Since it is true that God has provided in our salvation all that we need to live godly, and since it is true that sin is no longer our master, and since it is true that we have been liberated from the power of sin, then why do so many believers struggle with sin? Why does sin seem, for some, not to be defeated? Why do some feel powerless against sin?
There are many possible answers, but here are a few:
- We are not truly sorrowful or repentant for our sin. Repentance is more than merely mouthing the words “will you forgive me?” to God; repentance is a grief and sorrow for our sin and a desire to leave that sin. Too often what is claimed as confession is merely a desire to “wipe the slate clean” without a desire to obliterate the sin from our lives. Such superficial desires will not produce repentance and will not lead to liberty from sin.
- We do not consider our sin(s) to be futility, darkness, and exclusion from God. We have not identified our sins the way God has and we have not identified them for what they really are (e.g., Solomon did not consider his sin to be evil, 1 Kg. 11:2, 3, 4, 6). If we are non-specific about the nature of our sin and give it incomplete and inadequate labels it will leave us nothing to confess and consequently we will remain in bondage to that sin.
- We do not consider our sin to be inconsistent with Christ. We assume that while it is “wrong,” engaging in that sin will not significantly impede our fellowship with Christ. We don’t hate what Christ hates.
- We do not think about the ramifications of our choices — that to continue on that path is to walk down the pathway of corruption. (We need a good dose of Ps. 1.)
- We make small provisions for the flesh — we open door to temptation (Rom. 13:14). Rather than cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye, we foolishly leave open the possibility of future sin. We are unwilling to take radical steps to remove every known possibility of sin in our lives, and thus we remain susceptible to entangling influences.
- We are not considering the daily choices that need to be made in conjunction with putting off.
In other words, we are neither decisive nor intentional nor grieved about our sin; we have been lazy assuming (hoping) that a magic pill will be invented and take it away. And so we slide toward corruption…
Words of Grace 