Sin No More

Peter tells us to arm ourselves, and he is speaking in a militant tone.

Unfortunately it’s way too easy for us to get accustomed to sin.

So instead of having a militant attitude that hates and opposes it, we gradually get used to it.

Sadly, we never even realize it.

A believer living in sin is a terrible weapon in the hands of satan, so Peter tells us why we should oppose sin in our lives.

Why we should oppose sin in our lives:

1. Because of what sin did to Jesus:

v.1:

Jesus had to suffer because of sin, because of our sin.

How can we enjoy the very thing that made Jesus suffer and die on the cross?

If a vicious criminal stabbed your child to death, would you preserve that knife in a glass case on your mantle? 

No, you would never want to see that knife again.

Jesus came to earth to deal with sin, and conquer it forever.

He dealt with people’s ignorance of sin by teaching them the truth. 

Today, much of our world is ignorant of sin.

We’ve been taught that morality is not absolute, it’s relative. Therefore, something is only wrong if you decide that it is wrong.

Teachings such as situational ethics only reinforce this belief.

Ethics; however, doo not change based on your circumstances. Right is always right and wrong is always wrong.

If the Bible calls something a sin, it is always a sin… no matter what.

But, people believe that if you can justify something, then there is nothing wrong with it.

The problem is that you can justify just about anything if you really want to.

These lies have been taught for so long, that many people really are ignorant of sin, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is sin.

Ignorance is no excuse, but it must be addressed.

Ignorance can be cured by education, but sadly we are afraid of offending people, so we shy away from it.

If we point out sin, we will be called judgmental, intolerant and hateful.

When is God ever tolerant of sin? He never has been and never will be.

Jesus directly addressed sin. He not only taught the truth, He lived it.

He dealt with sin once and for all by His death on the cross.

His sacrifice dealt the final deathblow to sin.

Jesus suffered and died to defeat sin.

1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 NKJV

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus was armed with a militant attitude toward sin, even though He had great compassion for lost sinners.

While our suffering does not bring an end to sin, our willingness to suffer with Christ, take up our cross and follow Him, is proof of our salvation and His victory over our sin.

Our sin died on the cross, and those who follow Christ are no longer judged according to it.

Our goal in life should be to cease from sin, though we will never completely accomplish that until we die…or the Lord returns to call us home.

However, that shouldn’t keep us from trying.

2. So that we can enjoy the will of God:

v.2:

There is a difference between the desires of men, and the will of God.

We should embrace the will of God, because it frees us from the bondage of sin.

The will of God is not a burden that the He places on us.

It is the divine power and strength that makes all burdens light.

The will of God comes from the heart of God (Ps. 33:11) and therefore is an expression of His Love.

The will of God comes from the heart of God.

Psalm 33:11

Psalm 33:11 NKJV

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.

Obedience puts us in God’s will, which brings joy.

John 15:10-11

John 15:10–11 NKJV

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

We may not always understand what He is doing, but we know that He is doing what is best for us.

We don’t live on explanations; we live on promises.

The desires of man only enslave us to a life of sin and misery.

Peter points out that we had enough of that in the past.

Remember what you were before you met Christ? (v. 3):

While you don’t want to carry around guilt, or fondly reminisce about your past life, it’s always good to remember what Jesus saved you from.

Remembering your past slavery to sin can be a motivation for righteous living.

God encouraged Israel to remember that they had once been slaves.

Deuteronomy 5:15

Deuteronomy 5:15 NKJV

And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

We were all once slaves, and God freed us.

Paul remembered that he was once a persecutor of Christians.

1 Timothy 1:12–13

1 Timothy 1:12–13 NKJV

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

This encouraged him to do more for Christ, and it will encourage us to do the same.

The phrase “The will of the gentiles” describes the world we live in today.

These things are constantly calling us back, but “greater is He that is in me, the he that is in the world”

Jesus has already gained the victory. The question is, have you claimed it?

v.4-5:

Your old friends won’t understand, and they may talk badly about you, but they are the lost ones.

They are the blind, wretched, and miserable ones.

They stand as an open book before God, and He will judge.

v.6:

This judgment is the very reason that the Gospel is preached, and it is preached to the dead – that is, those who are dead in sin.

Like everyone else, they will one day die, but they have the opportunity to come to Christ now, and live with Him forever.

That opportunity won’t happen unless we tell others about Him, and live for Him!

As part of righteous living, we have an obligation to to preach the Gospel to the lost.