Growing Closer to God Pt.9

No Sin After Salvation Is Accidental

I made a pretty bold statement last week of no sin being accidental once you are saved. Every sin we commit is rather a choice. When we had the nature of sin- sin was natural. It’s like a lions taste for meat. It’s a carnivore you can’t expect it to go vegetarian without some might move of God. However, if we have recieved Christ as Lord and Savior we have experienced that mighty move of God and are no longer a slave to sin. Thus when we do sin it’s a choice, rather than an instinct.

All throughout the bible both OT and NT there are sins of ignorance—meaning that the person didn’t know they were sinning. There was also a prescribed sacrifice for the sins of ignorance.

But

Acts 17:30–31 ESV

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

says that God will not overlook ignorance any longer. not knowing is no longer a crutch, I believe in part, because if we take the time to seek Him we will no longer be ignorant of the sin we commit. states that God sends the Spirit to search our hearts. He knows our inner most being. So now because we have the Spirit we cannot truely operate in unwillful ignorance. We can only operate in willful ignorance and laziness or lack of desire to search the scriptures.

So what does this have to do with our current study of Romans.

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans

So really one of the biggest ways to overcome sin is knowledge. And notice how Paul uses his words to show ownership by the person committing the sin. By using words like let no and Do not present he is showing that sin is willful.

But I want to show you the transition of sin in your life. Since knowledge is really key to overcoming sin we must know how sin works. Forst Paul says let not sin reign. But notice what happens once it begins to show up in your life.

Make You Obey

Once you give sin an open door in your life it crosses over from a willful participant to slavery.

James 1:13–16 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

James lays out the map of how sin works in your life. Notice he says

By His Own Desires

In order to overcome your sin—you first have to take ownership of it. I cannot help someone who sees themselves as a victim to sin in their lives. Being a victim implies lack of choice. Once you understand that you do have a choice you begin to realize you can choose to leave.

Then Paul warns us not to present our members (or our body parts) as instruments for unrightouseness.

Why? Because as we discussed last week we aren’t just forgiven Paul states in VV13 that we have been bought with a price.

Notice in

Psalm 51:3–15 ESV

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Psalm 51:2 ESV

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Psalm 51:3-

Psalm 5

He goes through and shows his body party

Eyes: 51:3

Mind 51:6

Ears 51:8

Heart 51:10

Lips and Mouth 51:14-15

There’s the children’s ryme:

O Be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little eyes what you see—For the father up above is looking down in love O be careful little eyes what you see. Then it goes from eyes to ears-hearing, Hands-doing, feet- going, mouth-saying.

The Paul states that I know this looking after yourself is a lot of work and responsibility so in

Romans 6:14 ESV

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

He gives us a promise.

No dominion= no control.

If you follow my commands sin will have no control over you.

I have noticed that since I let go of the love of things and money God has been blessing me. Sometimes requiring me to give away/sell as quickly as I receive, but looking back I have been given more than I can ask or think. When I put my desires under the control of God he has become free to bless me.

The promise is this: When we let go of things in this world we can truly become an instrument of God. If we want to be truly blessed by God we have to allow God to command our steps. I have given away things I never thought I would give away, owned things I never thought I would own, and sold things I never thought I would sell. But when I stopped letting things control me and started letting God control the things in my life I have never been happier and more blessed in my life than I am right now.

God has a way of making things whole which seem to be broken, but it takes us giving what is broken so we have room for what is whole.