As believers, we are already more than conquerors through Christ.  The sin that previously held us in bondage, is not only defeated, it is made to serve us as we seek to bring to light the glory of God to a world set in darkness.  How does this happen?  We make war on sin, and thus show the surpassing worth and joy that is to be found in Christ vs. the world.

The apostle Paul, described an internal struggle within Himself in Romans 7:22-24 – “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

He follows that up by saying there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, meaning even though he struggles, he rests in knowing God accepts him regardless of the outcome because of Christ.  We cannot lose the war, it’s already been won.  My question to many though is, would you say that your life is marked by the same internal struggle found in Paul?  Is there really a battle waging within you daily against sin?  If there is, take heart, there should be.  If not, then I might look around and see if you feel like your life is drawing closer to God or drifting from Him.

The good news is that even if you fall, you will never be defeated.  You cannot be if you trust on Christ.  Are you violently attacking sin in your life?

Romans 8:12-14 – “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Colossians 3:4-6 – “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.”

You see now why it was so important for me first to show in previous messages how changing behavior is not the means of our salvation, but the fruit of it?  In both the above passages, the call to “put to death” sin in your is not the foundation of your acceptance before God, but is what is built upon your acceptance by God, the foundation each of us has through salvation in Christ alone.  Therefore, just as your faith in the beginning was a work of God, so too will the outworking of that faith continue to be the Spirit’s work in you.
That said, my encouragement, my hope for each of you is not to be satisfied merely with wounding your sin… earnestly desire to be constantly killing it.  I’m not saying to kill sin (as if it was something that could be overcome fully by us), I’m saying to be “be in the business of killing sin, every day”.  Chop it’s head off, then beat it, then pour some gasoline on it and light a match, then invite your friends over to see if they can see anything left of it… sift through the ashes and beat anything you find, then… ok, you get the point.  How can you do this?  You can do this by forming Christ within yourselves; by rooting yourself in the Word of God, meditating on it daily, so that your mind will become more like the mind of Christ, your heart’s desires His desires, then you will be able to kill sin.  Bring others into the fight, let them see if there is sin you may be blind too, and have them encourage and pray for you.  I don’t want a fair fight with sin, I want a gang beating.  I want to invite as many people over with weapons, to surround and destroy sin.  When I think I’ve got it defeated, that’s when my guard does not go down, but is heightened knowing that there is only One person who can defeat sin completely, and I have to cling to Him every moment, to have any measure of peace in knowing sin will not overtake me.  Be encouraged, there is Truth that sets you free, His name is Jesus, He dwells in you, and will never leave or forsake you.

My exhortation today is the same as James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  Resistance is not passive, it is intentional.  The best defense is a good offense… let’s get ready to rumble.

Grace and Peace,
Adam