105. HOW TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF SIN IN MY LIFE AND IN MY CHURCH ? – Having received God’s Spirit is a precondition for victory over the power of sin.

In Meditation 104, we read that rebirth is the work of God’s Spirit in our hearts. Therefore, there is no rebirth without God’s Spirit! Consequently, as rebirth is a precondition for victory over the power of sin, so is the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives.

About the link between God’s Spirit and our rebirth as children of God, the New Testament writes the following:

-- The apostle Paul assured the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (modern Turkey): “You also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he (God) identified you as his own [as his children] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.” (Ephesians 1:13*)

-- Paul reminds the Christians in Rome: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.” (Romans 8:16**)

-- Paul anticipates the glorious future of all God’s children when he writes to the Roman Christians: “Even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.” (Romans 8:23*)

-- The apostle John explains this link between God’s Spirit and rebirth in his Gospel with the following words: “To all who believed him (Jesus) and accepted him, he gave the right (or: the power) to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan-- this rebirth comes from God.” (John 1:12-13*)

There is a most important notion in this Gospel message: Whoever welcomes Jesus as Saviour and Lord, will be reborn as God’s child by God’s Holy Spirit. “Whoever” means: it does not matter how old you are, where you have been and what you have done!

That’s why the apostle John declares: “To all who believed him (Jesus) and accepted him, he gave the right (or: the power) to become children of God.” That is the declaration of God’s love to everyone who suffers under the power of sin and realises the need for forgiveness and salvation.

The story of the criminal who was crucified with Jesus is a powerful illustration of God’s saving love even at the last moment of someone’s life. The evangelist Luke reports: “One of the criminals hanging beside Jesus scoffed, ‘So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself-- and us, too, while you're at it!’

But the other criminal protested, ‘Don't you fear God even when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn't done anything wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:39-43*)

Moreover, the images of ‘rebirth’ and ‘adoption’ send a powerful message to everyone who trusts Jesus for salvation. An historic event like human birth and adoption cannot be understated! The same is true for divine rebirth of adoption. Here are two examples of the eternal assurance of God’s salvation:

-- Using the metaphor of a shepherd and his flock, Jesus refers to this when He says: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30**)

-- The apostle Paul testifies to the Roman Christians: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his [God’s] love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39*)

-- Paul assures his co-worker Timothy: “God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his...’” (2 Timothy 2:19a*)

Besides our rebirth by God’s Spirit and His continuous presence in our lives, there is a third precondition for victory over the power of sin. That is the imperative of obeying God’s Word, the Bible.         

We will look into this issue in the next meditation.       

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

For more on the Holy Spirit’s ministry, see Meditations 27 to 33 and 49 to 56.