How to Slay Sin, Part 2 - GTY Blog

Tommy Clayton
Content Developer and Broadcast Editor, GTY.org/blog
Saturday, February 19, 2011

How do you slay sin?

We began answering that question in our last post. Step one was to understand your true position as a Christian. You are in Christ. That means you’re free from sin’s tyranny and dead to sin’s power. It’s critical you understand that truth as you wage war against sin.

Here’s the second step in slaying sin: Weaken sinful habits and strengthen righteous behavior.

Imagine you’re facing an enemy on the battlefield who enjoyed a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and a personal escort to the most strategic position on the battlefield. And here’s the worst part—you provided all those things! Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? What kind of lunatic makes provision for his enemies and gives them that kind of advantage?

Think about that. Isn’t it true that so often, instead of weakening sin by cutting off all provision, we strengthen and empower sin, by giving it occasion to take root and grow strong? But notice how Scripture addresses that attitude, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom. 13:14).

Did you catch that important command? Make no provision. Don’t feed and strengthen sin. Starve it out; weaken it; keep it in an anemic state. Subject it to a slow, debilitating death by removing its strength and vitality. You must cut off all support and provision for sin as if you were laying siege to a castle.

Psychological Confidence

You might have heard a person say, "I'm absolutely certain!" They could feel that they are absolutely right about something without real evidence or qualified convictions and they could be dead wrong! This is a psychological error people make. They're psychologically limited as quoted by Greg Koukl. We all are to some extent. But as a confident Christian I know my convictions are true, not because of my emotions towards it or because I was raised that way or socialised to think in this manner, but by careful examination I have good reason to believe them.

"I have a lot of confidence because I can defend my convictions with good evidence......Dogmatism results when we cling to our views without proper justification."
- Greg Koukl

Greg Koukl - Decree vs Cause

How to Slay Sin, Part 1 - GTY Blog

Tommy Clayton
Content Developer and Broadcast Editor, GTY.org/blog
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

If you’ve been with us the last couple of posts, you know sin is your enemy. You understand it lurks deep within your members, warring against your soul, seeking to ambush you at your most vulnerable moment. You’ve experienced its power and treachery many times.

You would agree with Paul when he says you’re under obligation to put all remaining sin to death—to kill it (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5). You know that too.

But what you may not know is…how. How do you slay sin?

These remaining posts address that question. This is how you slay sin.

Atheist, Take The Challenge!

Christians and the Law

Ephesians 2:11-22
11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We are no longer judged by the law, but since His Spirit abides in us we are lead by the Spirit to do what is right. As Christians we love His commandments and strive to keep them. Even though it is impossible to keep them, we still try. We struggle and fight against our own desires. It's darkness versus the light. Our Lord Jesus did the impossible and did the perfect will of God. And since His Spirit abides within us we are capable to battle against our flesh and to defeat the battle against sin. Even when we lose over and over, don't think you are going to be punished. Jesus was already punished for our sins, past and future. We are no longer judged under the law as the Israelites were, but we live under grace from God and because of that grace that was given to us on the cross we want to do what is right and please the Lord in everything we do.

Live with that assurance. You are forgiven!

Kingdom Theology

Edited on Sunday, May 15, 2011
I never got around to finishing this. So I thought I'd post it anyway.

"I think that Christianity has two emphases. One is a social emphasis to impart the values of the kingdom of God in society - to relieve the sufferings of the poor, to stand up for the oppressed, to be a voice for those who have no voice. The other emphasis is to bring people into a personal, transforming relationship with Christ, where they feel the joy and the love of God in their lives."
- Tony Campolo

Dec. 20. 2008
Tony Campolo Quotes on the Drew Marshall Show:
"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a s***. Third, what's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said s*** than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night."
"Jesus transcends partisan politics. That's what's wrong with the religious right... they have made Jesus into a Republican, and he's not!"
"There are 2,000 verses of Scripture that tell us we must be committed to protecting the poor and the oppressed... There is no concern of Scripture that is addressed so often and so powerfully as reaching out to the poor."