As believers we know that God has forgiven every hurtful thing that we did or said or thought in the past. Did you know that Jesus not only rescued us from the past sins but he also saved us from the present power of sin? Paul says that since we were baptized in Christ, buried with Him and raised through the glory of the Father, we are dead to sin. Sin no longer has power over us. That old sin that keeps popping up, rearing its ugly head again and again, does not need to be happening. Paul says that sin no longer has power over us. In Jesus, we have power over it.
The trick is that the Christian has to believe that he is separated from sin’s power. We know that as long as we are in this life we still have a sin nature. Temptation to sin, especially the old habits of our past will be with us but the power of sin is broken. We don’t have to give in to that temptation.
We must trust that the power of sin is broken - believe that we are dead to sin and alive to God. We must believe that God has the power to help us gain control over our sin nature and that it no longer has power over us. Instead of letting sin repeat itself in our physical actions, we are to offer our body as a living sacrifice to God.
Replace the sin with worship and with service. Study God’s word to find out what He requires and make a conscious effort to obey Him, remembering that we don’t have to fight our sin nature on our own. God works in us - in our will and our actions - so that we are able to resist temptation and act according to His word. (Philippians 2:12) Our God gave us a spirit of power and love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
What sin keeps coming back to you? What sin do you keep re-living even though the Bible says that you are dead to sin?
When you are tempted, do you immediately turn to God for His empowerment in resisting?
Is there a sin that you are refusing to acknowledge as sin? Is there a small self indulgence that you defiantly hold on to? Will you recognize that it stands between you and a closer relationship with God? Will you give that sin to Jesus now?
For further study read: Romans 6 and 8:1-17, 1 John 4:4, Galatians 5:16
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