Overcoming sin
Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-
balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in
harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy.
But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and
selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so
weakened through transgression that it was impossible for
him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. He
was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so
forever had not God specially interposed.
It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which
we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. “Who
can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” “The carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be.” ;
Job 14:4 . Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human
Romans 8:7
effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They
may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change
the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power
working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed
from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the
lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.
Romans 8:7 NKJV: “Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor
indeed can be.” And NIV: “The mind governed by the
flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law,
nor can it do so.”
Isaiah 64:6 NKJV: “And all our righteousness are like filthy
rags.”
Jeremiah 13:23 NKJV: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin
or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who
are accustomed to do evil.”
The great ethics of the Bible—loving your enemy, forgiving
people for everything, overcoming sin, etc.—can only be
achieved by the power of the Holy Spirit, not with human
effort. This shows us that the main problem in carnal
Christianity is that it is a life depending solely in human
strength. We can’t do God’s will in our own strength.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO DO
SOMETHING THAT EXCEEDS THEIR STRENGTH?
What happens when I realize: I can’t do it! I’ve failed
again! These experiences are probably accompanied by
disappointment.
One person may pray more intensely for God’s help and decide to try
harder.
Another person may think that we shouldn’t be so narrow-minded.
Now he starts to take things more casually and feels freer.
Still another completely abandons his faith and may even feel better.
The correct way is to take God’s laws seriously, because they were
given in love and are for our own good. However, we need God’s
strength for this.
The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent
before he can heed the invitation of Christ, “Come unto
Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give
you rest.” . It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ,
Matthew 11:28
that leads to genuine repentance. We can no more repent
without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than
we can be pardoned without Christ. SC 26.2
Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts.
Many are inquiring, “How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?” You desire to give
yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the
habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot
control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken
promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes
you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to
understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man,
the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The
power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your
heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him.
You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good
pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ;
your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him.
There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really
desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect,
their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been
renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair.
We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our
shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are
overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God.
No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Said the beloved John, “These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if
any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
. And do not forget the words of Christ, “The Father Himself loveth you.”
1 John 2:1
.
John 16:27
Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone.
They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they
seek by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort must
fail. Jesus says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” Our growth in
grace, our joy, our usefulness,—all depend upon our union with
Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,—by abiding in
Him,—that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author, but
the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is
to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course,
but at every step of the way.
Do you ask, “How am I to abide in Christ?” In the same way as
you received Him at first. “As ye have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” “The just shall live by faith.”
; . You gave yourself to God, to be His wholly, to serve
Colossians 2:6 Hebrews 10:38
and obey Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour. You could
not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart; but
having given yourself to God, you believe that He for Christ's
sake did all this for you. By faith you became Christ's, and by
faith you are to grow up in Him—by giving and taking. SC 69.2
Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very
first work. Let your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly
Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy
service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.”
This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God
for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or
given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you
may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life
will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.
