Sin - The Christian Blogger

An Observation on Sin

by JacobNovember 13, 2022November 13, 2022Uncategorized

Sin is – and always has been – a major topic in Christian theology. In fact, sin is the reason why Jesus had to come and give His life. Sin is what nailed Him to the cross. And sin is what consigns a person to an eternity of punishment, unless he turns to Christ to be saved.

Sin plays a central role in the lives of human beings.

Every human being is touched by sin, and the entire world – all of the seas, landmasses, trees, animals, and plants – lives on in an imperfect and fallen state brought about by the sin of Adam and Eve. Sin forms a motif, a repeating theme, which weaves its dark and calamitous music throughout the threads of time. It is present everywhere you look. Read the pages of history, and you’re reading an account which involves sin. Look at the headlines on the newspaper, and you can bet that sin is involved somehow.

So far as we are concerned, sin is an inevitable part of the world, though it is vitally important to remember that followers of Christ are set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Sin permeates the world, but Christ is able to overcome sin, and He delivers those who follow Him from sin. That doesn’t mean that Christ followers can attain sinless perfection in this life, but it does mean that Christ fundamentally transforms the relationship of His followers with their sin.

But this reading isn’t intended to fully explore the role of sin in a Christian’s life – though maybe I’ll write a post on that sometime in the future. Instead, I just want to offer a simple observation on sin.

What is Sin, Really?

Sin gets talked about often. But what is it?

The most straightforward definition of sin would be this: sin is anything that displeases or disobeys God. To put it Biblically, we can say that sin is anything that does not originate from faith in God (Romans 14:23). Sin is also a ‘falling short’ of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).

So sin can be anything. It doesn’t have to be the act of stealing, intentionally hurting someone, lying, or cheating. Sin can be simply wanting things your way. It can be laziness, gossip, or any other form of selfishness. It can be a casual disregarding of an important task. Even decisions that look ‘Godly’ on the surface – if not made in faith – can be sin.

Sin is what happens when we don’t measure up to God’s standard.

Perhaps this is why, in Isaiah 64:6, it is written “…all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Even so-called “righteous” acts – giving money, giving up your time, or helping others – are polluted if they do not come from a place of faith in the Lord. Does this mean that these are bad things? No. But it does mean that, unless coming from faith, these things too are ‘polluted garments’ – or, in other words, still sin.

Indeed, sin doesn’t have to ‘look like’ sin. It can be anywhere and everywhere. It can take virtually any form. Once again, sin is a ‘falling short’ of God’s glory. And we fall short – yes, even Christians – of this lofty goal all the time.

But if we peel back the layers a bit further, I think we can make another observation about sin.

In addition to being a failure to measure up to God’s standards, sin is also often a twisting – a deviation, or perversion, if you will – of what God has declared good.

Think about it.

What is the most famous sin in the Bible? While this is a rather subjective question, I think that infamous title may well go to the sin that started it all: the sin of Adam and Eve.

Sin: a Twisting of What is Good

In addition to being a failure to measure up to God’s standards, sin is also often a twisting – a deviation, or perversion, if you will – of what God has declared good.

In Genesis 2, God laid boundaries. He said (speaking to Adam), “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17, ESV)”

In other words, God told Adam that he could have anything he wanted from the garden, but he could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why? Because eating from that tree would certainly result in Adam’s death. Clearly, God deemed the act of eating from trees in the garden to be a good thing – after all, He permitted it. But God set a boundary and said, “It is NOT good that you would eat from this one particular tree.”

God was implicitly declaring that eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a twisting of a good thing. It was a falling short of His design and His standard. And for Adam to fall short of this design would be to bring death upon himself.

Now, as we all know, Adam and Even wouldn’t stay sin-free for very long.

In Genesis 3, the serpent (whom most scholars agree to be Satan) deceived Adam and Eve into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Listen to the serpent’s words:

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:1-6, ESV)

Note: the serpent’s (Satan’s) lines are bolded for emphasis and ease of reading.

Not only was this the first sin, but it was also the first temptation. Something deep within Eve (and Adam, for that matter) wanted to eat of the forbidden tree. God declared something off-limits, and when Satan showed up, the first thing he did was speak to this dark desire within Adam and Eve’s hearts. There was a desire to disobey God, and to turn a good thing – eating fruit from a tree – into a sinful thing (disobeying God’s directives).

In other words, this was a twisting of good.

Most of us know what happened after Adam and Eve ate of the tree. God came into the garden, pronounced curses on Adam, Eve, and the serpent, and then fashioned clothing for Adam and Eve before sending them out of the Garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve took a good thing – eating fruit – and then twisted this good thing into a disobedience of God. It wasn’t the act of eating that condemned them; it was the act of going against God’s design.

How This Plays Out in Our Lives

You can think of sin as a deviation (or twisting away) from God’s design. God creates a good thing, but then the lies of Satan and of the fallen world come into play and twist our behavior into sin.

Have you ever heard a saying that goes something like, “The most dangerous lie is the one that is closest to truth?” Take a moment to ponder this statement. A good liar is skilled at infusing truth with falsehood, balancing the two in such a way that even those with good judgement might be fooled.

In the same way, some of the most dangerous sins are those which do not at first reckoning appear to be sin. Or, at the very least, they may “fly under the radar” so as to be paid little attention to.

For example, much is made today in the Christian community of the sin of lust. And rightly so – lust is a potent sin with the potential to wreck lives and destroy testimonies. We rightly identify lust as a sin that must be run away from. It must be fled from. Lust is a twisting of God’s design for sexuality, and it leads to ruin.

But what about the sin of idleness? Or the sin of self-righteousness? These sins are talked about occasionally, but not as frequently or severely as those of lust or outright hatred. They are certainly not as warned against as the more “grievous” sins.

Yet these sins too damage lives and damage testimonies.

Perhaps worst of all, they can – and do – damage our relationship with the Lord. Sin is still sin, and the consequence of all sin is brokenness. Think back to our earlier example of the fall of Adam and Eve. The simple sin of eating from a tree which God placed off-limits was enough to poison countless billions of human beings with sin. The sacrifice of Christ was necessary because Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

One sin would have prompted the need for Christ’s atonement. One sin – whether the sin of murder or that of telling a simple white lie – is enough to mark a person for God’s condemnation, and thus put him or her in need of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Sin swims about in all forms in this world, and we must be wary of all of it. From the most grievous and public sins to the most hidden and “light” sins, Christians are called to live crucified lives and to take up their crosses daily (Luke 9:23). Some of the most difficult to spot and difficult to deal with sins are those which are a simple twisting of a good thing.

Wrapping Up

Christians are called to walk in the light, as we read in 1 John 1:7. To walk in the light requires a holding fast to Jesus Christ, a clinging to Him and a fleeing from sin. It requires a rejection of counterfeit things and an embrace of God’s way of life.

Indeed, God has a design for all things. He has a design for our relationships, our words, our lifestyle, and the way we conduct ourselves. And the only way to truly live in His design is to lay down everything we are to follow Jesus.

Apart from submission to the Lord, we will embrace a twisted version of what God has declared good. If we do not walk with Him in fellowship, we will not follow Him with our lives.

Practically speaking, what does this look like?

Avoid Sin by Reading God’s Word

First and foremost, if we want to embrace God’s design (rather than chase the counterfeits of this world), we will need to read His Word regularly. The Scriptures provide the mind and counsel of God, and we must anchor ourselves there. In 1 John 4, we read, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1, ESV).”

This passage was written to a group of early Christians struggling with false teachers who preached a distorted Gospel. The Gospel they preached was a derivation, a falling short, of the true Gospel.

In the same way, sin is a distortion of God’s design. So how should we keep ourselves from it? We must test our hearts and our desires with the standards of Scripture. Only by focusing our lives through the lens of God’s Word can we expect to live in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Avoid Sin by Being in Community

In addition to saturating ourselves in the words of Scripture, we ought to also surround ourselves with Godly community. Throughout the New Testament, God’s people are likened to sheep and spoken of as a “flock.” When one of the sheep wonders off, it is in great danger. Sheep outside the flock and removed from the protection of the shepherd are extremely vulnerable to attacks and accidents.

Similarly, Christians who aren’t participating in Godly community find themselves especially vulnerable to sin. This is especially true for those who aren’t only outside of community, but outside the care of a ‘shepherd.’

As Christians, we’re all under the care of Jesus, but God also places earthly ‘under shepherds’ – that is, pastors and elders – to care for us and disciple us. These people are placed in our lives to guide, teach, and oversee our spiritual development. They are there to instruct is in the way of God, to encourage us in doing good, and to bring it to our attention when we sin.

Living within the confines of Christ-loving community helps a person to walk ‘in the light’ and to avoid falling for the counterfeit goods of the world.

Avoid Sin by Being in Prayer

Finally, it is vitally important for a Christian to be in prayer. Prayer is our direct line to God.

I once heard someone say, “Nobody has a direct phone line to the Almighty.” That is simply not true. We can’t talk to God as we would to a person on the telephone, but we do have the ability to communicate directly with Him in prayer. Each and every one of us can intimately connect with the Lord right now, if we turn to Him in heartfelt prayer.

Martin Luther, the famous 16th century theologian who sparked the Protestant Reformation, is believed to have once said, “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day.” As you can see, prayer is of great importance in our fight against sin and our fight for God’s best.

While you probably don’t need to spend two hours each morning in prayer, you do need to be praying regularly. Scripture tells us to “Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).” Scripture tells us to make prayer the pattern of our life, not just the last resort when things are going south. Christians who spend much time in regular prayer are more joyful and more holy than those who don’t.

Avoid Sin by Focusing on What is Better

As I bring this to a close, I want to make one final observation: that it is worth it to pursue God’s design and to resist sin. As a sinner of 23 years, I understand that the world is tempting. There are things that you want to do that you know are wrong. There are moments spent sweating as you resist the temptation to do things.

When I was in college, I saw people often walking around with shirts on that said “Worth it.” While I don’t know exactly what the meaning of these shirts was, I think I can make a pretty good guess. When someone had this shirt on, he or she basically implied, “I’m a good time. I’m worth it. You may feel shame and dirtiness about what you did with me tomorrow morning, but I assure you… it’s all worth it.”

But guess what? It isn’t worth it. Sin is never worth it. Sin will take you further than you want to go and keep you for longer than you ever wanted to stay. Sin – a twisting of God’s design, a counterfeit of good things – can never satisfy you. It pulls you in and entices you, but it is empty, and ultimately leads only to ruin.

I say these things because – if you’re reading this – I care about you. And I can tell you that sin robs you. It promises pleasure and riches, but robs you and leaves you poorer and more desperate than you were before. It says, “Worth it,” but ultimately kicks you to the curb.

With that in mind, I would submit to you that the costly way of Christ ultimately yields far more joy than the cheap way of sin. Submitting to Christ and saying “no” to yourself is costly – make no mistake. It requires sacrifice. It involves pain. Dying to yourself and your desires is rarely fun, if ever. But just as sin looks great but ends in ruin, sacrificing your life for Christ looks like ruin but brings abundant life.

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus speaks about the “wide way of destruction” and the “narrow way leading to life.” To be sure, the road to destruction is easy. It’s wide, well-paved, and full of others living what they think to be their best life now. But the narrow way? It’s windy, rough, and thin. There aren’t as many travelers there. Yet in the end, that narrow way leads to life.

Today, I would simply like to end by saying this: yes, the narrow road – the road of self-denial and crucified living – is difficult. It’s painful. But in the end, it is the ultimate “Worth it.”

By choosing the goodness of God over the counterfeit goods of this world, you will be choosing a life of joy and riches in Christ. And in eternity, you will enjoy the fruits of your labors in a way that we cannot imagine so long as we dwell on this world.

God bless.

Christians and Homosexuality

by JacobSeptember 14, 2021September 14, 2021Christian Living

Is homosexuality a sin? Today, there is a controversial relationship between Christians and homosexuality. How should we view it, and what should we do?

Homosexuality is one of the most hot-button issues in the Church today.

Some Christians believe that homosexuality is an acceptable – and even holy – practice. Others are split on the issue. And still others are vehemently against homosexuality, placing it on a level that is above and beyond other sins.

We have groups who claim to be Christian – such as Westboro Baptist Church – that routinely use hateful language to describe homosexuals. The conduct of these groups is nothing less than despicable and vile.

Truly, the debate over homosexuality rages. Entire denominations are threatening to split apart over the issue. It is a big deal, and we as followers of Jesus need to know where we stand.

Is Homosexuality a Sin?

This is the root issue that must be resolved. As Christians, we are against sin. Therefore, anything that is sin – be it hatred, murder, racism, adultery, lying, stealing, etc. – must be opposed.

We cannot expect to embrace sin and do mighty works for the Lord.

So, is homosexuality a sin?

Yes.

As a follower of Christ and a reader of the Bible, it is my firm belief that homosexuality – and, more specifically, the practice of homosexuality – is a sin. God does not condone or tolerate it. In 1 Corinthians 6, we read the following:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. [1 Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV]

In this verse, we have what amounts to a laundry list of sins that will keep someone out of the Kingdom of God. Among these is the practice of homosexuality.

If we are to take the Bible at its word, then we must conclude that the practice of homosexuality is sinful.

Now, there are many theologians – and many very bright individuals – who would argue with me on this point. Their claim may be that the original Greek doesn’t translate into homosexuality as we understand it today. They may also claim that this was written to a certain people in a certain place and time (as was all of the Bible), and therefore it has no bearing on our lives today.

But here’s my problem with that: if we can claim that this section of Scripture is a mistranslation, then what prevents other passages from being mistranslated? How can we know that any of the Bible is translated correctly?

The same holds true for those who argue that this was written only to certain people in a certain context. If context truly is everything, then couldn’t we simply claim that the entire Bible was written in a cultural context that no longer exists?

If we go down either of these rabbit trails, we can invalidate everything the Bible says. We can reduce it to little more than a “wisdom book” which represents nothing more than one of mankind’s most impactful works of literature.

There is a huge problem with that: the Bible is the inspired, infallible word of God. It is directly breathed by God Himself (1 Timothy 3:16-17), and holds true across all cultural contexts and all times. It is an absolute authority, not merely a guidebook or a fancy piece of literature.

We either accept all of it, or we accept none of it. It is either God’s Word or it isn’t. No in-between.

Now, does this mean that all of the Bible should be interpreted literally, word for word? I don’t think so. There is plenty of imagery and poetry in Scripture, some of which is almost certainly metaphorical. But all Scripture is breathed out by God, and every word of it is true.

Even those passages which are “metaphorical” are expressing a rock-solid truth that should be taken at face value.

Having said all of this, it is clear that the practice of homosexuality is a sin. It is wrong in the sight of God, just like idolatry, adultery, stealing, drunkenness, and so forth (re-read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

How Should We Handle Homosexuality?

This is the second most important issue that must be resolved. Since homosexual behavior is a sin, what should we as Christians do about it?

First off, let’s look at what not to do.

Many of our more “progressive” brothers and sisters in Christ take a very open (and outright celebratory) stance towards homosexuality. Progressive Christians typically respond to homosexuality in the following ways:

Welcoming practicing homosexuality with open arms
Affirming practicing homosexuality’s stance as “good” in the eyes of God
Allowing practicing homosexuals to serve in leadership, including as pastors
Ordaining homosexual weddings

Throughout all of this, one thing is incredibly clear: progressive Christians have gotten very good at being open-minded and hospitable. These are admirable, and they’re things that we are called to as followers of Christ. We are called to welcome and love others.

However, homosexuality is a sin. Therefore, we must not make a practice of accepting it as a “good thing.” It is not a good thing, and it will lead to separation from God. We are called to love those who practice homosexuality, but love is not synonymous with affirmation.

If anything, we are being unloving if we affirm homosexual behavior, since the loving thing to do is to point out and correct sins in the lives of others. The Gospel is about transformation, not stagnation. It’s about growing away from sin, not remaining in sin.

The “progressive” treatment of homosexuality is correct in that it shows hospitality, but incorrect in that it does not preach a message of repentance and turning from sin.

On the other side of the proverbial aisle, we have highly reactionary brothers and sisters who often treat homosexuality as follows:

Actively using strong (or even hateful) language towards homosexuals
Condemning homosexuals without showing love
Shutting out, ostracizing, or even bullying homosexuals
Refusing to reach out to or minister to homosexuals

In a sense, reactionary Christians often run into the opposite problem as their highly progressive brethren. Progressive Christianity shows love without disapproval; reactionary Christianity shows disapproval without love.

I do not mean to paint a generalization here, but this is how the trends usually lie. And both approaches – while common in Christendom today – are flawed.

Here’s what we truly need to be doing: we need to combine genuine love with strong disapproval.

You see, it is a great lie of today’s society that love equals affirmation. It doesn’t. In fact, affirmation is not always loving.

I’ll use an illustration.

Let’s say that my friend is drunk, and he wants to drive home. He asks me for the keys to the car. I give him the keys and affirm his choice to drive, even though he is in no condition to drive.

He drives out onto the road, gets in a head-on accident, and dies. As the person who affirmed and enabled him, I bear some of the responsibility of his death.

The enabling of sin is the same thing.

When we are unwilling to take a firm stance against sinful behavior – such as homosexual practices – we are essentially “giving the keys” to our perishing neighbors and friends. You see, sin has eternal consequences. You don’t just “get away with” sin.

Unless you turn from your sins and turn to Jesus, you will perish.

This is the message we must preach: we love the world (just as Jesus did, per John 3:16), and because we love the world, we are calling others to forsake their sins and turn to Christ. We do not use hateful language, we do not bully, we do not ostracize, and we do not grow bitter.

But we also do not affirm others’ behavior and tell them that they do not need to change.

If a practicing homosexual comes into a church, there are two ways to not love him: we can curse him and throw him out, or we can affirm him and tell him that he does not need to change.

Neither are correct. Neither are loving.

When it comes to our practicing homosexual friends, neighbors, relatives, and so forth, we must be willing to show compassion, kindness, and love. We must also be willing to let them know that their behavior is sinful, and that it is something that must be repented of.

This is how we are to love not only homosexuals, but all sinners – and everyone is a sinner. In a very real sense, we cannot distinguish between “homosexuals” and “other sinners.”

All sin is sin. All sinners are sinners.

And all sinners ought to be treated the same way: with kindness and generosity, yet with a clear and firm call to change and become followers of Jesus.

Moving Forward

It is my hope that all those reading this would gain something from it. It is my hope that this writing would engage and enable us as believers to move in love and in kindness, showing generosity and sacrifice without compromising the truth of the Gospel.

Today’s world is growing increasingly hostile towards Christians. The culture is buying into the lie that “love equals affirmation.” But it doesn’t.

As a result, many are pushing hard against this trend and reacting with a message of exclusivity and coldness. There seem to be very few who toe the line and show both kindness and condemnation.

There must be more of us. Today’s world demands it. And in the showdown arena of the homosexuality debate, this is especially important.

Our call is to sacrifice for others, to love others, and to present others with the clear and honest truth of the Gospel: that there is healing, there is restoration, and there is salvation. But one cannot remain in his sins; he must change and turn to Jesus.

This is how we should respond to all sinners, including those who practice homosexuality. They’re dead in their sins, but can be made alive in Christ.

God bless.

Tagged : Christian / Christianity / Church / Controversy / Homosexuality / LGBTQ / Sin

Are Drugs and Alcohol Sinful?

by JacobAugust 2, 2021August 1, 2021Christian Living

Drugs and alcohol have become points of debate in churches all over America. Are drugs and alcohol sinful? If so, why? We’ll discuss this issue here.

Continue readingTagged : Alcohol / Are drugs sin? / Bible / Drugs / Is drinking a sin / Marijuana / Sin / Sinful / Weed

How to Defeat Lust

by JacobJuly 22, 2021July 22, 2021Christian Living

Lust is powerful. To defeat lust, we must engage in all-out warfare, but we cannot rest in our own strength. We need to rely on God. Here’s how.

Lust.

It’s a force that can seem even stronger than gravity.

For thousands of years, mankind was unable to make it off the ground. The only way to “get air” was to jump. For a split second, as it turns out, you can defy gravity. You can channel all your energy into your legs and take a flying leap into the air.

But you’ll only come crashing back down again a fraction of a second later.

So it is with so many of us in our battles with lust.

Do you ever feel like that? You know that lust is wrong. Jesus preaches against it very strongly in Matthew, where He says,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:27-31, ESV)

You know that lust is not to be tolerated. Yet there you go, again and again, unable to break free of the sin you so desperately wish to eliminate.

Like a person trying to jump to escape gravity, you find yourself constrained to this sin. You can resist for a few days, a couple weeks, but then it sends you crashing back down again.

And what’s worse?

You want so, so badly to be rid of this sin, and you make vows to yourself that you will never engage in it ever again. In those moments, you feel strong. You feel ready to take on an army.

You feel ready to run the marathon that it takes to escape into purity.

Four days later, the temptation of lust slips subtly into your mind. It weaves its way in. You say to yourself, “Not this time. I see what you’re doing.”

An hour later, you’ve caved.

Your very resolve – the thing preventing you from falling to temptation – was taken from you. It was as though, in the moment, you didn’t even want to say ‘no.’

I know the frustration. Like most other young men and many young women, I too struggle with lust and temptation.

And sometimes I fall.

But there’s good news: the Word of God offers us hope.

The Bible Tells us How to Defeat Lust

As you might expect, the Bible gives us the path forward to defeating lust. But unlike what many might tell you, there is no hard and fast solution.

There’s no special prayer you can say that will magically remove your lust.

There’s no specific action you can take that guarantees you won’t have temptation.

There is no silver bullet, one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with this sin.

Instead, the Word of God tells us to focus on two things: our hearts and our environment.

Before we delve into the meat of the issue, I first want to include a video by John Piper. If you’re not familiar with his ministry, you can click here for more.

I include this video because it’s full of wisdom and it contains a much more detailed, nuts-and-bolts approach to resisting sexual temptation than I will give in this post. John Piper is a much more learned man than I am, and his strategies for fighting lust are par excellence.

But I digress. Please watch the video – it’s a fantastic resource.

As for our discussion, let’s move forward by looking at how lust takes root in our hearts.

How to Defeat Lust: Look at Your Heart!

The very first thing to do in your journey to defeating lust is to look at your heart.

In James, we read the following:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15, ESV)

From this, three things become clear:

God does NOT tempt us. No temptation you experience is God’s doing.
Temptation arises when we are enticed by our OWN desires.
Sin is a result of temptation, and death is a result of sin – so we need to be doing something about this.

In other words, temptation arises in our own hearts.

The lustful attraction you feel? It’s coming from within you. It isn’t because you’re being forced to lust. You’re not being forced to stare and then use your imagination.

That’s coming from your own self.

This is also why, in the heat of the moment, we often let down our guards. It’s why we can confidently proclaim our commitment to purity at 6 o’clock, fall to sin at 8 o’clock, and re-commit to purity at 9 o’clock.

If you struggle with lust, the first place to look is your heart. Not outside yourself, not to the billboards or the magazines or the TV.

Look to your heart. Look to your inner desires.

This is where lust begins. This is the root of lust.

When I was a child, I used to weed our front garden on a rather infrequent basis. We had a pathway that ran through this garden, and the path was lined with bricks.

In between the cracks of the bricks, dandelion plants would take root.

Now, if you’ve ever pulled up a dandelion, you’ll know that these things have roots that go about 12 inches deep. Some go deeper than that.

Oftentimes, you can try to weed out a dandelion only to have the plant snap off at the root. You’ve removed the visible weed, but the root is still beneath the soil.

And the plant WILL come back.

Lust is the same way. Scripture tells us that lust doesn’t come from outside. Outside factors can aggravate and contribute to lust, but the root of the issue is within our hearts.

Please note: this next section is IMPORTANT, but it’s also the less “applied” or “practical” side of this fight.

So How do We Fix This?

Colossians 3 has the answer. This will be a rather lengthy passage of Scripture, but it’s a beautiful portrait of what needs to be done to fight sin of all types, including lust.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
(Colossians 3:1-11, ESV)

Immediately, you should focus in on the portion of this Scripture that says, “Put to death therefore whatever is earthly in you…”

Quite simply, we have a Scriptural command to put our fleshly deeds to death.

All of the things listed in that passage – sexual immorality (which almost always includes lust), impurity (which can also include lust), passion, evil desire, and covetousness – are things that take root in your fallen heart.

These are the weeds whose roots spring up within you.

To prevent them from coming back and reigning over your life, only look to the portion which says, “But now you must put them all away…. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

Therein lies the solution for our hearts: we need to put away the old self.

How so?

We humble ourselves before God.

The beginning of fighting any sin, especially lust, is to stop attempting to fight it in your own power. Yes, there is certainly a place for battle. There is a place for tearful, enormous resistance.

But this is done in the power of God. It is done after we wave the white flag of surrender to Him.

Notice the verbiage of the passage: put off the old self… put on the new self.

What is the new self? It is a self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

When you fall before God in humility and surrender, you begin to “put on the new self.” This new self is not only fresh; it is being renewed.

It is constantly being fed from God.

Imagine a road that is re-paved every day. Every time it experiences even the smallest crack, crumble, or pothole, it is paved over again. Imagine how smooth and fresh such a road would be.

This is how God wants us to be. This is how He is able to make us.

When dealing with our hearts, we must humble ourselves and come to Him in complete surrender. We must simply “put off” the old self and “put on” the new.

It’s important to note that you cannot resist sin by tapping into your own power. The best thing you’ll be able to do under your own strength is fight your sin, become prideful about having “beaten it,” and then fall back into the sin once your pride convinces you you’re in the clear.

In the battle against sin, humility is essential. Relying directly, moment by moment, second by second, on the transformative power of the Lord is the only way to beat the sinful roots of our hearts.

Now, if you’re like me, you’ll probably ask a question here: this is all fine and dandy, but HOW exactly do you do this stuff?

The answer? There’s no fast solution. There are no special phrases or keywords to say in your prayers. There is no solid “if this, then that” method.

Rather, this is a portrait of life as a Christian. Daily, active submission to Jesus is vital here. As people, we are so tempted to want to just “do something,” but Colossians reminds us that we should be aiming, first and foremost, to be something.

We need to be rooted in Christ. We need to allow ourselves to rest in Him. It’s difficult. It’s hard to do. But it’s worth it.

Submit to Jesus.

Let’s now switch gears and look at our environment.

How to Defeat Lust: Reduce Your Opportunity for Temptation, and Always be Prepared to Fight!

Of the two main segments of this post, this will be (by far) the most practical. This is where we get into the nitty-gritty of doing battle in the trenches.

This is where we talk about our environment.

Now, it’s worth noting that the strategies discussed here will not work unless you have your heart in alignment and submission to God. If you’re not doing these things under His power, you’re not going to succeed.

Okay, here we go!

Think of this entire fight against lust as a war. Each time you’re tempted, you’re in a battle. You lose the battle when you yield to your temptation. The more battles you lose, the harder it’s going to be to put this thing to death.

When you look at things broadly, there are two main ways to successfully fight lust: either succeed in resisting temptation, or don’t enter temptation at all!

This means that there are two sets of strategies when it comes to fighting this sin. There are what I call preventative strategies and there are what I call reactive strategies.

Preventative strategies are those designed to help you before temptation occurs, whereas reactive strategies are designed to help you after you’ve come into temptation.

Let’s look at preventative strategies first.

Preventative Strategies to Defeat Lust

They say that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. They also say that you lose 100% of the battles you don’t fight.

These things are not true when it comes to lust.

As far as it concerns temptation, it is ALWAYS better to not be tempted. You WIN 100% of the battles you don’t fight.

Indeed, the single most effective part of your active fight against lust is this: reduce your opportunities for temptation.

Here’s what that looks like:

1: Are you tempted by your phone? When it’s late and you crawl into bed to go to sleep, you may be tempted to use your phone for a while. What starts off with innocent intentions can quickly devolve into an opportunity for lust.

There you are, comfortable and tired, when a lustful thought sneaks its way into your mind. You are all alone and literally in the dark. What’s stopping you from opening an incognito tab and feeding your desire?

You know where this is going.

Here’s your preventative strategy: get rid of your phone or make it impossible for you to use it in those moments. Yes, that sounds radical. But Jesus was radical when He said, “If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. (Matt. 5:29)”

If your phone is causing you to stumble regularly, then get rid of it if at all possible. Buy a flip phone that does not have an internet browser. If you cannot get rid of your smartphone (you may need it for your job or school), then place it in another room when you go to bed.

I know people who have done that, and it helps immensely in their fight against this tough-to-beat sin.

2: Are you tempted by other technology? Your phone may not be the only (or main) source of your temptation. If you live alone or you have your own room, your computer can be a source of stumbling.

What’s stopping you from just walking over to it and downloading some less than pure content?

Think also about your TV. Do you like to watch shows that contain suggestive or outright pornographic content? Is that a risk for you?

If so, then you have two options: either remove the tempting technology or make it impossible to use for that purpose. There are various software programs you can download on computers that block pornography sites OR report your activity to trusted friends.

Here are a few:

Covenant Eyes

X3 Watch

Truple – this one works for phones, too. This is ‘accountability software’ that relays your phone usage history to a friend.

At the end of the day, cancelling your cable subscription or even giving up your Wi-Fi may be necessary. Yes, it sounds terribly inconvenient and downright legalistic. It may be a hassle for you. It may cost you comfort or even opportunity.

But we must be serious in our fight against lust.

Jesus minced no words in Matthew, and we should mince no actions when it comes to our sinful patterns.

3: Are you tempted by your surroundings? I have heard of many Christians who still attend parties or go to places where people are “dressed to impress.” These places oftentimes contain alcohol and drug use, which only increases the chance that something bad may happen.

These locations and events are stumbling blocks. Period.

It’s like trying to stay dry and then willingly going out into the middle of a soaking downpour with nothing more than a cheap old umbrella.

The fast solution? Don’t go to these places.

Does a restaurant make its claim to fame on having scantily-clad women as servers? Don’t go.

Does a party have lots of super attractive people who are looking for a ‘good time?’ Don’t go.

Do you go to the gym because there are shapely women or men there? I hate to say it, but don’t go. Focusing on physical health is great, but there are other ways to do it if your gym is a place that feeds your temptations.

All of this “avoidance” may sting (especially if you’re an extrovert), but you can find and build quality friendships and a great social life without having to do anything that may lead you to compromise.

Focus on surrounding yourself with solid friends who want the best for you.

4: Join an accountability group or find an accountability partner. Many churches have “accountability groups.”

These are small groups of men and women (almost always separated by gender) that are designed to help manage lustful temptation. They’re more common among men, but there are groups for women too.

The idea behind accountability groups is that each person in the group is accountable to others for their actions. If you fall to lust, you report it to the group. They then work to help you reduce your lust.

Accountability groups are excellent because they add a layer of weight to your actions. If you can lust without reporting it to anyone, then you start to feel as though you’re getting away without consequences. (You’re not).

But if you have a group that will ask you, “Have you fallen to lust? If so, when and how?” then you’re more likely to think twice before doing it.

Please note: it is IMPORTANT to find an accountability group that does not rely on fear or shame – they’re there to help you, not guilt you.

If the thought of going to a group scares you, or you know that you will hide your behavior from them, then you can seek a one-on-one accountability partner to help you. Accountability partners are trusted friends that help you to kick your lustful habit. In return, you help them with their struggles.

5: Pray and read the Bible. This is something that is not optional for any Christian, let alone the Christian trying to defeat lust. The more Scripture you read and the more time you spend in prayer with the Lord, the less you’ll be tempted.

There are verses all over the Bible that command us to dwell on the good things that God has done. Here are a few:

Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (We read this earlier)
Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

You see, Scripture makes it clear that there is a greater joy ahead of us: the joy of Jesus Christ. We have a prize to go after!

C.S. Lewis once said,

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.“
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Indeed, we need God’s Word and fellowship with Him to strengthen our desire for Him. The more we see who He is, the less “gravity” our old sins – including lust – will have over us.

Reactive Strategies to Defeat Lust

You’ve been diligent with your preventative lust-killing strategies. You’ve downloaded anti-porn software, you’ve found an accountability partner, you’re reading the Bible and praying, and you’re locking away your phone at night.

But remember… lust comes from within. Dealing with your external environment helps, but it’s not going to be 100% effective.

You will still experience temptation.

What do you do then?

You do one of two things: you either flee, or you fight.

1: Flee. What do I mean by flee?

We read this in 1 Corinthians 6:18, which says,

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

When faced with any sort of sexual temptation, Scripture’s clearest command is to flee. You see, the Bible talks much about warfare against evil, and how we are to stand firm and fight against Satan.

But when it comes to sexual immorality, it tells us to flee.

Sexual temptation is the one form of temptation that we quite literally cannot simply stand and resist. Every man – EVERY man (and EVERY woman) – has a breaking point against this sin.

So when temptation grabs ahold of you, run. That’s the first thing to do.

If you’re lying in bed and the desire to cave to lust enters your mind, immediately get up. It doesn’t matter if it’s 4 PM, midnight, 4 AM, or anytime in between. Get up and distract yourself. Text your trusted friend(s). Start doing something physically active, like cleaning the house or folding laundry. Put on some music or a podcast. Pray.

As John Piper says, you literally have 5 seconds to kill your sinful thought. 5 seconds.

Make the most of those first 5 seconds. Get moving, get busy, and literally run if you have to. Fleeing is your first line of defense against lust.

2: Fight. If you find yourself in the throes of temptation, you will have to try to fight it. This will NOT always work. You will fall, at least some – if not a large percent – of the time.

But fighting is better than simply giving in and not resisting.

When you are in the thick of battle, your first line of defense is to pray. Understandably, the fact that you’re in temptation may have removed or nearly removed your ability to pray in that moment.

But try it anyway.

God can work wonders, and Scripture says that it IS His will for us to abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).

After praying, turn your thoughts to Jesus. This is talked about in much more detail in John Piper’s video, seen here:

The overall gist of this part of the strategy is to be fixed upon Jesus’s sacrifice in a very visible and vivid way.

Why was Jesus killed? Mutilated, tortured, murdered? Nailed to a cross?

He was put there by our sin; that is, your sin and mine.

When you’re in the midst of temptation, bring to mind the picture of Jesus on the cross. Bring to mind the picture of Him as He was flogged, whipped, beaten, and bloodied. Each blow was because of sin.

Our lust put Him there.

This may be a graphic image, but such an image may just be enough to snap you out of your lustfulness. It may be enough to prevent you from indulging further in your temptation.

When You Fail

I hate to say this, but it’s true: you will fail (more than likely). That’s why I’ve called this section, “When You Fail.”

If your lustful addiction has gone on for a long time, your brain has been re-wired to pursue this sin. Even for those who might not have a long and storied history of lusting, there is still the innate sinful nature of fallen flesh.

We are all fallen people.

If you’ve fallen to lust, the most important thing to do is to turn back to Christ.

Immediately.

It doesn’t matter what the nature of your sin was. It doesn’t matter if it was a mental fantasy or if it was acted out, either alone or with someone else.

Turn back to Christ.

You will feel a sense of shame and failure. You will feel guilt. You will feel like hiding your head from God. If you’re in bed, perhaps you will draw the covers over your head as though hiding from your Creator.

But the most important thing to do in that moment is to turn back to the Lord.

Come before Him in sincerity of heart and love. Pray to Him and ask His forgiveness. Repent of your sin – make a commitment to turn from this sin in the Lord’s power.

Closing Notes

To bring this (rather long) article to an end, let me just say that – if you struggle with lust as a Christian – you are most assuredly NOT alone.

There are millions of other men and women out there who are in the same boat. Remember, Scripture tells us that, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. (1 Corinthians 10:13)”

Yet this same verse also says,

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

You see, the most powerful ally we have in this fight against lust is God. We often ask ourselves what God’s will is for our lives.

Who should we date/marry?

What job should I take?

What college ought I go to?

Which doctor should I choose?

What church do I attend?

At the end of the day, God gives us substantial liberty when it comes to choosing these things. There is often no right or wrong answer.

But when it comes to our sanctification, God’s will is absolutely clear. He sets it down in the Bible!

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God... (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, ESV)

We are told that the will of God is that we abstain from sexual immorality of all types. We’re told that His will is that each of us know how to control our bodies. We need to possess ourselves in holiness and in honor.

And what’s more? The Bible guarantees that, if we ask anything in accordance with His will, He will hear us (1 John 5:14).

Friend, you have an advocate with the Father, and His name is Jesus. Jesus came to die, and His death saves us from our sins. We do not need to go fooling around with sin any longer.

By getting into the Word of God and (1) focusing upon our hearts, then (2) focusing upon our environment, we can all be well on the way to defeating lust. It takes effort, and it is not easy.

But it is worth it.

May God bless you.

Tagged : Bible / Christian / Defeat Lust / Fighting sin / Lust / Purity / Sexual immorality / Sin

A License to Sin?

by JacobJuly 20, 2021July 20, 2021Uncategorized

Some say that God’s grace gives us a license to sin. But this is not only incorrect, it’s perilous to us in our walk with Jesus.

The body of believers, since the time of the Apostles, has been beset by heresies. Paul knew this as well as anyone, and he repeatedly wrote staunch warnings against false teachings. He wanted to make sure that those who truly followed Christ stayed true to their faith and did not stumble in the wind.

Yes, even in those days; those old days when travel between towns could take days or even weeks, false doctrine and heretical beliefs spread like wildfire and threatened to corrupt a person’s faith in the risen Christ.

Today, this effect is ever the more potent.

In the modern day, ideas can circle the globe instantly. As I write this, it occurs to me that people from other continents may read this – and they may read it just minutes or hours after I post it.

A thousand years ago, a message may have taken months to make it from one side of a continent to another, if it made it at all.

But now, ideas spread instantly and effortlessly. They spread seamlessly. Can this be a great thing? Absolutely! Can it be used to help people, build the Kingdom of God, and do great works for Him?

Absolutely. That’s why I blog 🙂

Yet this vast internet of information, this vehicle for transmitting ideas, thoughts, and calls to action, can be dangerous. It can lead to the spreading of heresies and false doctrine.

These false doctrines have one lasting outcome: they damage the faith of the person who believes them.

But I’m not here today to discuss how false doctrine or heretical teachings spread. I’m not writing to discuss strategies for fighting them. Rather, I’m here to single out and analyze one particular heresy that is extraordinarily popular in today’s evangelical scene.

And that heresy, quite simply, is this – that the grace given to us through Christ can serve as a license for sin.

This is a destructive doctrine. It is as far removed from Scripture as you can get. It is poisonous. It ruins lives. It damages faith. I believed it once – more recently than I’d like to admit, in fact – and looking back, I realize just how destructive it is to true, genuine faith in the risen Lord.

Nothing good comes from it. It promises a life of ease, but yields only pain, heartache, and brokenness.

What Makes it So Dangerous?

One of the biggest ways that this “doctrine” is so dangerous lies in its deceptive power.

Think about it.

We know the following things as Christians:

We are all sinners in need of a Savior (Rom. 3:23)
Jesus Christ came and died for the forgiveness of sins (John 3:16, Rom. 10:9, 2 Cor. 5:15, etc.)
If we believe in Him and call unto Him for salvation, He will save us because He cannot be unfaithful to His own. (2 Tim 2:13)

To the mature or passionate believer, these facts are reason for immense celebration. They look upon their Lord with love and with great respect. They have been forgiven much, and because of their thankfulness to God, the thought of sinning simply “because it’s covered by the blood and will be forgiven” is offensive to them.

But it’s not the same way with everyone.

For immature believers, or those who may only believe that they’re believers, these facts can be interpreted as a license for sin. I’ve heard it many times in my own life, and furthermore, I’ve heard it most often from the youth – “Well, I can sin because Christ forgives me. I’m covered.”

They take their limited understandings of the doctrine of grace and they twist it to their own selfish ends.

They are using logic to make the assumption: since I’m a sinner, and since Christ died for all sins, then all I must do is believe in Him and confess Him with my words, and I will be saved from my sins. This means I can sin as much as I want, in any way I want, and Christ will still forgive me and I’ll go to Heaven.

Yes, to the immature Christian, this is logical. It makes perfect sense. That’s what’s so dangerous about this belief – it makes perfect sense unless you’ve really thought it through and walked in the faith a while.

It makes perfect sense, but it’s a trap. And a devastatingly tricky trap at that.

The Consequences of This Belief

Up until now, we’ve discussed how this belief works. It’s dangerous because it’s tricky. It’s dangerous because it’s deceptive. But why? If one is caught in this big snare, what makes it so bad?

The main reason is in the damage it does to the sinner’s conscience.

You see, we’re all born with a God-given conscience, or internal moral compass. Every human has one, whether they’re born into a Christian culture, a Muslim culture, a Hindu culture, or an atheistic culture.

In fact, if you travelled around the world throughout history, you’d find that the majority of cultures would have some sort of prohibition against killing others. You’d find prohibitions against rape, against violence, against taking advantage of people, and much more.

All human societies throughout history have had morality, and the morality has been – barring some differences – quite similar.

Now, returning to the notion of the built-in conscience, one of the biggest things that a person must realize is that he/she is a sinner in need of a savior. And your conscience, your sensitivity to sin, is what helps you to see this. This is why Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:23).

Notice the use of the word repent here. To repent is to change over, to confess and forsake, to be willing to leave something behind.

Repentance requires a person to see their sins, recognize them as bad, and then be willing to forsake their sins and turn to a new way of life – namely, the life Jesus calls them to.

However, note also that Jesus says another curious thing in that passage: “I have not come to call the righteous…” I must admit that when I read that verse for the first time, I was left in confusion.

After all, Romans 3:10 tells us, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” For the longest time, it didn’t make sense to me. But then, after some examination, it suddenly made perfect sense.

What Christ is talking about here is the difference between those who acknowledge and see the nature of their sins, and those who do not.

When Jesus walked the earth, His greatest opponents were the Pharisees. You’d have expected that those who would oppose Him most would have been non-Jews. Perhaps the Romans, or maybe some other faction of society, one would think.

But instead, it was those who claimed to be God’s own people.

They claimed to be of the Lord, but when Christ commanded them to repent, they refused. They called the Son of God a madman. They were “righteous” only insofar as they trusted and believed in their own abilities to save and distinguish them.

They did not recognize their own need for a savior because they thought themselves above such a thing. Hence, Jesus essentially said, “I have not come to call those who will not listen, but rather, those who do and can listen.”

Now, we’ll take this very concept and circle back to the concept of “the license for sin.”

You see, those Pharisees had hardened their hearts. They had dulled their consciences. You can harden your heart against God. That’s not popular to say in today’s world, but it’s true.

Contrary to what popular evangelicalism will tell you, words alone cannot save you. A profession of faith alone cannot save you. It can’t save you unless you’ve got the intention and heart behind it. God knows those who are truly His, and He also sees those who are just mixed in with the flock but don’t truly want Him.

For the one who sins because he “knows Christ will cover it,” there is grave danger.

There is a point at which a person will stop caring. There is a time when, after enough intentional, willful sinning, a person can harden their heart beyond repentance. They will essentially become a Pharisee.

They believed in the idea of grace, and they claimed to believe in the Son of God, but they simply used it as an insurance policy while they did everything they wanted to do.

They treated the grace of God as a cheap thing for so long, in such a hideous way, that they moved themselves beyond the ability to repent and forsake their sins in a turn to Christ.

Yes, it can happen. And if a person keeps on sinning, if he keeps on cheapening the grace of God to cover selfish desires, then there might come a day when repentance is impossible.

This is a scary message, but it’s truth. Yet there is GOOD news!

Finding Freedom From Sin

Does the Bible teach that you can fall away from God and be condemned, even in this life? It’s a tricky issue, but I think the answer is yes.

You CAN sin against, reject, and deny God for so long that you will be unable to come to Him and seek salvation.

But here’s the good news: if the thought of this causes you concern, sadness, or a desire to change from a pattern of sin, then you’re not condemned. Those who have rejected Christ completely and firmly, who have abused His grace repeatedly and feel no sorrow and no desire to change, are in grave danger.

Yet for you – if you feel in your heart that you want to change, if you desire freedom from sin and unity with Christ – there is still all the hope in the world! 2 Peter 3:9 says,

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

You see, the God of the universe wants you. Go up to any random person on the street, and God wants them. Our Lord is so great that He does not will that any would perish.

If you’re stuck in a lifestyle of sin, this is your call to get out. If you’re slipping into the heretical idea that you can sin as much as you want because God will cover it, you need to repent of this idea. You need to turn from it.

Run from it as you would a dangerous animal.

As you run and turn from your sins, run into the grace of God. Accept His forgiveness with open arms and a willing heart. Hold nothing back within yourself. Commit all you are to Him. Commit your actions, relationships, decisions, life, career, words, and deeds to Him.

He wants all of it. And you will not be sorry for giving it all to Him.

As I mentioned earlier, there was a time when I believed that I could keep on sinning freely, because God’s grace covered it. After I realized that was incorrect and dangerous, I grew fearful that I was beyond saving.

In my anguish, I cried to the Lord out of a desperate heart.

He came in.

He came to allay my fears and correct my wayward heart. He taught me the importance of seeing Him as the all-sufficient God, of counting Him as my highest treasure for all time.

This has been a journey, and I’m still in the middle of it, but each day I can see His mercies fresh and new.

Brother, sister, it is my prayer today that you’ll seek the Lord. It’s my prayer that you will turn to Him with a heart of genuineness. And if you feel as though you’ve gone too far, pray to Him. Pray to Him with all you have in you. Cry out to Him.

Go to your knees and weep.

If you call to Him out of a genuine desire to be reconciled to Him, He will be faithful to show you the way. He will restore you.

A bruised reed and a smoldering wick He will not put out.

He will disciple you, lead you, and show you the true path to life in Him. He loves you, and He wants your heart above all things. He is not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance.

Please, repent today. Repent while you’ve still got life in you, and awake from your spiritual slumber.

Repent, because His mercy, while great, will someday run out. Run to Him, and run to Him with everything you have.

Your God awaits you with great love and great mercy.

Tagged : Bible / Christian / Fighting sin / Fighting temptation / God's will / License / License to sin / Sin / Sinfulness

Psalm 51: Create in Me a Pure Heart

by JacobJuly 16, 2021July 16, 2021Christian Living

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51: 10-12)

Even the most devoted Christians fall victim to sin.

Sometimes, it comes upon us suddenly and with little warning. We stub our toe and say something we shouldn’t. We hear about what happened to one of our family members and a flash of red-hot anger wells to the surface. Perhaps we even sin without fully knowing it – driving over the speed limit (and thus breaking the law), or failing to give thanks to God for something He provided for us.

‘Minor sins’ such as these (and I put the term in quotes because these transgressions are no less sinful than any others) are often looked upon in daily Christian life as nuisances. They’re typically the reason we sit down and say to ourselves ‘well, we are human, after all.‘ But at the end of the day, we can be rest assured these sins are forgiven us. It’s quite easy for us to look past a stray curse word or even a speeding ticket. When it comes to ‘nuisance sins,’ we often have little trouble resting in the power of Christ Jesus.

But what happens when our sins aren’t so small? What happens when we’ve really crossed the line, when we feel that we are so far from forgiveness that we might as well give up?

King David answers this question for us in our selected passage of this post: Psalm 51:10-12.

King David’s Series of Sins: a Background (2 Samuel 11:5-27)

One calm evening, with his entire army out at war, David took a stroll upon the roof of his palace and saw a beautiful woman bathing nearby. Enticed by her beauty, he sent someone to go and find out about her. One thing led to another and the two – King David and Bathsheba – slept together. Of course, the king was interested in nothing more than simply enjoying her for one night, and so he sent her back home the next morning. But some time later, he received what must have been a heart-stopping message: I am pregnant.

Now, this situation was complicated even further by the fact that Bathsheba was married. And not only was she married, but she was the wife of Uriah, one of David’s high-ranking warriors. David knew that he could not have the truth become known, so he started plotting to cover up his misdeed.

First, he attempted to send Uriah home in the hopes that he would make love to Bathsheba, thus covering up David’s role in her pregnancy. But Uriah did not go home, instead electing to sleep outside the palace.

David’s next plan was to get Uriah drunk, once again hoping that he would go home and spend the night with his wife. However, the solider did not return home as the king had anticipated.

Finally, feeling completely exhausted for options, David arranged for Uriah to be taken into battle. During the fight, the Uriah’s unit was commanded to suddenly fall back, leaving the solider behind to be killed by the onslaught of enemy forces. The plan worked just as David had hoped: Uriah was killed, excuses were made, and the cover-up was complete. When Bathsheba heard word of her husband’s death, she mourned, and then David took her as his wife.

However, according to 2 Samuel 11:27, “…the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

Psalm 51: Following David’s Lead

As any moral person can attest to, what David did was not only bad; it was very bad. Planning the death of an innocent person is nothing short of despicable.

But unlike many sinners found throughout the Bible (cough, cough, Pharisees), David did not remain unrepentant. In fact, Psalm 51 was written as a plea towards God for forgiveness. It portrayed a man who was broken and sorrowful in the aftermath of a series of sinful actions and decisions.

Because of this, the chapter serves as a shining example for what to do when we feel like we’ve stepped beyond the ‘acceptable’ limit. Whether it’s a nasty word you said against someone, a conflict gone too far, or even the committing of a crime, you are not beyond God’s forgiveness.

With this in mind, let’s look at repentance and hope in light of Psalm 51.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God…”

To properly understand David’s plea for ‘a pure heart,’ we first must understand God’s will for our lives regarding purity. There are many verses in the Bible which speak to purity or some version thereof, exalting its virtuous place in the Christian life. Here are just a few of them:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." - (Matthew 5:8)

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - (1 Timothy 4:12)

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word." - (Psalm 119:9)

Clearly, purity is an integral part of God’s will for us. And given that it is of such importance to a healthy Christian lifestyle, we would be well-served by following David’s lead and asking God for a clean heart.

In my own experience with sin and darkness, I know that one of the biggest things getting in the way of my repentance is a certain ‘dullness’ of heart that follows the disobedience. I will commit a sin and then feel a dirtiness that causes me to run from confessing it.

It is during these times that I often bow my head and say something to the effect of, ‘Dear Father, I know that what I have done is wrong. Moreover, I know that I had every opportunity to stop it from happening, yet I still chose the pleasure of sin over the beauty and truth of your Word. I am sorry. I pray to you, Father, that you would create in me a pure and clean heart so that my focus might return to you.’

Psalm 37:4 tells us that God will give us the desires of our hearts. If one of our desires is to see our heart made right with God, then He will most certainly grant that request. Pray for your heart to be made pure, and God will wash it clean!

“…Renew a steadfast spirit within me…”

If the restoration of purity to our hearts is the first order of business after sinning, then the ‘renewal of a steadfast spirit within us’ comes soon after. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines steadfast as ‘firmly fixed in place: immovable.’ A second definition of the word, varying slightly from the first, is ‘firm in belief, determination, or adherence; loyal.’

When these definitions are looked at in light of the context of the verse, it becomes clear that they’re both pointing towards something which is firm, strong, and steady. In other words, the proper antidote for a sin-stricken heart is for one’s spirit to be renewed and strengthened by God.

Consider this: one of God’s foremost desires for us is that we would seek Him with all our hearts. How better can this be done than through a spirit which is strong and resolute? If I am being told to run a marathon, shouldn’t I be in shape first?

Paul often likens the Christian walk to a race. He tells us to ‘Run in such a way as to get the prize’ (1 Corinthians 9:24). So if we’re running a race – a spiritual race in which the prize is eternity with Jesus Christ – then having the strength and endurance to do so is paramount. And we ourselves do not possess this quality of strength; rather, it is given to us by God. As Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Our salvation was and is entirely through God’s grace. It’s all about Him. And when we are called to the Christian walk which follows salvation, we are also called to make sacrifices. We are called to lay down our lives. But God tells us that He will never leave us, not even until the end of the age. We don’t ‘run the race’ purely out of our own strength. If our salvation was solely through God’s will, then our strength and renewal will also be through God’s will.

So if you feel as though you’re beyond forgiveness, follow the example of David, and ask God – with all sincerity and humble reverence – to strengthen and sustain your spirit. He will answer you. After all, if our God is for us, then who can be against us?

“…Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me…”

Oftentimes, one of the most potent feelings we experience after committing a sin is that of a disconnect from God. We turn our heads to the ground and wonder ‘How can a holy and pure God love me after that?’

Although having a repentant attitude towards sin is vital in the Christian life, one of the greatest things about our salvation is that we don’t need to be trapped by feelings of guilt and sorrow. Christ has, once and for all, freed us from these through His work on the cross. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” An entire article could be written over this one line, but its essence can be summed up in a few points.

Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow are different. They produce different mindsets, have different effects, and yield different results.
Worldly sorrow is inherently self-based. It dwells upon sin’s negative impacts on the sinner himself, and, in many ways, it is a form of pride. Such sorrow is of no redeeming value in a person’s life.
Godly sorrow is the opposite of worldly sorrow. Instead of brooding over the sin’s personal impacts for long periods of time, one recognizes it, confesses it, and then receives God’s forgiveness. Because all sins will be forgiven for the person who is a follower of Christ, (Mark 3:28) the transgression has been washed by the sacrificial blood and is no more.
Although Godly sorrow will produce repentance and genuine forgiveness, it does not stop sin from taking its toll in this life. All of us are capable of making decisions, including bad ones, and each decision carries consequences.

As we bring our focus back to the verse at hand, we see that David was pleading for the Lord to remain in him. In doing so, he was practicing Godly sorrow. Did he feel bad for what he did? You bet. And was he full of regret? Of course he was. In fact, the prophet Nathan informed David that his rebellious act would result in the death of the child which was conceived (2 Samuel 12:14). David then did everything he could to save the child – fasting, lying on the ground, and praying for days on end – but it was to no avail.

Once the son had died, David rose from his fast and worshipped God. When questioned by his servants regarding his behavior, (it would have been customary to fast after the death of the child) David said, “Now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).

David not only fully repented of his actions in the presence of God, but he also gave his sorrows and grief to Him. Instead of dwelling on his sin’s consequences, David acknowledged his wrong, asked forgiveness, and – most importantly – centered himself back upon the Lord.

“…Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

It’s a fundamental fact of human nature that we often lose sight of what’s important. Starting a new job, for example, may come with feelings of great joy and great potential. You might even feel limitless in those first few days. Yet after a time, most people tend to settle into a routine, and their work turns from enjoyable to tolerable to downright monotonous. The novelty has worn off, leaving nothing behind but mere duties to be fulfilled.

Sadly, the same thing can happen to our walks with Christ. What was once full of wonder and excitement can, after a period of time, become commonplace. This is exactly what happened to David before the events of 2 Samuel 11 and 12 even took place; in fact, 2 Samuel 11 opens by informing us that David remained behind while his army was out at battle. In his boredom and complacency, David sought out the companionship of Bathsheba, setting the whole series of events into play. The king had lost his joy in God, and was now seeking to replace it with sinful actions.

A lack of joy in God is one of the root causes of sin. If we don’t have our eyes set on Him, then who (or what) will we turn to? Human beings have a built-in desire to worship something greater than ourselves – just look at how many religions we have across the world. If we aren’t setting our sights on God, we’ll turn to idols and substitutes. Ephesians 4:27 covers this idea very well by saying, “Do not give the devil a foothold.”

In my own personal experience, I’ve battled against various temptations and desires which are at their strongest when my joy in God is at its weakest. The more I would give in to these sins, the lower in quality would be my experience with God. Imagine your relationship with God as a living thing, and then imagine sin as a poison. The more poison you put into the relationship, the weaker and less healthy it will be.

David knew this truth all too well. When he committed adultery with Bathsheba, lied to cover it up, and ultimately arranged the death of Uriah, he was suffering from an already-weakened relationship with God. The more he sinned, the worse his relationship got, until he reached the point where in his repentance he cried ‘God, please! Please restore your joy to me, please give me a spirit that loves you and is willing to follow you!’ God’s response (through the prophet Nathan) was essentially the following: I forgive you, and I have made you whole again. The consequences of your sin will still remain, but I have healed your spirit.

If you’ve committed a major sin, or you’ve been locked in a pattern of sinning, God is waiting. He’s working in your heart; He is leading you to see the error of your ways. He loves you with an everlasting love, and it brings Him no greater joy than to see His children walking in Him with delight.

If you truly desire to be made new again, to set your sin behind you, to renew your faith as David did, then simply confess this to God and receive it by faith. The more you pray, the more you read the Bible, and the more you apply scripture to your life, the greater your joy in the Lord will become. After all, Matthew 21:22 says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Our Lord is a God of love. Will it be easy to follow Him? No. Is our walk always full of happiness and prosperity? Not in the slightest bit; believers around the world both past and present often experience some of the worst persecution imaginable. But by turning our hearts back to Him, and focusing ourselves on Him as David did, He will heal our hearts and spirits from sin’s horrible stain. And one day, when we meet Him in heaven, our sin will be wiped away completely, just as He promises! Every tear, every ounce of pain, every trial – it will all be made right in the perfection of eternity.

As I bring this to a close, I’d like to leave you with one last verse: Matthew 28:20, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God makes us a promise, and He will never go back on His word. Trust Him, turn from your sin, and ask for your heart and soul to be made clean.

Thank you for reading.

Tagged : Bible / Christian / Create in me a pure heart / Jesus / King David / Love / Psalm / Psalms / Pure Heart / Sin

Fight Sin With All You Have (Heb. 12)

by JacobJuly 15, 2021July 15, 2021Christian Living

One sin can cost you more than you ever thought possible. Here’s how to identify sin, fight sin, and wipe it out of your life.

For two years in college, I lived in a house that was old. I mean really old. It was a two-story brick house that sat in the middle of one of our city’s historical districts. Constructed a hundred years ago, this house had seen a lot over the times.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 20210315_090036-1.jpg — My old, drafty brick house (2021)

When it was built, it was a bed and breakfast. Some time later, it was purchased by a sorority and used as a sorority house. After that, it was bought by an elderly couple and rented out to various tenants.

My roommates and I were among those tenants.

Now, one thing we quickly came to notice was that this house had no insulation. I literally think that the only thing separating us from the outdoors was two sheets of wood and some drywall.

Whatever insulation it once had must have turned to dust decades beforehand.

To add insult to injury, our old windows were drafty. In the middle of winter, you could hold your hands two feet away from the windows and feel the icy chill on your skin.

In the Midwest, that’s INSANE.

The furnace ran non-stop during the winters. The air conditioner ran non-stop during the summers. During my senior year, we had a cold snap so severe that the high temperature didn’t get above 0 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s about -18 Celsius) for a couple days on end.

We shut all the blinds, closed off the unused rooms, and turned the thermostat down to 68 degrees.

The heater never stopped running.

It was the same deal in the summer. When the temperature hit 95 degrees and the humidity was unbearable, the air conditioner would run constantly just to keep the inside of the house at 75 or 76 degrees.

Naturally, the electric bills that came as a result of all this were insane. Split evenly four ways, my roommates and I would often pay $120 a piece… just for utilities.

At this point, you might be asking me: what does all this have to do with resisting temptation?

I’ll tell you: because one sin – just one – is like a house with drafty windows. It might seem relatively small or even innocent, but just a single drafty window can make it nearly impossible to keep a house warm or cool.

Listen to what the late pastor Bob Jennings had to say about this (you will really want to see this – the video is only about 1 minute long):

His question is so, so relevant. What is this one sin costing you?

If you had a leaky faucet, this one leak could result in thousands of gallons of wasted water. Now, few of us would leave the faucet running all night long. Yet if the leak is slow and hardly noticeable from day to day, one might be tempted to just ignore it.

But to ignore it would cost you.

It’s the same with sin. Just one sin – a regular, recurring sin – is like a leaky faucet or a drafty window. It may be hard to pin down. It may occur so frequently that it blends into the background noise of everyday life. Yet it is that one sin which can cost you so, so much.

Look at what the Scripture has to say about this:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)

I want us to all pay close attention to the wording here. It says, “…lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely…”

In this verse is an acknowledgement that sin is clever. It’s conniving and sticky. Think about what would happen if you jumped into a puddle of mud. When you get up, you’ll be covered in the mud. It will take more than a few wipes to get rid of this filth, since it clings to you.

Sin does the same thing. It can stick to you like fresh mud.

One sin is also like a weight. It slows you down and robs you of your spiritual energy. One sin gets in the way of your fellowship with God. It is something that saps your vitality and your vigor. It throws up roadblocks in your race as a Christian.

If you went to run a marathon – a hulking, 26.2 mile race – the last thing you would want is to add more weight to yourself. It’s already tough enough to run that distance. But to add a heavy shirt? Heavy shoes? A backpack?

These things make it far harder, if not nearly impossible.

Hebrews is telling us that – if we do have these sins in our lives – they’re like weights. They’re drafty windows. They’re leaky faucets.

They cost us.

Perhaps the reason why you’re not feeling close to God is because you are entertaining a sin. You’re playing with a sin. You have it in mind that, ‘I can have this one thing in my life. I am good in every other area of life. God won’t mind if I have this one lapse, this one “guilty pleasure.”‘

Why do I say this? Because I myself have done the same thing countless times with a huge number of sins. For every finger I may point, I have three pointing back at me.

Quite simply, there is no such thing as a sin without consequences. Even as believers, as saved men and women in Christ, we cannot sin and expect to escape it without any consequences. True, we’re saved from separation with God. We’re guaranteed eternity in paradise with Him. But the law of sewing and reaping is very much active in this life, whether we’re a child of God or not.

Sin has consequences.

If you sin, its negative effects WILL show up somewhere in your life. Those consequences may be small, they may be delayed, or we may not be able to see them directly, but they will be there.

So what is the solution? What do we do about this?

The first thing to do is to take an “audit” of your life.

What is that one sin (or sins) that you keep committing over and over again? What are you allowing in your life that you know you shouldn’t be?

Maybe you’re prone to laziness. Maybe you use foul language. Maybe you’re given to anger. Maybe you idolize something.

Here’s a HUGE one, especially for young people: maybe you lust. Maybe you love to look at others and dwell on how attractive they are.

If this lustful desire is taken further, it leads to pornography addiction. It leads to the acting upon wrongful sexual impulses. This road of sexual addiction can take some people so far that they actually act out upon their urges in a way that is against the law.

Whatever your sin(s) may be, you need to be very intentional about identifying them. Sit down with God; ask Him in prayer to reveal the areas of your life where sin clings to you. He will reveal them, because it is His will (according to 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) that you would be pure and grow more and more holy in Him.

Secondly, you need to take steps to resist these sins.

One of the more lurid passages of the Bible is found in Matthew 5:29:“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.“

Truly, this is strong language. Jesus Himself spoke those words. What did He mean by them?

The general principle at work here is this: sin is bad, and we should be doing everything in our power to resist it. Contemporary Christianity has largely removed the idea that we need to struggle in our walks with God. To struggle and wrestle sounds foreign to many of us.

Hasn’t Jesus paid it all? Don’t we just need to abide in Him, and He will give us abundant life? Yes and yes.

But there’s also a very real sense in which we have to struggle in our faith. There is work to be done. The Christian life is like running a long race, and that takes a great deal of effort.

Part of that effort is resisting sin.

But notice what Jesus prescribes here: if your right eye causes you to sin, throw it out. We could easily make our own statements that follow this pattern:

If your phone causes you to sin, throw it out.

If your car causes you to sin, stop driving it.

If your TV tempts you, get rid of it.

Essentially, Jesus is calling us to be radical in our dealings with sin. If something causes us to stumble – alcohol, technology, internet, going to a certain establishment, etc. – then we ought to remove it. As Hebrews 12 says, we need to “Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.”

In other news, if something causes you to sin, get rid of it. Throw it away. Be radical. Yes, it may sound like overkill. It might even sound foolish. But it is totally worth it! The pleasure you may gain from indulging in sin is no match for the abundant life you will gain by obeying Christ. The Christian life is one of radical counter-culturalism.

It always has – and always will – go against the grain of what society says is normal and natural.

Thirdly, we need to keep in constant fellowship with God and with others.

Out of Hebrews 10, we read:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

From this, we can clearly see the necessity of keeping in fellowship. In fact, the text tells us that we should not only not neglect meeting together, but that we ought to encourage one another and stir one another up to good works.

In a practical sense, this looks like accountability. When we go into fellowship with one another, it ought to be with the intention of encouraging one another to do good works. It ought to be intended to help one another to resist sin and to cut the old, bad things out of our lives.

The Christian life cannot be lived alone. As the saying goes, “There is no such thing as a lone wolf Christian.”

You see, you cannot expect to try to fight sin on your own power and succeed. You aren’t strong enough. You don’t have the power. If you try to fight in your own strength, you’ll fail – whether sooner or later.

But if you tap into the power of God, if you come to Him with your hands open, you will find success. The resisting of sin requires constant communion with Him and with others. It requires community and relationship.

If you’re not already, you should find a strong, Bible-believing fellowship and then become involved there with people who can encourage you directly in your fight against sin. If you are fighting a long-standing sin, the worst thing you can do for yourself is to hide it and isolate from others.

There is value in fellowship and confession of sin, and we do not need to bear any burden alone.

To draw this to a close, allow me to simply say the following: if you’re dealing with these pesky sins that so easily cling to us, you are not alone. Fighting it will be difficult, and may at times even feel like it isn’t worth it. You will experience failure. But the Lord will bless your effort to fight against sin, as it is His will for you to be sanctified – that is, to become more like Him.

So lay aside that sin.

Put it aside as one casting off a heavy weight or a cumbersome load. Have you ever carried something heavy, perhaps a bucket of water or a big rock, and then felt great relief once you were able to drop that thing?

Sin is the same way. We may not realize it, but these sins are like heavy boulders tied to us. They are like drafty windows or leaky faucets. They rob our rest and steal our energy. We get so used to the grueling effects of the sin, but – once they are laid aside – we find the true rest we were searching for.

This in mind, let us resist temptation with all we have. Let us fight the sins that lay hidden in the shadowy corners of our lives.

Christ promises abundant life, and sweeter fellowship with Him and with others. He is greater than anything we could possibly leave behind.

Let us therefore throw off every weight and run to Him.

Tagged : Bible / Christian / Fighting sin / God / Hebrews / Jesus / Lust / Resisting temptation / Sanctification / Scripture / Sin