All sin is
rebellion against God, but because of Jesus Christ, we can be set free from its entanglement.
“In the
same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil
desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of
wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought
from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of
righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law,
but under grace.
What then?
Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t
you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you
are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads
to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God
that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form
of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and
have become slaves to righteousness.”
Romans 6:11-18
There is a sure way to deal with sin and that is by applying God’s Word
to whatever temptation you are facing. If not dealt with, temptation will turn
into sin, and sin will gain a stronghold in your life. From that point, it will
permeate all you do.
People like to think that sin only affects them. For example, they deny
the seriousness of adultery by thinking it won’t hurt anyone else, but it
always does!
Sin destroys families, friendships, but most of all, it destroys our
fellowship with God. The aftershock of David’s sin with Bathsheba was felt
throughout his family and kingdom. It weakened his ability to rule Israel and
cost him the respect of family and countrymen. However, the most dramatic
result of his sin was how it clouded his fellowship with the Lord.
In Psalm 51, David prayed this prayer to God: “Against You, You only, I
have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when
You speak and blameless when You judge” (v.4).
When we cry out to the Lord, He provides the strength and power we need
to deal with our sin. He forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
While there are consequences to sin, God will not caste us away. We may have to
endure sorrow and embarrassment, but He will walk beside us and strengthen us
in our walk with Him.
In Touch
June 2001, page 35, June 29
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