Turning Off Sin’s Power

Photo by Tony₃

Psalm 103: says “...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.“ It’s clear from both the Old and New Testament that God has made provision for the forgiveness of sin.

But the good news of the Gospel is more than just freedom from sin’s penalty. It’s also freedom from its power.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once wrote:

The belief that God will do everything for man is as untenable as the belief that man can do everything for himself. It, too, is based on a lack of faith. We must learn that to expect God to do everything while we do nothing is not faith, but superstition.

God has done everything to provide the victory, but it seems that, in order to walk in it, we also have a part to play.

Here’s what the Word of God says about The Problem, God’s Part and Our Part in overcoming sin’s power.

The Problem

What your flesh wants is contrary to what the Spirit wants, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to what your flesh wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you want. ~Galatians 5:17

I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ~Romans 7:22-23

Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death. ~James 1:14-15

God’s Part

The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death. ~Romans 8:2

You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations. ~1 Corinthians 10:13

Because Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, he is able to help others when they are tempted. ~Hebrews 2:18

Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin. ~Hebrews 4:15

Our Part

So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time. ~Hebrews 4:16

Consider yourselves dead to sin’s power, but living for God in the power Christ Jesus gives you. ~Romans 6:11

Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires. Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. ~Romans 6:12-14

You used to let the different parts of your body to be slaves to sin and evil. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him. ~Romans 6:19

Offer your bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ~Romans 12:1

Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect. ~Romans 12:2

Instead, live like the Lord Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the desires of your flesh. ~Romans 13:14

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ~Galatians 5:16

‘Nuff said?