Killing Sin 2b

Yesterday we concluded the devotional with this thought, "The second part of this compels us to look at the formulation of sin. Sin is often the byproduct of several steps of development. First, we have a need. Second, Satan attempts to woo us to his solution. Third, we rationalize his solution.  Fourth, we entertain his solution and finally we act upon it. This is sins gestation process an thus compels us, as believers in Christ, to address it in 2 ways:

1.  Birth control (Abstinence)

2.  Abortion

The battle to defeat sin begins with these 3 simple words, "I trust God."  I trust God to wait.  I trust God that His plan is perfect.  I trust God beyond my moment and beyond what my eyes presently see.  I trust God to have my best interests at heart.  I trust God enough to walk away from what my flesh and mind are in agreement on.

I trust God so much that I am choosing to practice abstinence with sin.

Trusting God is not a simple choice, but is based upon the growth of faith in the seasons of doubt.  You can not simply trust God because you are supposed to. Trusting God is the byproduct of several key experiences in your life.  

1.  You must have a conversion experience:   There is a big difference between knowing about God and knowing God.  The Bible says that the demons believe in God and they tremble (James 2:19).  Acts 16:31 says that we are to, "Believe IN (Upon) the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved."  There is a huge contrast here.  The demons understand that there is a God.  The true believer puts their hope and faith, their life choices and actions, upon the foundation of Jesus. They are not simply admitting that there is a footer there - they are declaring their need of it and building their lives upon it. 

2.  You must have Biblical experience:  David said, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).  Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, who infills every believer in conversion, will "teach you all truth and remind you of everything I have taught you" (John 14:26).  The writer of Hebrews said that the Word is, "living and active, sharper than any 2 edged sword" (Heb 4:12).  The Word is what gives us the ammunition to take our thoughts captive and bring them into obedience (2 Cor 10:4-6).  Without the Word (so by proxy without listening to teaching and preaching about it) you are unarmed and unable to resist nor trust God with your lives.

3.  You must have empowering experiences:  You are not meant to lose the battle, but meant to live your lives as overcomers in Jesus name (Rev 2:17, 3:12).  Jesus did not save you to keep sin active in your life (Gal 5:1) but to see it die through sanctification and maturity of faith (Rom 6:6).  These moments when sin dies are truly wonderful.  They remind us of how carefully and strategically God is working in our lives.  They also need remind us of two power words; INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.

The beauty of the grace message is summed up in this thought, "Everything coming from God, nothing coming from me...but my obedience."  I can not embrace Christianity nor God's grace as if it were a ticket where my role is sitting back and enjoying the ride.  I have an active role in my maturity in Jesus.  I must choose to say 'Yes to God and no to self."  I must choose to take what experiences I have been given and get serious about the results.  

My role is addressed in today's verse that gave me pause.

21 So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.  James 1:21

Look at how the Bible agrees with itself on this issue:

You were taught to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  Eph 4:22

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 1 Peter 2:1

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  James 4:8

Do you see that there is an active partnership between man and God.  God must change man's heart, and man must take revealed truth and put it into action.  When man does - God goes deeper into making us more like Jesus.  When man does not, God must stop revealing Himself and deal with the disobedience at hand. Our best moments with God are when we practice our responsibility to live holy before Him.

But there will be times when we fail.  We fall to Satan's lure and choose not to practice the birth control of abstinence regarding sin.  In that time we become impregnated with a deeper desire to sin, for we have fallen out of fellowship with God. While this is where grace factors in, in that God's wrath that we deserve falls on Jesus, we must not treat grace as a common thing.  We must take the grace we are given and move toward a final solution with this sin:  abortion.

Abortion of sin is achieved through this, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) In that moment of confession, a spiritual surgery occurs, and that fleshly sinful mass is removed and we are forgiven, moving toward healing of our spiritual selves.  

Spiritual abortion is a necessary part of our Christian lives, but is not necessary to our Christian lives.  We have been given victory so that we do not have to sin.  The victory is seen as we become active partners with God and embrace the overcomers mantle he bought for us on the cross.  This is holiness.  The more we practice holiness, the less spiritual abortion we should see performed.  The less scars we will have.  The less pain we will suffer as a result of sin.

While we will always battle with sin, we do not need to allow ourselves to be impregnated by it.  We can remain solely dedicated to God as we say yes to Him.  Living holy allows us to only carry the promise of hope, not the consequences of sin.

The next edition will address how to deal with sin that has been born before it leads to death.