. Sorry you sinned, ask God to help you overcome the temptation in the future. Focus on His love for you and His grace and you will find yourself sinning less.
WE NEED TO ENTER GOD’S REST. THAT IS WHAT BELIEVERS SHOULD FEAR.
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)
