Sin shall have no more dominion over you
The most threatening disease that endangers mankind is neither aids nor cancer. There is a more dangerous disease that kills from the inside out. And that disease is 'sin'. Man from time immemorial either enjoyed sin, fought sin or suppressed it. The modern era is no different. People live a life of illusion disregarding GOD, committing acts of sin and ignoring its consequences. Sin is the delight of many and they commit it without fear, guilt, or shame. They jest and joke about evil and make fun of the righteous ways revealed by GOD. Sinners live a life dictated by feelings and passions driven by their fallen animal instincts.
Whether you ignore sin or fight sin, one thing is certain that man is conscious of the guilt of sin. How do i know that? Just look around and you will see the thousands of religions and its rituals designed by man to pacify his conscience. The reality of sin has always been and will always be embedded in the conscience of man. We not only want to get rid of the sin problem and the burden and guilt of sin, but also be able to partake of the life and nature of GOD. (Lake) That is because universally we humans have craved union with GOD but never had any idea as to how to attain it in the right way. Below, we will look at how to both get rid of the sin problem and also to be able to partake of the life and nature of GOD.
We will cover the following crucial questions.
What is sin?
Where did sin originate from?
Why not to sin?
How to get victory over sin?
How to maintain the new found freedom over sin?
What else to know? Final thoughts.
But what really is sin?
Scriptures have clearly defined what sin is and we will take a look at it below.
Sin is..
a) The act of walking in darkness while rejecting the light of GOD
We read in 1 John 1:5 that GOD is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. The very substance of God's being and essence of His nature is light. Light represents everything that is true, pure, excellent, admirable, righteous, blameless and perfect. Light consists of ways and virtues that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. Where as darkness represents sinfulness, ignorance and misery; everything contrary to the excellencies of GOD. Sin occurs when one wilfully or ignorantly strays away and acts contrary to the light revealed by GOD. It is when one disregards the light of GOD and instead chooses to walk in the lusts of their own flesh, rejecting the light and truth revealed by GOD, they commit what is termed as sin.
b) Transgressing the royal law of love
According to 1 John 3:4, sin is trangression of the law. The law here doesn't imply the old testament law but instead the new testament law of love. The spirit of the old testament and the new testament is that we should love God with all our powers, and our neighbour as ourselves. GOD has commanded us to love and when we deviate from this royal law of love, whether toward GOD or our fellow human being, we commit sin. But, what does it mean to love GOD and to love our neighbor? According to Jesus, to love GOD is to keep His commandments. All disobedience is contrary to love; therefore sin is the transgression of the law, You express your love toward GOD when you obey HIS instructions with a grateful heart. But, when you trespass the boundaries set by GOD and reject His truth, you exhibit indifference and lack of love toward your Maker. Your act of sin is an act of rebellion and expression of hatred to GOD's truths and laws.
Secondly, what does it mean to love your neighbor? True godly love toward your fellow human being expresses itself with the following traits like being patient and kind; does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Cor 13:4-7). Similarly, when you act and behave without love toward your fellow human being, being selfish and not considering the best for that person, you have sinned. When we live cold, ignoring GOD and our fellow human beings, we are inturn transgressing the royal law of love. c) Rebellion
Sin occurs when one deliberately choose to ignore GOD and choose to walk in ways contrary to the truths of GOD. Sin is a form of rebellion where one refuses to submit to the authority of GOD and instead chooses to walk in the lusts of one’s own flesh. When people refuse to acknowledge the existence of GOD, the higher power over all the universe, they commit sin. The main reason people choose to ignore the existence of GOD is because they choose not to be accountable to anyone, instead living to gratify their fallen instincts and desires. Such reject the authority of GOD for they are lovers of self and shun truth all together.
Where did sin originate from?
Sin originates from a seed called lust. And this lust is the source from which all the corruption in the world springs. It is an irregular, impure, inordinate desire to have or to do or to be what GOD has prohibited. The word 'inordinate' means exceeding reasonable limits; not regulated. In other words inside lust are feelings and desires that wants to cross the limits and boundaries placed by a holy GOD and is in opposition to the truths revealed by GOD. Lust conceives and brings forth sin. And when sin is finished and brought into act, it brings forth spiritual death (James 1:15). Lust is the mother of sin, and sin the mother of death.
How did this seed get in us?
a) Conceived – Mom and dad brought in generational curses and passed it to us. All of us have partaken of an earthly, sensual, and devilish nature through inheritance of the original sin committed by the first man Adam. The principle of evil is strong in every one of us; the occasions of sin are many. That is why GOD warned us in Genesis 4:7 - "sin lieth at the door." And through our original fall from God we now are even more exceedingly weak; and what the apostle calls, the besetting sin in Heb_12:1, often occurs to every man. That is why even without training or learning about sin, our bodies are already susceptible and vulnerable to certain weaknesses; already messed up and bent toward certain evil. And the purpose of GOD in sending Jesus Christ is to remove the old fallen nature, and to make us partakers of the Divine nature; and save us from all the corruption of sin which is in the world. As 1 John 3:5. reads "And ye know that He (Jesus) was manifested to take away our sins." Jesus came into the world to destroy the power, pardon the guilt, and cleanse from the pollution of sin. This was the very design of his manifestation in the flesh. He was born, suffered, and died for this very purpose; and can it be supposed that he either cannot or will not accomplish the object of his own coming? (Clarke)
b) Shaped – Who you run around with or are influenced by has a great deal to do with some of your sinful dispositions. Unholy associations tend to bleed onto each other and leaves you with vile behavior.
Why not to sin?
Both your present life and the life to come is at stake when you continue in a lifestyle of sin. One need to realize that days spent ignoring the truths of GOD are short lived. When one lives in a pattern that is contrary to the truths of GOD, they stand on a slippery slope. Not only is their life on earth exposed to danger, but also the life after death. Specifically, here are the chief reasons why one should abstain from sin.
a) Because GOD said so
The blessed God of the universe hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19), and His people are to hate sin as well. That you sin not (1 Jn 2:1) or walk not in darkness is the language of the whole Scripture; of every dispensation, ordinance, institution, doctrine, and word of God. (clarke) If GOD who holds our life takes sin seriously, we better consider His message seriously.
b) Sin binds and kills
Sin is a small matter in its commencement; but by indulgence it grows great, and multiplies itself beyond all calculation. Sin, being brought forth, immediately acts, and is nourished by frequent repetition, till at length it gains such strength that in its turn it begets death. (Clarke) The bible says in the book of Romans 5:12 - Through sin death entered into the world. Even physical death came into the world because of the corruption that sin brought forth into earth.
c) Sin is dangerous
Sin is grievous, dangerous, and ruinous; as every act is a degradation of the soul, accompanied with hurt, and tending to destruction. When a child of GOD is overcome by an act of sin, he has descended from his spiritual eminence, is degraded from his spiritual excellence, gets impure in his soul, and becomes again exposed to the displeasure of his God.
d) Sin brings misery
Do not run into sin for it brings ruin and misery. It is the will of God that ye should be with peace and happiness; therefore he wills that you should be holy because holiness and happiness are inseparable just as sin and misery are equally so.
e) Sin mars your fellowship with GOD
Think not to come within the court of God with stain upon thy garments. Think not that heaven can smile upon a nature fouled through evil contact. Think not that Christ can dwell in temples seared by flames of sin. (Lake)
f) Sin hardens your heart
Sin will cause believers to lose heart, not in a single moment, but over a period of time, with a gradual weakening of resolve.
f) Eternal damnation
If you choose to be stubborn and gratify the deeds of the flesh, know that it will eventually lead you to be completely estranged from GOD and fall away from faith and eternal life. Once fallen away, it is impossible to restore you to repentance here on earth. And one day when you stand in front of the judgment seat of GOD, it will be too late to repent or be restored back to your birthright. So while here on earth, fear GOD, learn His heart, His commandments and apply diligently toward it. Though seeming to be grievous for a little while, it will soon yield the peaceable fruit or righteousness acceptable and pleasing in the sight of GOD. Ezekiel wrote, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek 18:20). In the great Day of Judgment, GOD will tell all who ignored His ways to depart from Him into eternal hell fire (Matt 7:23). The end of a sinful lifestyle is eternal fires of hell, where there is gnashing of teeth and loud cries. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (v. 9), shall not be owned as true members of his church on earth, nor admitted as glorious members of the church in heaven. All unrighteousness is sin; and all reigning sin, nay, every actual sin committed deliberately, and not repented of, shuts out of the kingdom of heaven. Those who knew any thing of religion must know that heaven could never be intended for these. The scum of the earth are no ways fit to fill the heavenly mansions. Those who do the devil’s work can never receive God’s wages, at least no other than death, the just wages of sin, Rom. 6:23. (Henry)
Where do we start in the path to victory over sin?
a) You have to be born again
Sin is of the heart. It is in the nature of the fallen man. And this sin has made the nature of the man vile. Only the cleansing power of Almighty God can make a man clean and pure. The mind of man is carnal, full of enmity; the understanding is darkened, being alienated from the life of God, Eph_4:18. Man is not a sincere creature, but partial, blind, and wicked, till he be renewed and sanctified by the regenerating grace of God (Henry). Though his sins have covered him in filth and stained him to the very roots of his being, the washing power of God makes a man whiter than snow. Jesus came to reconstruct man's nature and replace the fallen spirit of man with the Spirit of GOD. (Lake). In order that man be righteous, GOD imparts to man the power of His Spirit. and that impartation occurs when one gets born again. Lord Jesus put it this way "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." To become born again, one has to repent of their sins, place faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins, determine to change their lifestyle in alignment to the Word of GOD and plead to GOD for grace and peace. When you do this, the Spirit of GOD enters into your nature, and the marvelous process of regeneration is set in motion. The heart of man must first be purged by holy fire and washed from every stain by cleansing blood. Know ye that he whose nature is akin to God's must ever feel the purging power of Christ within? The purpose of GOD in the salvation of mankind is to produce in man a kindred holiness, a radiant purity like unto that of God Himself (lake). And when you become born again in Jesus Christ, GOD bestows you with a new being, a new divine power that gives all things pertaining to life and godliness. The blood of Jesus Christ, the merit of his passion and death, applied by faith, purges the conscience from all dead works, and contains the power to eject sin from our life and the heart from all unrighteousness.
b) Join a bible based church
It is very important for one to associate with a local assembly that preaches the truth of the Scriptures. You cannot run this race alone. You need spiritual brothers and sisters who will lock hands with you and encourage you. You also need Spirit filled anointed teachings to get into your Spirit on a regular basis from your church. Only when you get the Word on a regular basis, your spirit will be able to overcome the flesh. Two things to note with regard to joining a church are a) You cannot afford to not join a church and expect victory over sin and b) Once you join a church, make sure it is one where powerful and sound teaching of the Word of GOD goes forth from that place. You cannot afford to be sitting in some weak church with a weak preacher who doesn't feed your spirit. In your early stages of your spiritual growth, you need to sit under ministers who can feed your spirit and help you walk in the Spirit.
c) Fear GOD
Fear GOD, serve Him with reverence and godly fear. Submit to His Sovereign rule and authority so that it may go well with you. The LORD is not far from anyone in location and knowledge, for He fills heaven and earth, and no one can hide from Him (Jer 23:24). The LORD sees the very thoughts and intents of every heart (Heb 4:12). There is nothing hid from His holy eyes (Heb 4:13). He sees and knows perfectly every sin of thought, word, and deed. And He does not overlook them. They grieve and offend Him, and unless they are confessed and forsaken, He will not hear your prayers. You are doomed to a life without His blessing, and He will bring severe chastening upon you.
d) Realize the lie
'Escape the deceitfulness of sin', the Apostle warns in Hebrews 3:13. The devil will often remind you of the pleasures of sin, but he won't remind you how that sin almost wrecked your mind. Sin is deceitful and we buy into it easily. Charles Spurgeon once said "at best sin gives you but bubbles, and feeds you upon air. The pleasure vanishes, and the misery is left.” Sin tries to creep into our lives with false promises of pleasure but only leaves us with regret. The notion that sin brings pleasure and joy is a lie from the pit of hell. Sin is extremely deceitful and the repercussions one has to face after they commit the sin is devastating. Realize that your heart is desperately wicked and lies to you more than you know (Jer 17:9). Most people when in good health, think life will keep going the same way and they can enjoy the pleasures of sin since they don't see or feel no evil consequences. He or she thinks there is much time in the future to turn from the ways of sin. But my dear friend, realize that life is short and you don't have much time left. Just ask a person in the deathbed about life and you will know that deathbed brings mourning, when you will wish you could go back and relive your life. By then it is too late. Sadly, many Christians (in their heart of hearts) think that they have not spent enough time doing the will of the ungodly. They want to experience more of the world before they make a full commitment to godliness. This is a tragic mistake, and takes a path that leads away from eternal life. To plead for the continuance of sin in the heart through life, is ungrateful, wicked, and even blasphemous.
e) Acknowledgment of Sin
1 John 1: 8 - If we say, we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. By supposing that we have no guilt, no sinfulness, we deceive ourselves as it leaves the soul under all the guilt and pollution of sin, exposed to hell and utterly unfit for heaven. If we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us or we have no knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus, the whole of which is founded on this most awful truth-all have sinned, all are guilty, all are unholy; and none can redeem himself and therefore every man needs a Saviour, such as Christ is. You need the blood of Jesus as an atoning sacrifice. Hence it is as necessary that Jesus Christ should become incarnated, and suffer and die to bring men to God. (clarke)
f) Confession of sins
The next step after acknowledging the disease of sin inside us is confession. David wrote, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Ps 66:18). So he confessed his sin, and the Lord heard him. He wrote, "But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer" (Ps 66:19). We read in Job 33:27-28 that GOD looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; then GOD will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. This is confirmed in 1 John 1:9 where we read "If we confess our sins, GOD is just and merciful in forgiving our sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness." Another verse from Proverbs 28:13 reads "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Repentance is the first step in restoring the relationship with GOD, because by it we forsake sin, and turn to God to find mercy. When from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, His holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; He is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psalms 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. (Clarke)
g) Resolve to change your lifestyle
The fallen world's lifestyle has to be put away from your life and instead embrace the lifestyle prescribed in the Scriptures which calls for a pilgrim mindset. (1.) Lasciviousness or wantonness, expressed in looks, gesture, or behaviour, Rom_13:13. (2.) Lusts, acts of lewdness, such as whoredom and adultery. (3.) Excess of wine, though short of drunkenness, an immoderate use of it, to the prejudice of health or business, is here condemned. (4.) Revellings, or luxurious feastings, too frequent, too full, or too expensive. (5.) Banquetings, by which is meant gluttony or excess in eating. (6.) Abominable idolatry; the idol-worship of the Gentiles was attended with lewdness, drunkenness, gluttony, and all sorts of brutality and cruelty; and these Jews living long among them were, some of them at least, debauched and corrupted by such practices. 4. It is a Christian's duty not only to abstain from what is grossly wicked, but also from those things that are generally the occasions of sin, or carry the appearance of evil. Excess of wine and immoderate feasting are forbidden as well as lust and idolatry.
One sin, allowed, draws on another. Here are six named, and they have a connection and dependence one upon another. (1.) Lasciviousness or wantonness, expressed in looks, gesture, or behaviour, Rom_13:13. (2.) Lusts, acts of lewdness, such as whoredom and adultery. (3.) Excess of wine, though short of drunkenness, an immoderate use of it, to the prejudice of health or business, is here condemned. (4.) Revellings, or luxurious feastings, too frequent, too full, or too expensive. (5.) Banquetings, by which is meant gluttony or excess in eating. (6.) Abominable idolatry; the idol-worship of the Gentiles was attended with lewdness, drunkenness, gluttony, and all sorts of brutality and cruelty; and these Jews living long among them were, some of them at least, debauched and corrupted by such practices. 4. It is a Christian's duty not only to abstain from what is grossly wicked, but also from those things that are generally the occasions of sin, or carry the appearance of evil. Excess of wine and immoderate feasting are forbidden as well as lust and idolatry. Henry
h) Accountability
Apostle James advices in 5:16 to "Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." There is something about opening up to others that brings much peace and healing to any situation. In this case, when you find yourself overtaken by sin, find yourself a mature christian to reveal your faults and sins and to pray along with them so that you may regain strength and be restored back into the confidence you once had with GOD. The enemy gets the advantage when you refuse to admit your weakness. You will tell anybody how good you are but you tell nobody that you are weak even though you are wrestling with a weakness in your private closet. Therefore pray to GOD to connect you with a good accountability partner who loves GOD.
i) Determine not to sin again
Apostle James exhorts in Ch 4 "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners or in other words let your whole conduct be changed; cease to do evil and learn to do well. Washing or cleansing the hands was a token of innocence and purity (clarke)." There is no place for sin in the Christian's life. There is no place for letting down or weakening in the Christian's life. The true fear of the LORD will hate sin and tear every aspect of them out of your life (Ps 101:2-3). As we read in book of Hebrews, we can ask the same question to ourselves, "Have we resisted unto blood, striving against sin." In other words, have you engaged all your faculties, your mind, your body, your soul in fighting against sin. Or are you just taking your christian walk haphazardly, walking loose and indulging in every sin that your flesh craves for. If you haven't resisted sin even at the expense of your life, you do not know yet the cost of discipleship. That was expected of them. They were expected to resist even unto death; so Paul says, "ye have not resisted unto blood." In Revelation, the church in smyrna is commanded, "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" Rev 2:10. (Lake) As Lake points out the real purpose of becoming a Christian is to become a child of GOD with the character of Jesus Christ, to stand before men pledged unto the uttermost - "even unto death" by refusing to sin, refusing to bow your head in shame. As we read in Rev 2:10 - Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
j) Know that you have power to master sin
In Genesis 4:7, we read GOD saying ""If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." It should be our active duty to monitor our feelings and instincts that constantly want to pop its ugly head and sin against the revealed truths of GOD. But the good news is that you have immense power over sin and you can master it. That is why Jesus even before the New Testament was inaugurated tells the prostitute "Go and sin no more." The principle of lust and sin is in our bodily members and it is always trying to have us, but we must make a conscious decision to rule over it. Because we have the power to make a choice; we have the power to overcome sin and every evil tendency. However, most people enter into sin blaming it on ignorance or weakness. However, sin due to ignorance is no excuse, because every man have within their reach the means of instruction. And sin due to weakness is no excuse either, since the means of strength and help are always at hand.
k) GOD's grace is always available to help in time of need
The Bible says in Micah 7:19 that "GOD will subdue our iniquities." Yes, GOD is powerful to break the power of sin in our lives and yes HE will do it. There is a power of GOD so real and true that it will take from your heart every desire for sin and make it so offensive to your soul that your spirit will turn from it. And some times deliverance from a certain sin is instant whereas with others it is a gradual process of deliverance. Whatever the case may be our duty is to stay steadfast in the race and not give up. Everytime you fall, stand right back up and know that you are coming out of it. Yes GOD will soon crush the sin under your feet. When we admit our limitations as Jehoshaphat said, 'we have no might against this great army', the LORD will go before us and fight our battles. HE will break the head of the leviathan and the goliaths in our life. Every wickedness and sin whether it is nicotine or pornography, gossip or anger, GOD will rip it out of your character. As Peter says "GOD knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation."
l) Abide in Christ
The Bible says in 1 John - Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. To abide in Jesus means to have His words remain in you. The Word of GOD needs to be a priority in your life. You need to meditate on the Word at least twice a day once in the morning and once in the night. In addition to affectionately receiving the Word of GOD, you also need to apply your heart to fervently obeying them and keep them visible in all life situations as a ready reminder. As we read in Proverbs 6:21 - Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
m) Hunger for righteousness
Lord Jesus said "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Have you desired to be sinless, righteous and always doing what is pleasing in the sight of GOD? Do you hunger for the nature and power and love and understanding of GOD with all your might? All the barriers in your nature will then go down before the desire of your soul. The person who hungers and hungers, and lifts His soul to GOD, brings GOD down to meet his own cry. The spirit of man and the Spirit of GOD unite. Then you will seek GOD with profound earnestness for the real sanctifying power of GOD in your life. However, if you are hungering only for a little bit of GOD enough to see you through your daily problems, sadly you will never see any victory over sin. (Lake)
n) Heaven minded
GOD’s grace abounds in a person whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As we shun all that is fallen in the world, the sin, satan and flesh, and look forward with earnestness the undefiled and the incorruptible heaven, GOD will provide such people with immense strength and grace to remain to depart from all evil and abound in righteousness.
o) Know that the battle belongs to the Lord
At the end of the day, it is GOD's grace alone that will preserve us as long as we commit our souls to His keeping. As we read in Jud 1:24 "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling". GOD alone can preserve you from the contagion of sin, and preserve you from falling into any kind of error that might be prejudicial to the interests of your souls; and thus to present you faultless, and without spot. Apostle Paul's letters often started with the words 'grace and peace'. Because christian life and growth are the fruits of grace; and peace encompasses not merely personal peace of mind and heart, but all the wider blessings of belonging to GOD's covenant family. But you got to depend on Him continually and keep your mind stayed on Him.
Are you active in your duty? - The maintenance part
Now you have found the initial deliverance and victory from sin, it is crucial to maintain this freedom you have received. Without ongoing maintenance, you will soon find yourself going back to your vomit from the past. After the initial experience of being born again, most christians neglect the maintenance part in the christian race leaving everything to GOD. However, without focus and diligent care, you will default to folly and sin. The Bible makes it clear that every believer need to be active in their calling, yielding to GOD moment by moment, making every effort to develop virtue,knowledge, self control, patience, godliness and love using the divine power that is now in their new identity in Christ (2 Peter 1). You got to overcome it, both sin and obstacles. It is every Christian’s duty. Many of us are defeated in our battle against sin because we refuse to sacrifice anything in the battle. We only want victory if it comes easily to us. Jesus called us to have the kind of attitude that would sacrifice in the battle against sin (Matthew 5:29-30). James exhorts in Ch1:23 to lay apart all filthiness and the overflowing of wickedness from our lives. The word filthiness signifies any impurity that cleaves to the body that affects the mind, it implies all impure and unholy affections, which pollute the soul. Put all these evil dispositions aside, for they blind the soul, and render it incapable of receiving any good, even from that ingrafted word of God which otherwise would have saved their souls (Clarke).
Lust and sin which is a destructive principle is to be rooted out; and love to God and man is to be implanted in its place. This is every Christian’s privilege. If you want to understand the ways of God and tread the paths where angels tread you must realize seraphic purity. In such persons shall the joy and power of God shall be. As the path of duty is the way of safety, so it is the way of happiness; he who obeys God from a loving heart and pure conscience, will infallibly find continual blessedness. Through such persons the healing streams of life shall flow. To such persons heaven's gates are opened wide. In such persons the Kingdom is revealed. (Lake)
Duty 1: Imitators of GOD
Apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:1 to be imitators of GOD. In other words, we should be on a tireless pursuit to imitate or operate in the same integrity and truth of GOD in our words, thoughts and actions. That is why we are exhorted in 1 John 1 to -- walk in the light as GOD is in the light. When we walk in the most noble, righteous, true, sincere and pure ways of GOD, we are pleasing in GOD's sight and will be bestowed with His grace and favor in all that we do.
Duty 2: Arm yourselves with the mind of Christ
The beginning of all true mortification of sin lies in the mind. We read in 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. Arm and fortify yourselves likewise with the same mind, and resolution that Jesus had while HE lived here on earth. Jesus did not indulge in any excesses or revelries while here on earth. Instead, led a very temperate and self controlled life never giving any room for the fallen flesh to take over. Likewise, we need to make our corrupt nature suffer, by putting to death the body of sin by self-denial and mortification. Have a very disciplined and temperate life focusing on your final destination which is heaven. Realize that everything in this fallen world wants to entangles you and make you unfit or disqualified for the final prize.
Duty 3: Maintaining a posture of humility
The triumph of Jesus Christ was attained through His willingness to be led by the Spirit of God. The triumph of the Christian can be attained only in a similar manner. Even though GOD has baptized your soul with His Spirit, there yet remains, as with Jesus, the present necessity of walking in humility, and permitting the Spirit of God to be his absolute guide. Allow GOD to rid your life of sin, for sin is an inner canker that destroys life. As it is written, "GOD resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble (James 4)". Humble meaning, a posture of humility internally and externally shaped by a proper understanding of our depravity, our sinfulness, combined with a sense of the guilt and danger of sin, and inturn turning to GOD continually for grace and help to resist the evil tendencies that tries to pop up within us.
Duty 3: Regular Fasting
As we read in Mt 17, somethings will never change until we give ourselves in fasting and prayer. Without regular fasting and prayer in your spiritual arsenal, you are setting up yourself for another fall. A person who cannot discipline his appetite will very likely not able to discipline his flesh that wants to go in the opposite direction. To consistently stay away from the strong wicked pull of the fallen flesh, fallen world and satan, we have to devote ourselves to regular fasting. Very often we find ourselves weak in the presence of temptation and eventually giving into sin. GOD reveals in the book of Isaiah 58 that it is vital to fast to loosen the bands of sin, undo heavy burden, free yourself from oppression and break every yoke from your life. It doesn't make any difference what kind of sin you are struggling with, be assured fasting combined with prayer will break it.
Duty 4: On the run
Every believer ought to be continually escaping the corruption that is in the world through lusts. God has promised to purify our hearts by faith; and that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so shall grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life; that here we are to be delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, and have even “the thoughts of our hearts so cleansed by the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit, that we shall perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his holy name.” This blessing may be expected by those who are continually escaping, flying from, the corruption that is in the world and in themselves. God purifies no heart in which sin is indulged. (clarke)
Duty 5: Watching in prayer
Be in a constant mode of communication with GOD. Whether through thinking of the scriptures you read or heard, or by reading bible or books or just listening to GOD, always be communicating with GOD. Be diligent in doing so. As Peter says in 1 peter 4 :7 Be sober, and watch unto prayer - Be sober - make a prudent and moderate use of all you possess; and watch against all occasions of sin; and pray for the supporting hand of God to be upon you for good, that ye may escape the destruction that is coming upon the whole world.
Duty 6: Universal Obedience
One sin, allowed, draws on another. Sins have a connection and dependence one upon another.1 Peter Having purified your souls to obeying the truth through the Spirit. Romans If ye mortify the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, you will live. When we focus on killing sin, never get sidelined to one particular sin. Focus on our character as a whole. All sins are burdensome to GOD. GOD wants us to focus on removing the entire plague from our system whether it is major or minor. As John Owen puts it “So then, it is not only an intense opposition to this or that peculiar lust, but a universal humble frame and temper of heart, with watchfulness over every evil and for the performance of every duty, that is accepted.
Duty 7: Be heavenly minded
Whatever weighs down our hearts or affections to earth and sense is to be carefully avoided; for no man, with the love of the world in his heart, can ever reach the kingdom of heaven.
Duty 8: Slow down
Someone once said "hurry is not of the devil, hurry is the devil". The fallen world is always busy. They are always upto something, always on the go. But the Word of GOD instructs you to slow down. The renewed man moves in a pattern contrary to the fallen man. The new man after Christ Jesus should slow down and take time to reflect on GOD and His ways. He ought to be slow to speak, swift to listen, and slow to anger as we read in James 1.
Duty 9: Simplify your life
Do not over complicate life. Keep it simple. Do not entangle in affairs that can make your mind heavy and burdened. instead lay aside all weight and focus on GOD and the race you have been called. Do not meddle with or entangle in earthly affairs or agendas that can trap you and weigh you down. Keep in simple. As the Apostle exhorts us in Hebrews 12:1 "let us lay aside every weight". In other words, we ought to simplify our lives. Get rid of all unnecessary burden and liabilities you have put on yourselves. More the clutter in one's life, more difficult it becomes to run the race toward heaven for the cares of this world will entangle your mind and distract you from pure devotion to GOD. As those who ran in the Olympic races would throw aside every thing that might impede them in their course; so Christians, professing to go to heaven, must throw aside every thing that might hinder them in their Christian race.
Duty 10: Control your tongue
The Bible reveals that the tongue and flesh has a direct relationship. The more uncontrolled your tongue is the more wild your flesh gets. Apostle James says in 3:6 that tongue defiles the whole body.
Duty 11: Make a fresh commitment to GOD
A Christian ought no longer to live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the sinful lusts and corrupt desires of carnal mind; but, positively, he ought to conform himself to the revealed will of the holy God (Henry). Make a declaration of commitment to the principles of GOD. Stand by those principles, live by those principles and be read to die by principles. Yes it is going to cost us something, but nothing compared to the joy and reward to be attained.
Duty 12: Focus
Much focus and careful attention need to be applied in your spiritual walk or else you will be a victim to the enemy's merciless onslaught. James compares the careless believer to a person who looks their face in the mirror and soon forgets what they looked like. The story of Esau is one of the most powerful lessons in the bible that exhbits the need for focus and alertness at every moment of life even in the weakest hour. We are told that Esau had been out in the field hunting all day and came home very hungry, to the point of feeling faint. And then Esau smelled a pot of soup cooking and he said to his brother Jacob, "please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary" (Gen 25). Jacob capitalized on his brother's hunger and said, "sell me your birthright as of this day". And we all know the story after that where Esau did just that, he said, "look, i am about to die; so what profit is this birthright to me?" Thus Esau sold the birthright to Jacob, for which he greatly regretted later. There will often come situations and circumstances in our lives when we are pushed to the limits to compromise godliness for momentary pleasure. And often the longterm impact of that moment of compromise can be fatal.
What else to expect in the battle over sin?
The fight over sin does not end as soon as you become a believer in Christ. Instead you will start to experience the unveiling of consciousness, of the desire of the flesh, of the sensuality of the nature and the thought of man, the revelation of adverse tendencies, which is all part of God's purpose and is necessary for growth in God. How can the nature of man be changed except that the nature first be revealed? So there arises in the heart the desire and prayer for the Spirit of God to eject, crucify, and destroy every tendency of opposition to the Holy Spirit. Think not that thou shalt attain the highest in God, until within thine own soul a heavenly longing to be like Him, Who gave His life for us, possesses thine heart (Lake). Meanwhile in the midst of your pursuit of GOD, if you have slipped and fallen, yet do not despair; the remedy is at hand in the blood of Jesus; the propitiation is not far to seek; lay hold on it, and the iniquity of thy holy things shall be forgiven thee.
On the contrary, if you pretend to have knowledge of GOD, but you are still entertaining all their bad passions and unholy habits; then as Apostle Paul warns 'Be not deceived, GOD is not mocked. If you claim to be a christian and mocking GOD by playing with sin and abusing His grace, beware that you will bear your punishment. You also have no proof that you had known either God or his Son Jesus-nor properly acquainted with God, because you are still under the power of your sins. To continue in your sins is to despise the LORD (14:2), and you shall bear your punishment! Wisdom will escape you, as long as you harbor any one sin that GOD hates. Solomon warns, "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself" (14:14). If you backslide from wisdom, the Lord will fill your life with the painful results. As we read in Prov 15:8, so offensive is sin against the holy God, especially when you know better, that your sacrifices become an abomination to him.
Whatever the case might be, you need to repent so that GOD's favor can rest in your life. No man can sin too much, too often, or too horribly for God not to forgive him. His thoughts and ways are far above our thoughts and ways - in His ability to forgive and pardon sins (Is 55:6-9). He has more forgiveness than any man. God will always accept a broken and contrite heart; He will never despise or reject it (Ps 51:16-17).
If you have sinned through ignorance, inexperience, the violence of temptation or unwatchfulness, and grieved the Spirit of God, do not continue in the sin, nor under the guilt; do not despair of being again restored to the favour of God. Get pardon through the blood of Jesus; feel your need of being purified in heart; seek that with all your soul; plead the exceeding great and invaluable promises that refer to this point; abhor your inward self; abstain from every appearance of evil; flee from self and sin to God; and the very God of peace will sanctify you through body, soul, and spirit, make you burning and shining lights here below. As the Bible says "he saves to the uttermost ail that come to him, and afterwards, having guided you by his counsel through life, will receive you into his eternal glory. God is ever ready by the power of his Spirit, to carry us forward to every degree of light, life, and love, necessary to prepare us for an eternal weight of glory. There can be little difficulty in attaining the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls from all sin, if God carry us forward to it; and this he will do if we submit to be saved in his own way, and on his own terms (clarke).
Friends, hate sin now, before it consumes body, then soul! Yes, there is a better way to life, a life of peace, success and joy, only available when you love righteousness and hate lawlessness. Solomon wrote "Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God" (Eccl 8:12-13).
With sin gone, sickness gone, now with the power of GOD alone reigning in your life, you will walk in the glory that was in the face of Jesus with a song of joy in your heart and the radiant glory of heaven in your life (Lake). Blessed be the name of our LORD!
“The Christian no longer loves sin; it is the object of his sternest horror: he no longer regards it as a mere trifle, plays with it, or talks of it with unconcern . . . Sin is dejected in the Christian’s heart, though it is not ejected. Sin may enter the heart, and fight for dominion, but it cannot sit upon the throne.” (Spurgeon)
It is the privilege of every child of God to be cleansed from all sin, to keep himself unspotted from the world, and so to live as never more to offend his Maker. Yes we are called to run a hard race for GOD. This is a race which is of infinite moment to us: the prize is ineffably great; and, if we lose it, it is not a simple loss, for the whole soul perishes. (clarke)
The Holy Spirit will give every person who submits to GOD's truths the overcoming grace and strength to destroy sin and overcome death. Glory be to GOD.
Best,
Junu
References:
John G Lake - Complete collection
Adam Clarke Commentary of the whole Bible
David Guzik commentary
LetGodBeTrue.com The beginning of all true mortification lies in the mind, not in penances and hardships upon the body.
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