Dealing with Sin in Our Lives

Sin is when we do something that is not out from faith, which is contrary to who we are in Christ and, therefore, against the standard God has set for Christians. Our commandment is to love one another (other saints) as Christ loved us, John 13:34. This type of love seeks the best for the one loved. A Christian walking in love towards other saints is one who is governing his life out from faith. Sin enters the conduct of a Christian when he is not walking in the light and applying the truth, 1 John 1:6. Walking in darkness describes someone who conducts his life by the desires from the flesh, allowing the sin nature to work out its desires.

Everyone who is doing the sin is also doing the lawlessness, and the sin is the lawlessness -1 John 3:4.

But the doubting one, if he eats is condemned, because it is not out from faith. Indeed, all which is not out from faith is sin - Romans 14:23.

To the one knowing to do good, seeking God’s will first, and does not do it, to him it is sin, James 4:13-17.

When we sin, we confess the sin to God. Confession means to say the same things. Therefore, we are agreeing with God that our action was against His standard for us. God must call an action sin before we can agree with Him concerning sin. Although every sin of man is not listed in the Bible, there is sufficient information about the sin nature, Satan, and the world system to know the type of conduct that is contrary to who we are in Christ and, therefore, sin.

If we should verbally agree (confess) our sins, He is faithful and righteous in order to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness - 1 John 1:9.

The next step is to determine which enemy was the source of the desire that worked out sin and put up a proper defense against it so that we do not commit the sin again.

The Sin Nature (Know - Reckon - Yield).

The sin nature is the bent nature we received from Adam that is the source of desires within us that seek to commit fornication, adultery, sexual uncleanliness, licentiousness, idolatry, religious superstitious awe, jealousies, inner burning anger, dissections, heresies, selfish ambitions, envy, senseless slaughter, drunkenness, revelries and such like - Galatians 5:19-21.

Know - Christ’s death and resurrection have been imputed to you, Romans 6:4-5. Therefore, you are no longer a slave to the sin nature, Romans 6:6.

Reckon - Count the fact to yourself that you are dead to sin and alive to God to be true in Christ Jesus, Romans 6:11.

Yield - Yield your members to righteousness, Romans 6:12-13.

Satan (The Armor of God).

The desires from Satan involve doubt, independence from God, bitterness, spiritual cowardice, corrupt communication, gossip, disappointment, discouragement, lying, an ungracious spirit, stealing, spiritual laziness, busybody, and pride.

Our defense is to put on the Armor of God and stand firm, Ephesians 6:10-18.

The World System (Recognizing that in Christ we are crucified to the world system).

The world system uses the strong desires of the flesh, the strong desires of the eyes, and the pride of biological life - 1 John 2:16.

Recognize that we are not a part of the world, for in Christ we have been crucified to it, and it to us. Use it, but do not abuse it, Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 7:31. 

Walking by the Spirit

Once you are prepared in your mind to overcome the enemy encouraging desires within you to sin, you then start to walk by the Spirit so that you do not fulfill these wrong desires.

Indeed, I say walk by the Spirit and you will not bring to fulfillment the strong desires of the flesh. For the strong desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the Spirit is against the flesh, for these things contrary to each other, in order that you do no do the things you desire - Galatians 5:16-17.

Walking by the Spirit involves identifying His desires within you to do good and follow them. While doing these, at this point you are walking in the light and have fellowship with God and other saints.

If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son keeps on cleansing us from all sin - 1 John 1:7.

As you govern your life by the desires of the Spirit, Christ continues to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Unrighteousness is the bigger term, which describes not just the actions but the determinations within the mind. Therefore, you will mature in your conduct by learning to discern what is proper from what is wrong and overcome the desire to sin while it is still just a thought in your mind before it works out to a determination that manifests itself in a sinful act.

Every quality of sin is a quality of unrighteousness, and there is a sin unto death, 1 John 5:17.

You are a son, not an inarticulate babbler; therefore, your attitude towards sin in your life is to properly identify its source and put up a defense to overcome it, for you are a child of the light, not of the darkness.