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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