A New Creation 2: Go, Sin No More – EGP Blog post from May 19, 2009

This is part two of the series on “The Renewal of a New Creation.” If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the last post in the series: “Forgiven.”

Introduction

Have you ever felt powerless to sin? Have you wondered why you keep on sinning?

I. We are not to sin

John 5 records Jesus healing a paralytic man in Bethesda. After healing the man, Jesus said, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” (, NLT)

Also, after the accusers of an adulterous woman left, Jesus’ message to her was quite simple:

John 8:10–11 ()

[10] Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” [11] “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

1 John 3:4–11 ()

[4] Those who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of God. [5] And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in him. [6] So if we continue to live in him, we won’t sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who he is. [7] Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it is because they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. [8] But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil. [9] Those who have been born into God’s family do not sin, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they have been born of God. [10] So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the Devil. Anyone who does not obey God’s commands and does not love other Christiansⓘ does not belong to God. [11] This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:10 Greek his brother; also in 3:15.

II. We have been granted victory over sin

1 John 5:1–5 ()

[1] Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. [2] We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. [3] Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn’t difficult. [4] For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. [5] And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:18–21 ()

[18] We know that those who have become part of God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them. [19] We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one. [20] And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. [21] Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.ⓘ

1 John 5:21 Greek keep yourselves from idols.

III. The temptations will continue, but we don’t have to give in

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ()

[12] If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. [13] 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.

James 4:7–10 ()

[7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. [9] Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. [10] When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

IV. Yet we continue to sin

Romans 7:15–25 ()

[15] I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. [16] I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. [17] But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. [18] 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. [19] When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. [20] But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. [21] It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. [22] I love God’s law with all my heart. [23] But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. [24] Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?ⓘ [25] Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 7:24 Greek from this body of death?

Romans 8:9–14 ()

[9] But 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.) [10] Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is aliveⓘ because you have been made right with God. [11] The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you. [12] So, dear brothers and sisters,ⓘ you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from itⓘ and its evil deeds, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are childrenⓘ of God.

Romans 8:10 Or the Spirit will bring you eternal life.
Romans 8:12 Greek brothers; also in 8:29.
Romans 8:13 Greek put it to death.
Romans 8:14 Greek sons; also in 8:19.

V. But perfection is still to be our goal

1 Peter 4:1–5 ()

[1] Therefore, since Christ has sufferedⓘ in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has sufferedⓘ in the flesh has ceased from sin, [2] so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. [3] For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having§ pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable§ idolatries. [4] In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; [5] but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Peter 4:1a I.e. suffered death
1 Peter 4:1b I.e. suffered death
1 Peter 4:3a Lit having gone in
1 Peter 4:3b Lit lawless

John 3:8 ()

[8] “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Philippians 3:8–14 ()

[8] Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ [9] and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. [10] As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, [11] so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead! [12] I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be,ⓘ but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.ⓘ

Philippians 3:13 Some manuscripts read I am not all I should be.
Philippians 3:14 Or from heaven.

Conclusion

Whenever you’re feeling temptation, follow these steps to victory:

  1. Thank God for having already given you the victory. ()
  2. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s guiding voice. ()
  3. Look for the way out that God has promised you. ()
  4. Combat the temptation with related Scripture. ()
  5. Tell the Devil to “Go away!” ()
  6. Ask God to renew your mind to His will. ()

Psalm 51:12–13 ()

[12] Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. [13] Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be§ converted to You.

Psalms 51:13 Or turn back

Psalm 19:12–14 ()

[12] How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
[13] Keep me from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
[14] May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.