116. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Jesus’ death and resurrection: the blueprint for action.

In the last meditations we saw that God wants His reborn children to put their sinful behaviour to death. We realized that this mortifying process is possible because they have received God’s Spirit. He has given them a new heart to love God and a new will to obey Him.

We read in Romans 8:1-14 that, under the direction of God’s Spirit, this mortifying process prepares the way for a Christlike transformation of our lives.   

God’s Word gives us many other indications of how to overcome the power of sin in our lives. We find a second example in Romans 6. Here the apostle Paul looks from another angle at the process of mortification and transformation. Although the involvement and guidance of God’s Spirit is not mentioned here, by now we know that His engagement in our Christlike transformation is presupposed.

Indeed, there is no real change possible without God’s Spirit. All attempts to change our selfish and sinful lives without His presence and power are demonstrations of legalistic efforts and prideful self-righteousness. They surely lead to vainglorious self-deception and therefore to a tragic fiasco.

In Romans 6:1 the apostle starts with asking Jesus’ followers a rhetorical question. The obvious answer follows immediately:

“Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness?  Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2*)

For Paul it is clear that all those who are reconciled to God through their faith in Jesus Christ, have died to sin! In Romans 8, we saw that Paul focussed on the involvement of God’s Spirit in this mortification process. In Romans 6 he zooms in on the practical consequences of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  

“Don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death...” (Romans 6:3-4**)

What a strange way of thinking. How could I be ‘baptised in Jesus’ death? His death and resurrection had already taken place 2000 years ago!

Well, the apostle Paul shows us in Romans 6 God’s way of thinking and acting. Paul explains to the Christians in Corinth that “God made him (Jesus Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us...” (2 Corinthians 5:21**).

It means that God off-loaded all our sins on His Son Jesus and nailed them with Him to the cross. When Jesus died, our sins died with Him (see Meditations 35 and 36). That is the way God looks at our sins and our sinfulness!

The apostle calls this act of God: “baptism into Jesus’ death”. God unites my entire selfish and sinful nature with His Son and drowns it for good in His death. What a judgment! What a verdict! In fact, it is my faith in this condemning and saving act of God that ushers in my new life as His child.

After having become God’s child through my faith in Jesus’ vicarious sacrifice, I might want to go through the ritual of baptism by water. This role-play of ‘drowning’ is first of all an act of imitating God’s condemning judgment over my sinful and rebellious way of life. It testifies to my agreement with God’s verdict.

This is what Paul means when he writes to the followers of Jesus in Galatia (a region in Turkey): “You are all sons (and daughters) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27**)

Yet, the ritual of water baptism as a proclamation of God’s condemning verdict over my sinful life is only one side of the coin. I don’t remain under water! As I rise from the water, I imitate Christ’s resurrection and my resurrection to new life with Him!

“...in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5**)

The apostle Paul repeats here what he said earlier about God’s act of ‘baptising me in Jesus’ death’. As I said earlier, that act of God is followed by a second divine act: the gift of His Spirit as a response to my faith in Jesus. Paul describes that rebirth by God’s Spirit here as ‘being united with Jesus in his resurrection to a new (Christlike) life.”

“Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:6-10*)

Now the apostle begins to write about the practicalities of my unification with Jesus’ death and resurrection. When God ‘drowned’ my sinful past in Jesus’ death and gave me a new heart by His Spirit, He gave me the potential to overcome the power of sin and live a life like Jesus! What is the characteristic of Jesus’ life? Paul says: “He lives for the glory of God!” It means that His entire life is devoted to loving and pleasing God.    

“So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning.

Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:11-13*)

Having received Jesus’ life by God’s Spirit, how should I then live? Actually, Paul says that I should look at my sinful past in the way God looks at it: as being dead and buried with Christ! From now on I should learn to devote my life to pleasing God by the power of His Spirit. That is a matter of changed identity. For a reborn child of God it is not any more ‘human’ to sin. On the contrary, it is a sign of wilful disobedience to God!

We can take note of Paul’s three commands: “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning!” Does the apostle lead us back to a form of self-righteousness by attempting to obey God’s moral Law in our own strength?

Of course not. We already found the answer in Romans 8:13**: “...if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (see Meditations 114 and 115). For God’s children, obeying His commands is possible because of the presence and power of God’s Spirit!

“Before (my conversion), you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy.” (Romans 6:19*)

Here we are at the heart of the matter. In Romans 8:13, Paul wrote about the engagement of God’s Spirit in the mortifying process. Here the apostle points to the part I play in it: I must choose to learn to live according to God’s moral Law, and it is God’s Spirit who empowers me to do so. Besides, as we saw in the last Meditation, God’s Spirit gave me a Christlike heart and a Christlike will to be able to obey God’s commands.  

“In those days (before your conversion), when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right. And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. (Romans 6:20-21*)

“Now (since your conversion) you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. (Romans 6:22*)

It is clear what it means to be ‘a slave of sin’, but why should a Christian be called ‘a slave of God’? The apostle Peter reminds Jesus’ followers of this by saying: “You know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (1 Peter 1:18-19*)

At the end of these writings, Paul again shows that the mortifying and transforming process, directed by God’s Spirit, leads to holiness. That is: a mature Christlike life seen from an established Christlike identity. Paul refers to that when he testifies: “I (my past sinful life) have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live (since my conversion) in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20**)

In our next meditation we need to discover how God wants each of us to renew his mind so that we are able ‘to think about life God's way’.

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

For more on ‘being crucified with Christ’, see Meditation 35.

For more on ‘dying and being raised with Christ’, see Meditations 36 and 37.

For more on ‘resurrection life’, see Meditations 38 to 43.

For more on Jesus’ guilt offering, see Meditations 3 to 12.

For more on the question ‘what is sin?’ see Meditations 101 to 103.

For more on ‘salvation’, see Meditations 19 to 26.

For more on ‘rebirth by God’s Spirit’, see Meditations 27 and 44.

For more on ‘who is the Holy Spirit’? see Meditation 28.

For more on ‘Christlike transformation by God’s Spirit’, see Meditations 29 to 34, 45, 49 to 56 and 105.

For more on ‘How to overcome the power of sin in my life’, see Meditations 101-115.

115. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (g)

(continuation of Meditation 114)

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14*)

In our last Meditation we quoted Paul’s statement: “True circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit.” (Romans 2:29*)

However, for overcoming the power of sin in our lives, a change of heart to love God is not enough; it also needs a further transformation into Christ-likeness by God’s Spirit. What does that mean?

According to God’s Word, the heart is the centre of our inner being and the seat of all human power and potential. Here are some examples:

-- It is the source of our positive and negative emotions:

By mouth of the prophet Isaiah (8^th century B.C.), God warns those who reject Him and His coming judgment: “My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.” (Isaiah 65:14**)

-- In our heart dwell our desires and passions:

The apostle Paul tells the Christians in Rome: “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved.” (Romans 10:1*)

The Book of Proverbs warns against adultery: “Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.” (Proverbs 6:25**)

-- Our heart is the source of thought and reflection:

The apostle Peter rebukes Simon the sorcerer, saying: “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.” (Acts 8:22**)

-- The human heart is the seat of the will and decision-making:

Regarding the need to support poor Christians in Jerusalem, the apostle Paul suggested to the church in Corinth: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7**)

We said earlier that our hearts need a radical change by God’s Spirit, called ‘rebirth’. Yet, it also needs a further Christlike transformation led by Him. Practically, it means that all the forces and functions seated in my heart and corrupted by my sinful nature need to be brought under the control of God’s Spirit. That process of the Spirit’s direction and transformation leads to an all-out war between my ‘new' heart and my ‘old’ sinful nature.

The apostle Paul points to that when he confesses: “In my inner being I delight in God's (moral) Law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” (Romans 7:22-23**)

Paul explains the same process in God’s reborn children in Galatia (a region in modern Turkey): “The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.” (Galatians 5:17*)

In Meditation 114 we mentioned that liberation from the power of sin does not simply happen to us. On the contrary, God’s Spirit includes us in this process. It seems that He operates from the starting point of our new, God-given change of heart that loves Him and our God-given change of will that obeys Him.

The fact that He is ready to engage us, who were former ‘enemies of God’ (Colossians 1:21), in this extraordinary transformation process shows how much God loves us.

It is a wonderful truth that the apostle Paul exclaims in Romans 8:13-14**: “If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body (i.e. our sinful nature), you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (or: children) of God.”

The New Testament speaks a lot about this mortifying and transforming process, conducted by God’s Spirit, to liberate our emotions, desires and passions, our mind and will from the destructive power of sin.

In the next meditations we will see how the apostle Paul uses Christ’s death and resurrection as a metaphor for this liberation process.  

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

114. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (f)

(continuation of Meditation 113)

“You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” (Romans 8:9*)

The apostle Paul had not yet visited Rome when he wrote this letter to the church there (see Romans 1:10-13). So, it is significant that he assumes that Christians are people who have the Spirit of God living in them. It means that they are reconciled with God the Father through the sin offering of God the Son and that they are reborn by God the Spirit (John 1:12-13; Acts 2:38). I wonder if this clear assumption of Paul is part and parcel of every church’s biblical teaching.   

“So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish.” (Romans 8:12-13*)

The apostle finishes this paragraph in chapter 8 by repeating that God’s reborn children should utterly, completely and totally abandon their former sinful way of life. Yet, it is at this point that we come up against the very question: how could I ever overcome my sinful nature and its passions and desires? We find Paul’s answer in the following paragraph:

“If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13**)

This is an amazing message. What we never could do by ourselves, because of our selfish and sinful nature, God’s Spirit can! He has come from heaven and is sent to us by God the Father and God the Son. He has not only come to live in us as a guarantee to eternal life, but also to save us from the power of sin and transform us into the likeness of Christ.

It is noteworthy that Paul points to the fact that this liberation from the power of sin does not simply happen to us. On the contrary, God’s Spirit includes us in this liberation process. Yet, how can He do that if our hearts and wills are so desperately corrupted by our sinfulness?

Before God’s Spirit is able to include us in the liberation from the power of sin, there are two major things that need to happen:

A change of heart to love God

The apostle Paul shows the Roman Christians that God’s Spirit is able give us a change of heart. That happens to everyone who receives Jesus as Saviour and Lord and thereby enters into God’s new and eternal covenant. Paul compares this process with the Jewish rite of circumcision of the Jewish males: “True circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit.” (Romans 2:29*)

Already Moses spoke about the promise of this new covenant that God in the future would make with His people. The result would be a deep love for God and the wholehearted fulfilment of His holy Law: “The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.” (Deuteronomy 30:6**)

Later God gave the same promise to His people by the prophet Ezekiel: “I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19-20*)

Entering into this new covenant would require a rebirth by God’s Spirit. God explains this also through Ezekiel: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27**)

The apostle Paul picks up the image of ‘the circumcision of the heart’ from the Old Testament (e.g. Deuteronomy 30:6) when he writes to God’s reborn children in the Greek town of Colosse: “In him (Jesus Christ) you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ.” (Colossians 2:11**)

About this change of heart to love God, Paul writes to the Christians in Rome: “We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5*)

At the beginning of this Meditation we saw that in Romans 8:9 the Spirit of God is also called the ‘Spirit of Christ’. That means practically that when God’s Spirit lives in us, it is actually Jesus Christ who lives in us. That’s why the apostle Paul exclaims in his letter to the Christians in Galatia (region in Turkey): “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20*)

Indeed, it is God’s Spirit who wants to give us a heart that loves God the Father like Jesus did when he lived on earth. Jesus testified the evening before His death: “I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” (John 14:31*)  

 

A change of will to obey God

If you have received a change of heart to love God, you have subsequently also received a change of will to obey Him wholeheartedly.

Earlier we saw already in God’s promise through the prophet Ezekiel that He would change the heart and will of His people so that they would desire and be able to obey God’s holy Law (Ezekiel 11:19-20*)

We read the same message in Ezekiel 36:26-27**: “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27**)

The apostle Paul reminds God’s reborn children in the Greek town of Philippi: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13**)

Paul explains to the Christians in the Greek port of Corinth that his apostolic ministry is a gift from God: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5**)

The author of the letter to the Hebrews finishes with the following blessing: “May the God of peace... equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21**)

I think that by now we have found the answer to the question: how can we overcome the power of sin in our lives if our hearts and wills naturally are so desperately corrupted by our sinfulness?

The answer is that we only can overcome the power of our sinful nature if we have received the three ‘component parts’ needed for such a major victory:

1. The gift of God’s Spirit as a result of our conversion. Jesus calls this ‘a new birth’. He said to the Jewish rabbi Nicodemus: “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water (conversion) and the Spirit.” (John 3:5*)

2. A God-given change of heart to love Him.

3. A God-given change of will to obey Him

Let us repeat what we said earlier on: What we could never do by ourselves, because of our selfish and sinful nature, God’s Spirit can! He has come from heaven and is sent to us by God the Father and God the Son. He has not only come to live in us as a guarantee to eternal life, but also to save us from the power of sin and transform us into the likeness of Christ.

As we have seen before, God’s Word makes it clear that our rebirth does not mean the absence of our sinful nature during our remaining days on earth. That’s why we need to be trained by God’s Spirit to overcome its power.

Therefore, the apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Rome: “If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13**)

This is a remarkable sentence. Let us look a bit closer at it. How can I overcome the power of sin? Paul says: by putting to death ‘the misdeeds of the body’. The apostle thinks of my sinful behaviour. 

Who is called to put to death my sinful behaviour? Paul says that is me! Better to say: my new ‘me’, my renewed God-given heart; it is my new ‘Christlike heart’; it is given to me by God’s Spirit; it is characterised by a pure and undivided love of God and a burning desire to do His will.

Do I have to mortify my sinful behaviour on my own? Paul says: no. I could not do that. I am only able to do that by the power and aid of God’s Spirit.   

Paul says that as a result of this mortifying process we will live in a peaceful and Christlike fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:13b).

In the next meditation we will look at the practicalities of this process.

(to be continued)

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

For more on Jesus’ guilt offering, see Meditations 3 to 12.

For more on the question ‘what is sin?’ see Meditations 101 to 103.

For more on ‘salvation’, see Meditations 19 to 26.

For more on ‘rebirth by God’s Spirit’, see Meditations 27 and 44.

For more on ‘who is the Holy Spirit’? see Meditation 28.

For more on God’s new and eternal covenant, see Meditations 33 to 34. 

For more on ‘Christlike transformation by God’s Spirit’, see Meditations 29 to 34, 45, 49 to 56 and 105.

For more on ‘Christlike love for God the Father and Jesus, His Son’, see Meditations 56 to 62.

For more on ‘How to overcome the power of sin in my life’, see Meditations 101-113.

113. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (e)

(continuation of Meditation 112)

“The mind of sinful man is death...” (Romans 8:6a**)

Last time we closed with the question: why is it that leaving God’s ways and disobeying His Word is such a serious matter for God’s reborn children?

The apostle Paul is shockingly blunt when he speaks about our sinful nature. The Greek word, that has been translated in Romans 8:6a with the mind, indicates ‘that what is on our mind, our thoughts and purposes’.

In our last Meditation we said that if my life is not controlled by God’s Spirit, my way of thinking and acting will show it. If there is no place for God’s love in my heart, my lifestyle will display my selfishness and sinfulness in a small or a big way.

If divine love for God and fellow-man does not fill my heart, God pronounces my heart as being ‘dead’, because it does not fulfil the requirement of God’s holy and perfect moral Law.

The New Living Translation renders Romans 8:6a: “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death...”

The apostle Paul challenges the Christians in Rome: “What benefit did you reap at that time (before your conversion) from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!” (Romans 6:21**). Paul points again to the consequences of sinning in verse 23: “The wages of sin is death.”  

Paul urges these Christians not to return to their sinful ways: “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die...” (Romans 8:13**)

Again, the apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Galatia (modern Turkey) of the devastating consequences of their former sinful lifestyle: “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death.” (Galatians 6:8*)

We mentioned it in our last Meditation: till their dying day, God’s reborn children have the choice to follow the ways of God’s Spirit and be controlled by Him, or to return to the ways of their old sinful nature.

“The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's Law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8**)

We saw in Meditation 110 that the apostle Paul often speaks about the depraved character of our sinful hearts and its resulting behaviour. Here, in Romans 8:7-8, the apostle takes us one step further and put our sinfulness in the context of our relationship with God. Selfish pride and action create deep down enmity with God. Because of our egoistical and sinful nature, we are ‘naturally’ unable to love God and our fellow-man in a perfect, Christlike way, as God’s moral Law requires. Consequently, there is no way we could ever by ourselves please a righteous and holy God.

Here are some other examples from the apostles’ letters that show how our sinfulness is a burning enmity for God since the fall of man (see Genesis 3):         

-- “God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.” (Romans 1:18-22*)  

-- “Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.” (Ephesians 4:18-19*)

-- “Once you (God’s children) were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour.” (Colossians 1:21**)

-- “You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful.

They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5*)  

-- “Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4**)

-- “When you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.” (1 John 2:15-16*)

“... but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5*)

We wrote in Meditation 112 that all of those who are reconciled with God the Father through the sacrifice of God the Son have received God’s Spirit. It is God’s desire that all His reborn children no longer follow their sinful nature, but instead learn to follow God’s Spirit and overcome the power of sin.

The apostle Paul encourages the church in Rome: “Let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.” (Romans 13:14*)

In the next meditation we will see what it means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

(to be continued)

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

For more on the question ‘what is sin?’ see Meditations 101 to 103.

For more on ‘salvation’ see Meditations 19 to 26.

For more on ‘Christlike transformation by God’s Spirit’ see Meditations 29 to 34 and 49 to 56 and 105.

112. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (d)

(continuation of Meditation 111)

“God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the Law would be fully accomplished for us... (Romans 8:3b and 4*)

We finished our last Meditation with these wonderful words: “This is the greatest display of love in the history of all humanity and the heart of the Gospel message: our Triune God sacrifices Himself to save humanity from its sinful disobedience to His holy Law and from His righteous anger and judgment.”

However, the above-mentioned verses from Romans 8:3b and 4 are at first sight not so easy to

understand. How can the apostle Paul say that the requirement of God’s Law of love would be fully accomplished for us by Jesus’ self-sacrifice?

Actually, the original Greek text says: “... so that the requirement of the Law would be fully accomplished in us...”

That makes more sense. Here we see our Triune God fully at work, solving the human problem of sin within Himself:

-- God the Father condemns our sinful disobedience to His moral Law.

-- God the Son bears that condemnation in our stead and gives His life at the cross of Calvary as a guilt offering for our sin. In this way He opens the door for our reconciliation with His heavenly Father and saves us from God’s anger and judgment. If we acknowledge our sinfulness before God and ask Him to forgive us on the bases of Jesus’ sacrifice, God will forgive us completely and adopt us as His children through the rebirth by His Spirit. That’s what Paul means when he cries out in verse 1: “Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1*)

-- God the Holy Spirit, who (like God the Father) has the character of Jesus (see Meditations 14 and 28 ), is able to accomplish in us the requirement of God’s moral Law. What does that mean practically? It means that God’s Spirit wants to realise in us the sinless life of Christ which is the fulfilment of God’s moral Law. How will He do that? Let us read the next verse.    

“... who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.” (Romans 8:4*)

All of us who are reconciled with God the Father through the sacrifice of God the Son have received God’s Spirit. Now it is God’s desire that we no longer follow our sinful nature, but instead learn to follow God’s Spirit and overcome the power of sin.

It is important to notice here that with our rebirth our sinful nature has not totally disappeared! That would be the easiest way out. Listen to what the apostle John writes to Jesus’ followers about this important matter: “If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.” (1 John 1:8*)

Only later our sinful nature will completely disappear. The apostle John writes in his first letter to all God’s reborn children: “Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2*)

The apostle Paul teaches the Christians in Corinth: “Just as we are now like Adam, the man of the earth, so we will someday be like Christ, the man from heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:49*)

To the Christians in Rome he writes: “God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn (from the dead, see Colossians 1:18), with many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29*)

In Paul’s letter to Jesus’ followers in the Greek town of Philippi, he writes that one day not only our very beings will be like God the Son, but even our bodies: “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere.” (Philippians 3:20-21*)

So, why is it that following our old sinful nature remains an option for God’s reborn children as long as they live on earth? Does God want us to learn ‘to live by faith’? Does He want to test our hearts to see if we truly love Him and want to follow and obey Him? Does He want to use this option to help us grow in Christlike humility? Does He want to make us strong in our battle against sin? Does He want to teach us self-control? There are Bible verses in abundance that give an answer to these questions. However, for the moment we need to concentrate on what it means to follow God’s Spirit.          

  

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5*)

That is so very true. If my life is not controlled by God’s Spirit, my way of thinking and acting will show it. If there is no place for God’s love in my heart, my lifestyle will display my selfishness and sinfulness in a small or big way.

The apostle Paul severely warns Christians of a life dominated by their sinful nature when he writes: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21*)

However, the apostle continues by saying that the Holy Spirit wants to generate a Christlike life in us: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the Law.” (Galatians 5:22-23*). This is the life of Christ and therefore the fulfilment of God’s moral Law!

Till their dying death God’s reborn children have the choice to follow the ways of God’s Spirit and be controlled by Him, or return to the ways of their old sinful nature. Sometimes people wonder how it is possible that Christian leaders and church members who lived a God-pleasing life, can then return to an unholy and sinful lifestyle. We just found the answer in the above paragraphs: the options to keep following God’s Spirit or returning to the domination of our sinful nature remain open throughout our life time on earth.

God’s Word gives ample warnings:

-- The apostle Paul writes about his co-worker Demas who “because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” (2 Timothy 4:10**)

-- Paul mentions others Christians who “craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10*)

  

-- The apostle warns the church in Corinth of idol worship and sexual immorality, of testing God and other temptations: “These events (after God’s people had been saved from bondage in Egypt) happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did. For the Scriptures say, ‘The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry.’

And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.

All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” (1 Corinthians 10:6-13*)

The prophets in Old Testament times constantly warned God’s people not to turn away from God and follow the sinful lifestyle of their neighbouring countries. More often than not their warnings fell on deaf ears. Here are some examples.  

God laments by mouth of the prophet Jeremiah (7^th century B.C.):

-- “‘My people are foolish and do not know me,’ says the LORD. ‘They are senseless children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no talent at all for doing right!’” (Jeremiah 4:22*)

-- “The stork knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year. But not my people! They do not know what the LORD requires of them.” (Jeremiah 8:7*)

God declares through His prophet Hosea (8^th century B.C.):

-- “My people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don't truly honor me.” (Hosea 11:7*)

The New Testament is full of warnings not to desert God’s Word and His ways. In earlier Meditations (see below) we gave countless examples of individuals and entire churches that departed from God’s teaching and the guidance of God’s Spirit and returned to the sinful ways of our world.

Why is it that leaving God’s ways and disobeying His Word has such far reaching consequences for God’s children? That will be the theme of the next Meditation.

(to be continued)

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

 

For more on ‘Christlike transformation by God’s Spirit’ see Meditations 29 to 34 and 49 to 56 and 105.

For more on ‘How will I be saved?’ see Meditations 19 to 26.

For more about the question ‘What is sin?’ see Meditations 101 to 103.

For more on ‘What does it mean to love God?’ see Meditations 57 to 62.

For more on ‘How to love God together as a church community?’ see Meditations 63 to 100.

For more on ‘How do I and my church pursue Christlike holiness?’ see Meditations 76 to 99.

111. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (c)

(continuation of Meditation 110)

“God put into effect a different plan to save us...” (Romans 8:3*)

We finished our last meditation with the following questions:

-- If God’s Law of love is holy, perfect, eternal and unchangeable, and I am unable to fulfil its requirements because of my sinfulness, how could I ever escape God’s anger and judgment?

-- How could I ever get right with God?

-- Could God compromise His own Law to save me?

Here we arrive at the heart of the Gospel message and the stakes are high! We read in Meditation 110 that God’s Law of love is holy, perfect, eternal and unchangeable, but what about God Himself?   

The Holy Scriptures speak a lot about God’s character. Here are some examples:

God is love:

In Exodus we read how God revealed Himself to Moses (ca. 13^th century B.C.), saying: “I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6*)

King David (10^th century BC) repeats these words of God’s self-revelation to Moses in Psalm 86:15*: “You, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and truth.” (Psalm 86:15*)

The prophet Jonah (8^th century B.C.) reproaches God for being merciful to the repenting town of Nineveh, thereby quoting the words of God's self-revelation to Moses. He complains: “Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people.” (Jonah 4:2*)

The prophet Joel (probably 6^th century B.C.) urges God’s people to repent. He also quotes the words of God to Moses: “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:13*)

In a prayer of national confession after returning from 70 years of captivity in Babylon (5^th century B.C.), the people of Israel acknowledged what God had revealed about Himself to Moses: “You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and full of unfailing love and mercy.” (Nehemiah 9:17*)

The evangelist John points to God’s love when he writes: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16*)

The apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Rome: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8*)

The apostle John explains to us: “This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:10*)

God is holy:

When the Bible speaks of God’s holiness, it wants to describe His divine and perfect love, grace, His mercy, purity and righteousness in contrast to our unholy and sinful human condition. It is His holiness that characterises Him as God.

After the liberation from bondage in Egypt (ca. 13^th century B.C.), God revealed Himself to His people Israel as the holy God: “I, the LORD, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. You must therefore be holy because I am holy. (Leviticus 11:45*)

  

The Palms of Asaph (10^th century B.C.) praise God's actions, saying: “O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?” (Psalm 77:13*)

The prophet Isaiah (8^th century B.C.) proclaims: “The LORD Almighty is exalted by his justice. The holiness of God is displayed by his righteousness.” (Isaiah 5:16*)

God points to His own divine character when He says by mouth of the prophet Hosea (8^th century B.C.) to His people Israel: “I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you...” (Hosea 11:9*)

Regarding God’ holiness, the prophet Habakkuk (7^th century B.C.) acknowledges: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” (Habakkuk 1:13**)

The apostle Peter writes to the Christian community in some regions of modern Turkey: “You must be holy in everything you do, just as God-- who chose you to be his children-- is holy. For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy (see Leviticus 11:45*).” (1 Peter 1:15-16*)

God is righteous:

King David proclaims: “The LORD is righteous, and he loves justice.” (Psalm 11:7*)

Daniel, a Jewish statesman in the court of Babylon (6^th century B.C.), confesses in a prominent prayer of penitence: “The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.” (Daniel 9:14**)

Ezra was probably a kind of Secretary of State for Jewish affairs in the Persian kingdom (5^th century B.C.). He prayed to the Lord another well-known prayer of penitence: “O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.” (Ezra 9:15**)

It is clear from these quotations and many other biblical passages that God is love and He is righteous and holy. That means practically that He loves us dearly and wants to save us from our sins and from His righteous judgment following our disobedience to His Law of love. Yet, how could He ever save us without compromising His own righteousness and holiness, and His righteous and holy Law?

He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ( Romans 8:3*)

The answer we find in the fact that God is a Triune God! Sinful man cannot save humanity from its own sinfulness, but God can! That’s why God the Father sent His own divine and sinless Son into our sinful world to die as a guilt offering, taking upon Himself the sin, the blame, the punishment and the judgment of our entire humanity.

The apostle Paul explains this to the Christians in the Greek town of Philippi: “Though he (Jesus Christ) was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-11*)

Paul shows that Jesus, in His life and death, obeyed and fulfilled God’s righteous and holy Law completely! Therefore, “Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the Law. All who believe in him are made right with God.” (Romans 10:4*)

The apostle Peter says it in this way: “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18**)

This is the greatest display of love in human history and the heart of the Gospel message: our Triune God sacrifices Himself to save humanity from its sinful disobedience to His holy Law and from His righteous anger and judgment.

To be truly saved from our sinfulness and God’s righteous judgment, He ‘only’ asks us to trust and believe Him when He says that the death of Jesus, His divine Son, is enough to reconcile us completely and eternally with Himself! There is nothing more we need to do!    

  

(to be continued)

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

 

For more on ‘salvation’ see Meditations 19 to 26.

110. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (b)

(continuation of Meditation 109)

“The Law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.” (Romans 8:3*)

When the apostle Paul speaks of the Law and its commandments, he means the Law that God gave through His servant Moses to His people Israel at Mount Sinai after their liberation from the bondage of Egypt.

The Law of Moses...

In the Holy Scriptures [the Bible], this Law is called “the Law of the LORD” (Exodus 13:9, etc.), “the Book of the Law of Moses” (Joshua 8:31), “the Law of Moses” (Joshua 8:32, etc.), “the Book of the Law of God” (Joshua 24:26, etc.), “the Book of the Law of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 17:9), “the Law of the God of heaven” (Ezra 7:12), “the Law of my servant Moses” (Malachi 4:4), “the Law of our fathers” (Acts 22:3), “the Law of the Jews” (Acts 25:8) and “the Law of righteousness” (Romans 9:31),    

Jesus summarises God’s holy Law with the words: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets [i.e. the entire Old Testament] hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40**)

Wholehearted love for God and our fellow-man is the essence of the divine Law. Therefore, it is obvious that the apostle Paul declares in his letter to the church in Rome: “The Law itself is holy and right and good” (Romans 7:12*).

Moses (ca. 13^th century B.C.) already said to the people of Israel: “What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of Laws I am setting before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:8**)

Furthermore, Paul writes to the Christians in Rome: “We know that the Law is spiritual” (Romans 7:14**), which means “given by the Spirit of God”.

In the 5^th century B.C., Nehemiah attested also that the Law had come from God Himself: “You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and laws and commands that were true.” (Nehemiah 9:13*)

The Psalms often praise God’s perfect and righteous Law, especially Psalm 119!

Jesus firmly upheld God’s Law when He said: “It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.” (Luke 16:17**)  

   

Jesus made it perfectly clear that He did not come to invalidate God’s Law. He warned: “Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17*).

Paul repeats that declaration in his own words: “Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the Law.” (Romans 10:4*)   

What no human being could do, Jesus did! He fully obeyed God’s Law. In that way He demonstrated to us what it means to live a complete, sinless and perfect human life. By living such a life, Jesus accomplished the actual purpose of God’s Law: He restored life in the way God had originally created us: “in His image and His likeness.” (Genesis 1:26**)

The apostle Paul reminds the Christians in the Greek town of Colosse of the true nature of Jesus: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15*)

The evangelist John wrote about Jesus: “The Word [God the Son] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14**) One could also say that in Jesus the Law of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

With the arrival of Jesus, our old world entered a new era. Jesus said: “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John [the Baptist]. Since that time, the good news of the Kingdom of God is being preached...” (Luke 16:16**)

The apostle Paul also mentions this divine point of intervention to the followers of Jesus in Galatia (former region in Turkey): “Well then, why was the Law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are. But this system of Law was to last only until the coming of the child [Jesus Christ] to whom God's promise was made.” (Galatians 3:19*)

When Jesus burst into world history two thousand years ago, the captivating power of God's moral Law on mankind came to an end. Why? Let's continue reading.  

The Law of Moses could not save us...

Now we come to a crucial question: could I save myself and get right with God by obeying His holy, righteous and perfect Law? Or, to put it more generally: could I find the way to penance and perfect peace by practising some form of self-discipline, abstinence, asceticism or obedience to specific rules of life? I think that this question is fundamental to most religions and spiritual traditions.

It is not our intention to seek an answer to this question in general terms or by studying comparative religion. In these Meditations we want to find out what God says in His Word (the Bible) about His way of true salvation.

The apostle Paul gives a straight answer to our earlier question when he tells the Christians in Rome: “No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his Law commands. For the more we know God's Law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.” (Romans 3:20*)

In Romans 7:5* and 7:7-11*, Paul writes: “When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the Law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.... Well then, am I suggesting that the Law of God is evil? Of course not! The Law is not sinful, but it was the Law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the Law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’ But sin took advantage of this Law and aroused all kinds of forbidden desires within me! If there were no Law, sin would not have that power. I felt fine when I did not understand what the Law demanded. But when I learned the truth, I realized I had broken the Law and was a sinner, doomed to die. So the good Law, which was supposed to show me the way of life, instead gave me the death penalty. Sin took advantage of the Law and fooled me; it took the good Law and used it to make me guilty of death.”

To the Christians in Galatia, Paul explains the difference between hoping to get right with God by trying to obey His perfect Law and finding God’s salvation by trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice. Paul writes: “Those who depend on the Law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all these commands that are written in God's Book of the Law.’ (see Deuteronomy 27:26)

Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the Law. For the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’ (see Habakkuk 2:4)

How different from this way of faith is the way of Law, which says, ‘If you wish to find life by obeying the Law, you must obey all of its commands.’ (see Leviticus 18:5)

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the Law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree (Deuteronomy 21:23).’” (Galatians 3:10-13*)

...because of our sinful nature

In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome he lays bare the depth of his old sinful nature: “I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't.” (Romans 7:18*)

Concerning our original sinful self, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus (Turkey): “Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:1-3*)

The apostle reminds the Christians in Galatia of the depraved character of our sinful hearts: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21*)

Paul warns the Galatian Christians for the consequences if they continue to follow the cravings of their old sinful nature: “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death.” (Galatians 6:8*)

The apostle makes it perfectly clear to the Christians in Rome why we never could save ourselves by our own efforts to obey God’s perfect Law of life, even if we would desire to do so: “You see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's Law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” (Romans 7:25*)

In Paul’s correspondence with the churches, he shows why it is impossible by our own efforts to save ourselves in trying to fulfil the requirements of God’s perfect Law of life and love. As we have seen in the various texts quoted in this meditation, the root of the problem lies in our own selfish and sinful hearts.

So, if God’s Law of love is holy, perfect, eternal and unchangeable, and I am unable to fulfil its requirements, how could I ever escape God’s anger and punishment? How could I ever get right with God? Could God compromise His own Law to save me? And, coming back to our theme: could I ever overcome the power of sin in my life?

We will look into these questions in our next meditation.

(to be continued)

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

For more on the Holy Spirit’s ministry see Meditations 27 to 34 and 49 to 56 and 105.

For more on the question ‘what is sin?’ see Meditations 101 to 103.

For more on Jesus Christ:

-- as true God and true man: Meditations 2 to 4.

-- His sacrifice, resurrection and enthronement in heaven: Meditations 5 and 6.

-- as the only Mediator between God and man: Meditations 7 and 8.

-- as God’s promised Messiah (Christ) : Meditations 9 to 12.

-- as God the Son, resembling God the Father: Meditation 14.

-- the characteristic of the divine Father-Son relationship: Meditation 15 and 16.

109. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE? – Victory over sin only through our Triune God (a)

Today we want to make a beginning with the first Track: how to overcome the power of sin in my life? As I mentioned before, the upcoming meditations presuppose that conversion and rebirth by God’s Spirit have taken place in your life. If that has not yet been the case, I hope that the Meditations 19 to 27 will be of help to you.

In Meditation 102 we saw that according to God’s Word ‘sin’ in all its manifestations is always a demonstration of rebellion against God and of disobedience to his Will and his Law of life. God’s light-giving Word pitilessly exposes the abysmal wickedness of the human heart.

So, the question arises: is it at all possible for followers of Jesus to conquer the power of sin in their lives? Well, it is time to start our exploration of God’s Word on this subject.

I think that Paul’s teaching on “Victory over sin only through our Triune God” in Romans 8:1-16 is a good point of departure. Let us have a careful look into these verses:

“Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1*)

What powerful, encouraging and comforting words for all those who love Jesus Christ, want to follow His commands, and yet again and again fall back into sin. Why should there no longer be divine judgment and condemnation because of our sinfulness since we accepted Jesus as our Saviour? 

The apostle Paul explains to the Christians in Galatia (former region in Turkey): “Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the (divine) Law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures (Old Testament), ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13*)

Earlier in his letter to the Christians in Rome Paul rejoices: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.” (Romans 4:7-8*)

In Romans 5:1 the apostle describes why we have peace with God: “Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1*)

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus Himself points to the fact that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God's one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18**)

Do we truly grasp what Jesus and Paul are saying here? They actually say that if we belong to Jesus Christ, we are completely free from any divine judgment and condemnation! With His own blood Jesus paid the price for our sin. God the Father has brought on His divine Son Jesus the righteous judgment and condemnation for our sinfulness so that we should be free from it. Our past is completely forgiven. Eternal life is ours!

“...for the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” (Romans 8:2*)

We read it often before: since I received God’s Spirit at my conversion and rebirth, His power is able to deliver me from the power of sin that up till then had captivated my soul. Jesus promised this freedom from the power of sin already when he said: “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. ... If the Son sets you free (from sin), you will indeed be free.” (John 8:34 and 36*)

The apostle Paul speaks about it in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17*)

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul cautions us: “Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the (divine) Law.” (Galatians 5:1*)

How can I as a Christian be tied up in slavery to God’s Law of life? That will be one of the subjects of our next meditations.

(to be continued)

Translations: * New Living Translation; ** New International Version

For more on the Holy Spirit’s ministry see Meditations 27 to 34 and 49 to 56 and 105.

For more about the question ‘what is sin?’ see Meditations 101 to 103.