Freedom from the Grip of Sin

Over the years, I have ministered to many people who feel very justified in their sin. Their past or current pain and disappointments are their excuses for their behavior. The part I have the greatest problem with is when I hear, "If God wants me to stop doing this then why doesn't HE take the desire away?" The ultimate price for freedom from sin’s grip has already been paid by His shed blood! Now it's up to us to walk it out. It's only as we remain in close proximity to Christ that our freedom can truly be experienced. As long as we remain controlled by freshly desires, Jesus has yet to have His proper place in our lives. As we make an effort to draw closer to Him and allow His Word to take root in our hearts, our desires begin to change from self-gratification to pleasing the God we know and are desperately pursuing. It’s true, you cannot change your own nature on your own, but you can begin to chase after the one who can. 

His grace is not an excuse to sin but it’s His power at work within us, giving us the strength to gain freedom from its grip. The Word says that we are crucified with Christ. Crucifixion is a painful death in the natural as well as spiritually. We must have the will to change, a repentant heart and the tenacity to pursue God before all else and at all cost. Yes, crucifying our flesh of its “natural tendencies” is not an easy endeavor and may even be impossible without Christ but His power is enough to get you to your destination. You must understand that you will be controlled by whomever or whatever you have given your time to and are focused upon. 

Determine in your heart to say no to the sins that rule you and do your part in resisting temptation and crucifying your flesh. Make Jesus your focus and give Him the reigns to your life. He loves you and only has your best interest at heart. As you sincerely repent, He will forgive you, wash away your sins and make you the man or woman you could have never become without Him! There’s a price to holiness, but the benefits of no longer being controlled by the enemy and the opportunity to go deeper with Christ is priceless!

1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT) But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

John 15:22 (NLT) They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.

Romans 6:15-18 (NLT) Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Galatians 5:24 (KJV) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT) Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.