OceanSide church of Christ

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OVERCOMING SIN

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    As Christians, our spiritual battle is against the evil one and his spiritual forces (I Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:12).

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

B.      The tactic of Satan involves the enticement of our lusts, our desires (James 1:14).

 

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

 

C.     The end desired by the adversary is sin and death (James 1:15).

 

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

D.    The responsibility of the child of God is to overcome sin. 

1.      Perhaps we should say that our obligation is to overcome temptation. 

2.      Once we have sinned, the only way to overcome is through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ (I John 1:7, 9).

 

E.      Every Christians struggles with sin. 

1.      Some struggle more than others. 

2.      We need to learn to how to overcome sin.

3.      This is the third time that I can remember focusing specifically on this topic.  Each time I have approached it in a different manner. 

4.      In this lesson, we want us to take a sincere look at self. 

 

I.                   TO OVERCOME SIN, I MUST REALLY WANT TO LOVE GOD

 

A.    Jesus exhorts us to love God in Matthew 22:37-38.

 

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.

 

B.      This love cannot be divided between God and something else.  Jesus said that divided loyalty is not possible (Matt. 6:24).

 

No man can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

1.      Satan, temptation, and sin are enemies of the Christ.

2.      Therefore, we cannot participate in them and love Jesus Christ at the same time. 

 

C.     We don’t like to think in terms that are exclusive in nature.

1.      We want to believe that we can love God and engage in sin at the same time. 

2.      If those in sin were asked:  “Do you love God?”  They would answer:  “Absolutely.”

3.      As far as God is concerned, this is an impossibility

a.      I John 2:15

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

b.      II John 9

 

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God…

 

c.       I John 5:3

 

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:  and his commandments are not grievous.

 

D.    Those who are struggling with sin need to ask themselves:  “Am I really willing to give up my love for God for the sin I am practicing?” 

 

II.                TO OVERCOME SIN, I MUST DEVELOP MY FAITH

 

A.    We are all familiar with Romans 10:17.  It tells us that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

 

B.      The Bible gives us specific instructions as to how to overcome sin.

1.      Know what sin is (I John 3:4; Gal. 5:19-21).

2.      Do not make provisions for the flesh (Rom. 13:14).

3.      Do not practice idleness (I Tim. 5:13).

4.      Fill yourself with the Word of God (Ps. 119:11; Matt. 4:1-11).

5.      Resist the devil (James 4:7).

6.      Do not run with evil companions (I Cor. 15:33).

7.      Have a companion who can assist you when you are weak (Eccl. 4:9-12).

 

C.     If a person has faith, he will put all of these measures to work in his life. 

1.      Sometimes in our Christian lives, we practice the doctrine of “faith only.”

a.      We will proclaim that we have faith.

b.      But, we will not do the things that God wants us to do to be faithful.

2.      The example of Abraham (James 2:21-22)

 

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.

 

D.    Those who are struggling with sin need to ask themselves:  “Do I want to be considered a person of deep faith in God?”

 

III.             TO OVERCOME SIN, I MUST DEVELOP MY CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

 

A.    The Bible gives us lists of qualities that we are to possess that manifest our Christian character.

1.      The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-12)

2.      The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

3.      The Christian Graces (II Pet. 1:5-11)

 

B.      One of the qualities that we need to possess to overcome sin is self-control.  It is called “temperance” in the King James Version (Gal. 5:22-23)

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.

 

C.     Temperance is what Joseph manifested when he resisted the continued cries of Potipher’s wife to lie with her (Gen. 39:7-9).

 

And it came to pass after these things that he master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.  But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; there is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife:  how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

 

1.      Joseph was a young, single man in his prime.

2.      Potipher’s wife may have been a very beautiful woman.

3.      He was living a long way from home.

4.      He had been treated very poorly by his family.

5.      Although in a high position in Potipher’s house, he was still a slave.

6.      Regardless, of all these things, Joseph refused this woman’s advances.

 

D.    A verse that is meaningful to me about self-control is found in Proverbs 25:28.

 

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

 

E.      Those who are struggling with sin need to ask themselves:  “Do I want to be a Joseph?  Or, do I want to be a city that has been devastated?”

 

IV.             TO OVERCOME SIN, I MUST DEVELOP MY SPIIRITUAL CONCERN

 

A.    I need to be concerned about hypocrisy.

1.      The definition of hypocrisy is “a stage player.”

2.      It is possible to “play the part” of a Christian, but for one’s life not to measure up.

3.      Not everyone can detect a hypocrite.  It is possible to “put on a show” for a long time.

4.      God, however, knows the heart and all other secret things.  Thus, He can detect hypocrisy in our lives. 

5.      In Matthew 23, Jesus condemned the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees.

a.      Seven times Jesus pronounces a woe upon their hypocrisy.

b.      Matthew 23:27-28

 

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

 

B.      I need to be concerned about my example for others.

1.      We are exhorted to be examples to others (I Tim. 4:12)

 

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

2.      If we are in sin, we do not want others following us.  Rather than leading them down the path of righteousness, we would lead them down a road of ruin.

 

C.     I need to be concerned about my eternal destination.

1.      Each of us will go to one of two places as a final destination (Matt. 25:46; Rom. 6:23).

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

a.      Eternal life is promised to the faithful in Christ.

b.      Death, that is, eternal condemnation is the wage given to those who practice sin.

2.      We only have this life to get it right. 

3.      NOTE:  We do not know then the end is coming.  Once it comes, there is no changing the outcome.

 

D.    Does my life reflect hypocrisy?

Does my life manifest an example worthy for others to follow?

Will I find eternal life in my final abode?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We can do things that improve our lives for a lot of different reasons.

 

B.      But, when we do things for ourselves, it seems that the change is much more genuine.

 

C.     Don’t you really want to love God?

Don’t you want to manifest a saving faith?

Don’t you want to live a life of powerful self-control?

Don’t you want to prove to yourself and others that your spiritual life is of deep concern to you?

 

D.    To do these things, you may need to get out of your sin tonight.

1.      Make up your mind tonight to conquer sin.

2.      Come forward confessing your transgressions.

3.      We will pray with you and for you.

4.      The precious blood of Christ will wipe the slate clean. 

 

E.      If you are not a Christian, you, too, can overcome a life of sin.  All you need to do is simply obey the precious plan of gospel salvation.