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!

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