Disclaimer: This is a really big area and I've tried to keep this one short and helpful. I hope it is both.
1 Corinthians 6:18 urges is to flee sexual immorality. That is, get yourself away from the source or pattern of temptation that is leading you to long for and express such sin. Flee to prayer, flee to the support of your Christian brothers and sisters, flee from situations where you know you’ll be tempted and where you know you’ve failed before.
However the Bible also suggests that we don’t just run away from our problems, but that we have our thinking and motives changed so we pursue the things of the kingdom. I can think of three key motivating truths that help us overcome and put to death sin in our lives. The New Testament rarely urges us to a change in behaviour and thinking without being powerfully grounded in at least one of these…
1. Our thankfulness is view of the Cross. Growing in our understanding and appreciation of what Christ has done to sin in his death has a profound affect upon our behaviour. In view of his mercy, I actually begin to want to live in honour and service of him. This is such a watershed moment for anyone and at times even those whose life was engrossed in sin can’t wait to be rid of it…out of joyful thanks to the Lord.
In our struggles with sin, to a certain degree at least we have not comprehended enough the wonder of the Cross. The cross helps me to hate sin and long to be ruthless with it, but at the same time the cross protects me from self-hatred…because Christ loved me so much. Being overwhelmed with thanks is about the ultimate remedy for new life and freedom, even from habitual and resilient sin in your life.
2. Our identity in Christ. This argument was employed by Paul in 1 Cor.5:6-8 where Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christ's sacrificial work changes completely our status and identity before God. To be ‘in Christ’ is to have a new heavenly destiny already secured. Even though Paul is seeking to correct terrible sin in Corinth, he appeals to who Christ has made them to be in order to motivate them to change. He does not appeal to the 10 Commandments to correct and rebuke them some new Christian morality list, he actually appeals to their unity with Christ who was sacrificed for them.
So he primarily inspires at this crucial point. He gives them a higher view of their value and significance and destiny. Our identity in Christ reminds us that in God’s eyes we are not locked in sin but belonging to Jesus for his service. When we realise more and more that our old identity was changed by one so awesome as Christ, our desire to ‘celebrate’ the reality of who we are in God begins to change and recalibrate our motives and desires.
3. The hope of the future. The hope of heaven is perhaps the least appreciated of these three. The fact that heaven is our home and that joy and wonder everlasting is on offer; the fact that our Lord and saviour will celebrate his reign with us; the fact that sin and its effects will not be seen or experienced anymore is another powerful motivator for change. If God is moving history to a certain outcome, then there should be an excitement and longing for that outcome. Knowing my future and destiny inspires and motivates especially through trial and suffering and even great temptation. If you read passages like Romans 8 (especially after reading chapters 6-7) you see how glorious the future is and how God's Spirit draws us with great expectation to the time when God's plans are fully realised.
3. The hope of the future. The hope of heaven is perhaps the least appreciated of these three. The fact that heaven is our home and that joy and wonder everlasting is on offer; the fact that our Lord and saviour will celebrate his reign with us; the fact that sin and its effects will not be seen or experienced anymore is another powerful motivator for change. If God is moving history to a certain outcome, then there should be an excitement and longing for that outcome. Knowing my future and destiny inspires and motivates especially through trial and suffering and even great temptation. If you read passages like Romans 8 (especially after reading chapters 6-7) you see how glorious the future is and how God's Spirit draws us with great expectation to the time when God's plans are fully realised.
I should say also that to struggle and fight with sin is actually the normal Christian experience. None of us will reach perfection this side of heaven, but God has given us his Holy Spirit to keep fighting on (see Galatians 5:16-26).
Further as we read in 1 Cor.10:13 God remains faithful and does not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. He provides a way of escape for us, even as we are seriously considering sinning against him. How kind he is?!
Thanks Marcus...really appreciate what you write on here. Hopefully more people are reading it than are commenting on it!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's usually the way it happens.
ReplyDeleteHaving been a slave to lust in the past, I am ashamed to say that I have even lusted after sisters in Christ in a big way.
ReplyDeleteI think I have repented; I have certainly put it before God and asked for His forgiveness through Christ, and moved on (though not without stumbling).
The only relevant passage I can find is James 5:16, "confess your sins to one another", which doesn't seem to necessarily say that you need confess it to the offended party.
Ought I then confess my sin to the offended persons? I have not done this for the ostensible reason that I want to avoid damaging the people I would have to confess to, but I fear the real reason may be that I haven't fully dealt with my sin, and am therefore still unwilling to get it out in the open.
(In case my last post wasn't clear enough - Sisters in Christ, not sisters in an overtly incestuous way, though the former isn't a great deal 'better' than the latter; sin is sin).
ReplyDeleteI don't think we are obliged to confess absolutely everything in regards to how we might sin against other people. Indeed we can't, because I'm sure I've sinned against other people without even knowing it.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to lust of another I don't think that is going to be very helpful most often. I would encourage guys to confess their struggles in these areas to other guys...and similarly women to women.
The context of James 5 also doesn't lead me to think that every sin needs to be confessed to the particular individuals.
On a related point (and so as not to give the impression that one doesn't need to confess their sins to others)...some people ask 'Do I need to confess to my wife or husband if I've been looking at pornography?' My answer is 'Yes!'. You have been sinning against your spouse in you fantasy of another. The object of your desire is to be them, not others...and so I think this kind of thing should be confessed to fellow brothers or sisters (as is appropriate) and to your spouse (if your married).