I’ve observed (as undoubtedly some of you have) that many professing to be Christians seem to be completely unconcerned about whether they’re living a holy life or not, and indeed seem at a loss if you mention you’re “struggling with sin”. Either the person is a) the second coming of Christ, or, more likely, b) does not regularly read the bible and is unfamiliar with what God regards as sin, or c) reads the bible but puts their own interpretation on it and/or is not really interested in obedience. The self-centered gospel of today seems to be: “Christ died for Me (capital M), and it doesn’t make any difference how I live, because God is such a God of love”.
Several years ago in my own walk I was tired of being a fraud. I had
been a Christian for almost 10 years*, and I had a couple particular
“besetting sins” I could not overcome (see Hebrews 12:1). I thought: “If
God demands a holy life from us (and He does: see 1 Peter 1:15 and
Hebrews 12:14, for starters), surely He would provide a way for us to
achieve it!”
It was then I received a random package of CDs in the mail from an obscure ministry in the Midwest, asking me whether I was interested in “overcoming sin in my life”**. I tell you friends, God’s timing is always perfect! It was then the teaching of the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 6 began to become real to me, and not just theology I’d read one hundred times: “... our old man is (was) crucified with him (Christ), that the body of sin (i.e., our sinful nature) might be destroyed (i.e., put out of business), that henceforth we should not (i.e., don’t have to) serve sin” (Romans 6:6). My sins flowed from my sinful nature, which had been dealt with at the cross of Christ! Hallelujah!
Paul goes on to say in Romans 6: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body” (Romans 6:12). You see, what God has done is given us a choice. Before we accepted Christ and asked the Holy Spirit to dwell in us we really didn’t have a choice. We were sinners by default, through our forefather's choice (see Romans 5:12). This also confuses the world and many who profess Christ. They don’t see the world and themselves as inherently wicked (despite the headlines), and is the reason why the gospel isn’t truly being preached in many of our churches. If we are not naturally wicked, then why did Jesus come? What is there to be saved from?
Am I a sinless Christian today? Of course not, no one is or ever will be. But I do know where my power to overcome sin lies, through faith in what Christ did at the cross of Calvary (see Romans 6:11)
So friends, let us “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1), because “without holiness, no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14)
* Although I value it, I do not count my upbringing in a Christian church and the time after that up until receiving Christ as "being Christian” (see John 3:3)
** The name of the ministry is "Worldwide Victorious Life Bible Tapes" - email me at tarbell8@gmail.com if you are interested
It was then I received a random package of CDs in the mail from an obscure ministry in the Midwest, asking me whether I was interested in “overcoming sin in my life”**. I tell you friends, God’s timing is always perfect! It was then the teaching of the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 6 began to become real to me, and not just theology I’d read one hundred times: “... our old man is (was) crucified with him (Christ), that the body of sin (i.e., our sinful nature) might be destroyed (i.e., put out of business), that henceforth we should not (i.e., don’t have to) serve sin” (Romans 6:6). My sins flowed from my sinful nature, which had been dealt with at the cross of Christ! Hallelujah!
Paul goes on to say in Romans 6: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body” (Romans 6:12). You see, what God has done is given us a choice. Before we accepted Christ and asked the Holy Spirit to dwell in us we really didn’t have a choice. We were sinners by default, through our forefather's choice (see Romans 5:12). This also confuses the world and many who profess Christ. They don’t see the world and themselves as inherently wicked (despite the headlines), and is the reason why the gospel isn’t truly being preached in many of our churches. If we are not naturally wicked, then why did Jesus come? What is there to be saved from?
Am I a sinless Christian today? Of course not, no one is or ever will be. But I do know where my power to overcome sin lies, through faith in what Christ did at the cross of Calvary (see Romans 6:11)
So friends, let us “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1), because “without holiness, no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14)
* Although I value it, I do not count my upbringing in a Christian church and the time after that up until receiving Christ as "being Christian” (see John 3:3)
** The name of the ministry is "Worldwide Victorious Life Bible Tapes" - email me at tarbell8@gmail.com if you are interested
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