Sin isn’t a big deal, right? After all, a Christian can’t really avoid it in this culture. I can dabble in sin a little, then go on my way. No harm done, right?
Wrong!
Sin is dangerous.
James 1:15 warns us that sin can start as a small desire (temptation) in your heart. That desire can grow and then, the next thing you know, you’ve acted on it. You’ve dabbled in sin. And, left unchecked, that sin can grow until it consumes you. It becomes a stronghold in your life, leading to total spiritual bondage.
And it happens gradually. Before you realize it.
Sin always takes you farther than you want to go. You think you’re in control… until you’re not.
How many lives have been destroyed by alcohol or drugs? No one I’ve ever known started out with the goal of becoming an alcoholic or addict. How about pornography? Just an innocent glance at something inappropriate on your computer today can lead to full blown addiction tomorrow. Are you obsessed with money or materialism, always needing more and more to satisfy you? Is anger or bitterness controlling you?
Sin comes in many different forms; sometimes we think of a “sinful person” as a murderer, a thief, an adulterer, or an addict. But sinful people can also be those who practice gossip, gluttony, greed, or pride. Just because we may think some sins aren’t as bad as others doesn’t mean they’re not sins.
Sin breaks your fellowship with God. You’ll start avoiding Him. Your prayers will grow cold if you pray at all. You’ll neglect reading His Word. Guilt will take control of your heart. And that sweet communion you have with Jesus through His Spirit that dwells within you? Gone.
Sin will also gradually harden your heart to the point that you’re totally desensitized to the voice of God. That’s scary because if you ever get to that point, you won’t be able to hear the Holy Spirit calling you back to a right relationship with God.
No, you can’t dabble with sin and not expect to have some consequences. That’s one of sin’s biggest lies.
Sin always has a price. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death…”
Sin destroys. But God saves.
As a Christian, what are we to do then to prevent ourselves from falling into sin? After all, the lure of sin is strong.
The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
He’s saying that oftentimes our battle against temptation and sin is also spiritual, and not just our sinful nature (our flesh) trying to control us.
There are real unseen satanic forces at work in the world. And Christians must do battle with them.
Paul goes on to say that we have protection from these forces, the “whole armor of God.”
Ephesians 6: 13-18 states “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
God doesn’t leave us vulnerable to our fleshly desires or to the attacks of the Enemy.
The belt of truth helps us to expose the lies that sin often comes packaged within. Temptation tells us “I can do this once… it won’t hurt me” or “I need this to be happy.” The truth of God reminds us that sin has consequences and that only obedience to Him brings happiness.
The breastplate of righteousness protects us from temptations that target our heart. All sins seek to ultimately capture our hearts, because therein lies our innermost being. Righteousness reminds us that we are called to be a holy people. We don’t have to be subject to sin anymore because we now belong to Jesus who purchased us with His precious blood. We are to live according to our calling in Christ.
The shoes of the Gospel of peace represent stability in the presence of life’s battles. Paul says to remember the Gospel of salvation to maintain sure footing during times of trial. Jesus saved us, we belong to Him, and our standing with Him is secure. We are also to maintain a sense of readiness to obey, to endure hardship, and to share the hope of Christ with others.
The shield of faith blocks the “flaming arrows” of the enemy, like sudden thoughts of lust, compromise, and doubt. Our faith reminds us that God’s way is better, and that God is faithful. Faith assures us that we don’t have to surrender to these thoughts.
The helmet of salvation protects our head (our thoughts) from the attacks of the Enemy. Sometimes the devil bombards us with thoughts that bring us down, thoughts like “I’m a failure” or “I can never change; this is just who I am” or “I’ll never amount to anything so why not indulge in sin?” The helmet guards our minds by reminding us that we are someone—we’re a child of the King! We have been redeemed by His precious blood. We are being transformed by the renewing of our mind and failure is not our identity.
The sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is our offensive weapon. We fight back against the attacks of the devil with scripture. Jesus Himself demonstrated this when being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Each time the devil came against Him, Jesus quoted scripture refuting the temptation with the Word of God. The Word is supernatural; it has power. The Apostle John tells us that the Word existed before the formation of the world; that the Word was with God and is God. Therefore, it has the authority over the devil, the flesh, and all temptations.
Finally, Paul reminds us to pray. Prayer is that direct link with Almighty God. It can prepare us for temptations and strengthen us during the temptations. We are not to underestimate its power.
Remember what James said: sin begins with temptation. Temptations begin by first telling us a lie. “It’s not that big a deal” or “Everyone is doing it; why should I miss out?” Then the lie takes root in our hearts and grows a desire. Then we begin to justify it. Before we know it, we’ve acted; we’ve committed sin. Then, if left unchecked, sin grows until it consumes us.
The armor of God breaks the cycle of temptation at multiple fronts.
We gain victory over temptations by replacing its lies with the truth of God. By switching the panic we’re sometimes in with peace. By substituting the doubts Satan places in our hearts with faith. By exchanging our shame with our identity in Christ Jesus. By fighting back with the inerrant Word of God. And superseding our self-reliance with prayer.
Victory over temptation and sin can be as simple as running away (e.g. Joseph ran from the temptation of sexual sin), getting rid of an inappropriate app on our phone or laptop, changing the environment we’re in (e.g. our friends or surroundings), calling a good Christian friend to get reassurance and support, and choosing obedience in the moment.
We serve a Holy God. He cannot tolerate sin. Something or someone must pay the price.
As Christians, Jesus has already paid that price for you and me. And we are called to live holy lives. Does that mean that Christians should never struggle or fail? No. It means that sin is no longer supposed to be our identity. As Christians, we are new creations, being transformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus. If we fall, we are not to remain in our sins but to seek His face in repentance.
If you’re struggling with temptation, put on the armor of God. Resist the devil and he will flee.
If you’ve moved past that point and are in full-blown sin, don’t remain there. Repent now while you still hear the voice of the Holy Spirit convicting you. God doesn’t want you to remain in your sins; He has a plan and a purpose for your life.
So what will you do?
Will you keep believing the lie that sin is harmless? Will you keep flirting with the very thing that came to destroy you? Will you continue walking toward chains while Jesus stands ready to set you free?
Today is the day to choose.
Choose holiness over compromise.
Choose truth over deception.
Choose freedom over bondage.
Choose Christ over sin.
The enemy wants to drag you deeper, but Jesus wants to lift you higher.
There is still mercy for the repentant. There is still power in the name of Jesus. There is still victory for those who will humble themselves, turn from sin, and run to Him.
Do not wait until your heart grows cold. Do not wait until the chains grow tighter. Do not wait until temptation becomes destruction.
Run to Jesus Christ now.
Put on the armor of God. Stand firm. Fight back. Walk holy.
Because sin still destroys…
but Jesus still saves.