Freedom from the Tyranny of Sin

Freedom from the tyranny of sin is one of God’s great blessings provided for us in Christ. I use the word, "tyranny" because before we were in Christ, sin held power over us much like a cruel dictator. We were compelled to obey Him whether we liked it or not.  

    

Jesus gives us hope by saying, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)    Many of us are surprised at how sin continues to control us, with some of the same old sins, even after we become Christ-followers.     

Has Jesus really freed us from sin's power, or is that an illusion?  Yes! He really has set us free, and here's how.  The good news of the complete Gospel is that the part of us which was under sin's tyranny was put to death on the cross with Christ. Romans 6:6 says, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him..." The old self was our old nature in Adam. 

Romans 6:7 declares, "...anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”  Notice it does not say he "is free from sinning" but is free from sin, meaning free from sin as a power to oppress us. Sin referenced here means an unholy power in us, but it is not our old nature because that is dead and gone. Sin is like a generator whose power lines were cut in half when we died with Christ. Being resurrected with Christ as new creations, we have a new power source, union with Christ! 

This is the key to victory when we are tempted to default to the sin we often go to, especially when we are under stress. Do you know what I mean about the particular sin when we are under a lot of stress? I can almost see you shaking your head "Yes".   When we are tempted like this, our old dictator, sin, is offering a false benevolence promising to relieve our stress. 

I have one of those sins which I tend to default to if I'm not vigilant.  It's anger.  Anger has tried to dictate my life for many years. And it still can if I allow it.  Here's how I am learning to overcome it as my understanding of the complete Gospel grows. 

When tempted to be controlled by anger, I talk to the Lord saying something like this, "Father I know that I am not an angry person in my identity in Christ. I choose to believe what you say about me rather than what my circumstances are saying.   Jesus please handle this by living through me right now!" 

I pray this way based on Ephesians 4:26-27 which says, "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."  We all come into this world destined to live a life of sin, because our old nature is as a slave of sin.

The good news is that our new nature, our new identity in Christ, desires to experience the love of our Father God, which replaces more and more of whatever we struggle with individually.  Though I know this, I admit to you that it is still a mental wrestling match with circumstances screaming that I should be angry, and the Holy Spirit saying gently, "Russ, you are not an angry person, but a peaceful person whose very nature is to trust Me."  This greatly helps remind me that we are not in a power struggle with sin, but a struggle with truth.  

How about you?  What is that sin which keeps beating you?  Please know that Jesus has already freed us from sin's tyranny by changing who we are deep within, but we have to believe it, and then talk to Him about it when we are tempted.  You CAN overcome that sin, not by will power, rules, or feelings, but by the power of the cross.

Be careful!  You don't want to make this a formula.  Sin is not defeated through a formula, rather by a relationship with God through our union with Christ. 

Let freedom ring!

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing

change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.

Jars of Clay

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

History has always fascinated me.  So I was quite the amateur archaeologist in my younger days.  I remember the time I found two beautiful examples of clay jugs from the 18^th century.  It was so exciting to hold a piece of history in my hands.  I could almost feel and hear the spinning of the potter’s wheel as they turned and shaped the chunks of clay that eventually became these jugs.     

When the apostle Paul compared our lives to clay pots, he focused not on the earthen vessels, but rather the contents of those vessels.  Jars of clay deteriorate over time, become chipped, cracked, and eventually broken.  However, the real value of those ancient pots was not in the clay containers themselves, but in what they contained.

The great purpose behind why we are called jars of clay is to show the surpassing power that belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)  We are weak, we are frail, we are lame, and yet, we are chosen.  We are loved.  “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29)

Our only boast is in Jesus our Lord who is for us our wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. (Verse 30)  He is our perfect righteousness, who not only meets us in our weakness, but covers our every sin and deformity by His blood.

We humans tend to focus on the frailties and imperfections of our decaying vessels, looking, characteristically, on the outward form rather than the substance within.  But the inward reality is what matters to God, and ultimately, to us as well, since that reality is His living Presence within us; a treasure of wisdom, power and love with immeasurable value.

The Lord's evaluation of us is not by outward appearance, which is corruptible and deteriorates with time.  His indwelling Spirit, His Living Word, and the dynamic intimate relationship into which He invites us are where the real treasure is to be found!

 Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing

change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.