Dealing with sin

Every now and then, Christians find themselves susceptible to sin. Some set of circumstances will catch them unaware and render them incapable of withstanding temptation and using the armour of God to fend off the attack. Before they know it they become distant from God. It is very difficult to get yourself back on the track when you have fallen off. It is difficult on two fronts. 


First, you yourself make it difficult. When you commit wrong you feel guilt. This feeling is God-given to show us when we have done wrong. Romans 1 tells us that the knowledge of the Lord is 'innate in our hearts'. However, God is merciful and will forgive you. 1 John 1:9 states "⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." As humans it is impossible to comprehend such love and forgiveness, therefore our guilt we feel can keeps us from God. It is harder to forgive ourselves than it is for God to forgive us. We must have faith that we are completely forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus. Harbouring guilt for something we already have been forgiven for shows a lack of faith in God's forgiveness. This is not to say that we have an excuse to sin because we are able to be forgiven. If this is your thinking then your motives are wrong and your salvation is questionable. God has sent His only son to die for you in your place to take the punishment that you deserve for the sins you have committed. To think it is okay to carry on committing those very sins because you can be forgiven is like spitting in God's face.


Second, it is difficult because of other people. As Christians, people are watching to see how you behave. The lifestyle of a Christian is completely against all that the world stands for, and this is what makes it so attractive to non-Christians. Those who look for joy and happiness in empty things take notice when there is a Christian who is joyful and happy, and yet does not take part in anything the world has to offer. A Christian who is 'in the world, not of the world' is truly the greatest witness to God there can be. The minute a Christian commits wrong, succumbs to temptation, or takes part in something that is of the world, their credibility is gone. The Christian will be condemned by their own Christian brothers and sisters and the non-christians will see that in fact the Christian is no different to anyone else on this world. Therefore what they say will no longer hold weight.


It is interesting to note that in this situation, the only thing that holds you back from reconciling yourself to God and drawing near to God is human beings, whether it is ourselves or others. God does not stop us from drawing near to Him. On the contrary God is waiting for you to come back. 1 John 4:19 tells us that 'We love Him, because He first loved us'. 


It is so important to live in the love and protection of God at all times, for our pleasure, for God's pleasure and for the benefit of others. To withstand the devil at all times, we must have knowledge. Knowledge and understanding are the key to staying strong. Proverbs 1 is a great chapter that contrasts those who succumb to temptation and fall at every hurdle, and those who stay strong in the Lord and withstand. Verse 7 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.


Job 28:28 states: ...‘the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”


For a BAC to stay strong in the Lord and their faith at all times, understanding is imperative. Understanding of what it is you are up against. The maxim 'the devil you know is better than the one you do not' rings true. We are told what we are up against in Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:11-13 ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

This passage can be broken down into two parts. Part 1 being verses 11 and 12. Part 2 being verse 13.

Part 1:

Part 1 tells us who the enemy is. "...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers" 

We are not fighting against people. People can do horrible things to us that can harm us, both physically and mentally. However this is not what our fight is against. It is not the physical wrongs committed against us that harm us. We can get over them if we forgive as Christ forgives. We are fighting against the powers behind those wrongs. We are fighting against lust, adultery, flippancy, impatience, arrogance, pride, disrespect (to yourself and others). We are fighting against the spiritual effects of those physical wrongs committed. 

The most important thing we can do to keep these spiritual powers away is to forgive. To forgive people for the physical wrongs committed. Unforgiveness is a major way the devil can pull us down. This is talked about in 2 Corinthians 2.

2 Corinthians 2:2-11 ⁵ But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. ⁶ This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, ⁷ so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm yourlove to him. ⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one^[a] for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Paul here is talking to the Corinthian church about unforgiveness and it's effect. We should forgive just as Christ forgave. However notice verse 11. If we do not forgive, satan has a way to take advantage of us. This is a device that he will use to keep us from God, unforgiveness of both ourselves and others.

When we become a Christian, God's love and Holy Spirit fills us. We once where estranged from God however now we are close to Him and separate from the sinful ways of the world. Imagine the love of God as a shield of protection around us, keeping us from falling and keeping the devil at bay. Verse 11 tells us that the Devil has devices. The devil has schemes to try and breach those defences, to breach that protection we have been afforded. When we are wronged, or we wrong ourselves this gives the devil a way to get to us. He is able to get his hooks into us and he will hold on with all his might, to his delight. Through his hooks in us he will flood us with the spiritual powers that are mentioned above. We will be filled with lust, pride etc.. If we come before God and seek His forgiveness, those defences and that protection will be re-erected and the devil's hooks in us will be removed, however if we harbour unforgiveness in our hearts, if we harbour hate for others, if we hold grudges, then the devil will always have his hooks in us. We must deal with the unforgiveness in our hearts to get back to God. 

Part 2:

Now we know the enemy and the enemies' tactics, we are told how to resist it and defeat it: by taking up the armour of God. Ephesians 6 goes on to list the armour of God: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, prayer, the Bible. We must live with these as our principles. This, coupled with knowledge of the enemy will keep the enemy away.

Verse 13 tells us that through our armour we possess in Christ, we may be able to 'withstand' the devil. 

The definition of Withstand is: 

• To remain firm in opposition or endurance
• To oppose with force or resolution
• Successful in resisting
• Resist or ensure successfully 

Through this definition we can see that there are two primary ways to withstand. First, endurance. Second, resolution.

Endurance:

James 4:7 ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

If we remain strong and resist the tempations of the devil with endurance, he will flee from us. This is possible through the power of God we possess. James 4:8 tells us to "⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." As already discussed, to draw near to God we must not harbour unforgiveness in our hearts. We must forgive ourselves and others. Through drawing near to God, he will draw near to you, because as stated above, He is faithful and merciful and will answer our call (1 John 1:9).

Resolution:

If it is not possible to endure, then we must come to a resolution to resolve the problem. 

Matthew 5:29 states "²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."

Again, Matthew 18:9 states "⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

These are resolutions to the problem. If you have a problem or something in your life that is keeping you away from God, get rid of it.

Verse 13 states 'having done all to stand'. Now, you must decide whether you are able to 'endure' or whether you must 'resolve'. Every sinful thing and every wrong committed has a spiritual power behind it. It is these powers that are dangerous. If there is something in your life that is holding you back from God you must ask yourself, can I keep the thing in my life and resist the spiritual power behind it, or do I have to get rid of the thing that is causing the problem completely? Do you have to get rid of it, or do you have the power, and self-discipline to resist it and endure?

Mark 11:23 tells us to cast our problems into the sea. Does this mean that you cast the problem into the sea, or the thing causing the problem? Perhaps they are the same thing, or maybe the problem you have is a symptom of the real problem.

In deciding what action to take, look at why the problem has arisen. Is it a problem that has come from man or from God? 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us "Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts bad habits." Returning to Proverbs 1 we can see how people can keep us away from God. On the other hand, the problem may have been brought about by God himself to warn you or show you that you need to rid yourself of it. Proverbs 3:11-12 states "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights."

In Summary:

• When we commit wrong we fall away from the presence of God and allow the devil to get a hold of us. 
• The two things that will keep us from coming back to God are ourselves and others. God is waiting with arms wide open.
• To withstand the devil we must know what it is we are standing against. We are not standing against the physical wrongs committed by us or against us, but the spiritual forces that are behind those actions. Whether it is lust, adultery, pride, self-righteousness, hatred. These feelings allow the devil a way to get to us and keep us from God.We must put on the whole armour of God.
• To withstand we must either; endure the problem and draw near to God who in turn will draw near to us. As Christians we possess the power of God within us and the devil will run scared, or; we must resolve the issue by taking steps to remove the problem completely.  Anything in your life not of God is a hindrance to your relationship with God. We must question ourselves and the problem and use the love and power of God to deal with it. However, we must never question or doubt God. He is the only one that will remain true to His word and be there ready for you to come back. 

-BACChristian