(This devotional is the third in a series. Please click on Part I and Part II if you have not yet read them. Please note that all references and words in red are links that will open to view the scripture passage.)
John 8:34-36
English Standard Version (ESV)
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin.35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.Footnotes:
Jesus addressed sin many times in His three years of ministry. God knows that the heart of mankind is deceitful above all things and desperately sick Jeremiah 17:9 . Sin, transgression and iniquity completely separates sinful mankind from God who loves us and offers us salvation through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 59:1-2). But HOW can a person truly be free from sin when temptation is so sure to come (Luke 17:1) and those who practice sin are slaves to it?
Let's look first at slavery to sin. When Jesus referred to slavery in the passage above, He meant the sort of slavery that is indentured. By choosing to commit sin, having full knowledge of the eternal consequence of sinfulness, we form a binding contract with sin / unrighteousness. The first act, choosing to sin, made the pact with our flesh to become a slave to sin. Fortunately, God has done something incredible that will break this binding contract to sin. Here it is. Are you ready? He condemned sin in the flesh. Don't worry if you don't get it. Let's go to Romans chapter 8.
Now here is a passage of scripture to chew on for a long while. If you struggle with sin that you cannot conquer, I suggest that you read this passage daily, even memorize it. In the following paragraphs, I will give you the mystery to conquering sin in your life. This message is for those who believe and want to be obedient to Christ so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (II Cor 5:21, I Pe 2:24).
There are two ways to live, according to scripture. Either we live in the flesh or we live in the Spirit. Think of God for a moment. He created us in His image. God is triune, having three parts - each part completely and fully God - yet remaining as One God. Like God, the nature of mankind is three in one: flesh, mind and spirit with a lower case 's'. The flesh is simply the body with its desires for self (pleasure, satisfaction, happiness etc.) The mind is the decision center of man. This is the part that gives us the ability to choose to sin or to obey God. The spirit is the part of mankind that exists eternally. After this life where the spirit dwells in the body, there is life eternally with God or life eternally separated from God. We choose to sin because we have set our minds on the flesh and are said to "walk according to the flesh." We obey God when we set our minds on the Spirit - Spirit is capitalized to refer to God's Holy Spirit. We are then said to "walk according to the Spirit." The result of our choice to sin or obey is clear in verses 6 and 13. Those who are in the flesh are hostile to God, do not submit to His law and cannot please God! (vs 7-8). But those who live according to the Spirit can set their minds on the Spirit and live eternally. You see, God condemned the slavery of sin to our flesh only - not to the spirit. This means that sin can be conquered by the Spirit of God in us. If this were like the game of rock, paper, scissors, then Spirit covers flesh! So, very simply said, here is the WHAT and HOW to be free from slavery to sin:
What to do (John 14:26, Heb 10:12-18, Rom 12:1-2, II Cor 10:3-6)
Those who live by the Spirit, set their minds on the Spirit (vs 5). Your responsibility is to set your mind on the things that please God. Choose to obey. This does not necessarily give you the power to obey, but choosing obedience is a way to "set your mind" on the things of God. The power comes from God's response regarding your choice to follow Him instead of following your sinful desires. The power "switch" is in the "How to live" part of being free from sin. By setting your mind on the things of God, He is given permission to write His will on your heart and in your mind. He renews your mind and transforms your heart. Essentially, you must control your mind and God will be able to take the conquering part from there!
How to live Gal 3:13-14, Phil 2:12-18, Phil 3:9, Gal 2:20, II Cor 5:6-10, I John 5:4-5, Rom 8:37-39)
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (vs 13). The mystery to being free from sin is that God's Holy Spirit gives you the power to put the sin to death. You can kill your sinful tendencies if you have the super power of the Spirit inside you! The Spirit of God dwells in you when you surrender your selfish desires in order to live for God. It is then that God will teach you to obey, will give you the desire to live for Him and heal you from your desire to sin. This can happen gradually, or can happen instantly depending on your faith. Be sure to read all of the passages of scripture about "How to live" in order to fully understand that your faith is the power switch that turns on the work of God's Spirit in you. We can overcome the world (sinfulness) and be more than conquerors through faith!
Let's look first at slavery to sin. When Jesus referred to slavery in the passage above, He meant the sort of slavery that is indentured. By choosing to commit sin, having full knowledge of the eternal consequence of sinfulness, we form a binding contract with sin / unrighteousness. The first act, choosing to sin, made the pact with our flesh to become a slave to sin. Fortunately, God has done something incredible that will break this binding contract to sin. Here it is. Are you ready? He condemned sin in the flesh. Don't worry if you don't get it. Let's go to Romans chapter 8.
Romans 8:1-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.Heirs with Christ
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.Now here is a passage of scripture to chew on for a long while. If you struggle with sin that you cannot conquer, I suggest that you read this passage daily, even memorize it. In the following paragraphs, I will give you the mystery to conquering sin in your life. This message is for those who believe and want to be obedient to Christ so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (II Cor 5:21, I Pe 2:24).
There are two ways to live, according to scripture. Either we live in the flesh or we live in the Spirit. Think of God for a moment. He created us in His image. God is triune, having three parts - each part completely and fully God - yet remaining as One God. Like God, the nature of mankind is three in one: flesh, mind and spirit with a lower case 's'. The flesh is simply the body with its desires for self (pleasure, satisfaction, happiness etc.) The mind is the decision center of man. This is the part that gives us the ability to choose to sin or to obey God. The spirit is the part of mankind that exists eternally. After this life where the spirit dwells in the body, there is life eternally with God or life eternally separated from God. We choose to sin because we have set our minds on the flesh and are said to "walk according to the flesh." We obey God when we set our minds on the Spirit - Spirit is capitalized to refer to God's Holy Spirit. We are then said to "walk according to the Spirit." The result of our choice to sin or obey is clear in verses 6 and 13. Those who are in the flesh are hostile to God, do not submit to His law and cannot please God! (vs 7-8). But those who live according to the Spirit can set their minds on the Spirit and live eternally. You see, God condemned the slavery of sin to our flesh only - not to the spirit. This means that sin can be conquered by the Spirit of God in us. If this were like the game of rock, paper, scissors, then Spirit covers flesh! So, very simply said, here is the WHAT and HOW to be free from slavery to sin:
What to do (John 14:26, Heb 10:12-18, Rom 12:1-2, II Cor 10:3-6)
Those who live by the Spirit, set their minds on the Spirit (vs 5). Your responsibility is to set your mind on the things that please God. Choose to obey. This does not necessarily give you the power to obey, but choosing obedience is a way to "set your mind" on the things of God. The power comes from God's response regarding your choice to follow Him instead of following your sinful desires. The power "switch" is in the "How to live" part of being free from sin. By setting your mind on the things of God, He is given permission to write His will on your heart and in your mind. He renews your mind and transforms your heart. Essentially, you must control your mind and God will be able to take the conquering part from there!
How to live Gal 3:13-14, Phil 2:12-18, Phil 3:9, Gal 2:20, II Cor 5:6-10, I John 5:4-5, Rom 8:37-39)
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (vs 13). The mystery to being free from sin is that God's Holy Spirit gives you the power to put the sin to death. You can kill your sinful tendencies if you have the super power of the Spirit inside you! The Spirit of God dwells in you when you surrender your selfish desires in order to live for God. It is then that God will teach you to obey, will give you the desire to live for Him and heal you from your desire to sin. This can happen gradually, or can happen instantly depending on your faith. Be sure to read all of the passages of scripture about "How to live" in order to fully understand that your faith is the power switch that turns on the work of God's Spirit in you. We can overcome the world (sinfulness) and be more than conquerors through faith!
Ephesians 3:20-21
English Standard Version (ESV)20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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