Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8

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1 How a Christian can Overcome Sin By Greg Peterson (Before I begin, let me start with a footnote. This is for those who are truly Christians. If you are not a Christian, these truths still apply to you, but you need to repent from your life of sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ first. Here is a link to help you understand the importance of this act of faith.) In the book of 1 John, the Apostle John is making a case for showing the difference between what a true Christian is and what is not. A true Christian obeys God, loves God s truth, and loves God s people. The one action in this list that is hardest is obeying God. John tells us, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin (1 John 2:1). How can this be possible?! I still sin. So do you. Thankfully the verse goes on, And if anyone sins The point is that after initial salvation, when God justifies and forgives our sin thereby freeing us from the penalty of sin (eternal Hell), we are still sinners. Yes, we are given the Holy Spirit who conforms us into the image of Christ. But our old nature, our built-in-at-conception sinful nature still lives within us. So what do we do with these sins? How can we overcome our sin? This the question I wish to answer from Scripture. It doesn t matter the size of your sin. You could be a regular lair or cheat. You could be an adulterer or a porn user. You could be lazy or gluttonous. Whatever your sin, God has a solution for you. 1) Practice the presence of God Here is where theology meets practical application. God is Ominpresent. Omnipresence means God is everywhere present. Probably the most familiar verses that affirm this truth is Psalm 139: 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night, 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. (vv. 7-12) Basically King David is stating, God is inescapeable!! More than that, God is everywhere in the totality of His person. 1 Wherever God is He is there as Lord, Savior, Judge, Holy, etc. For 1 A. H. Strong, Systematic Theology, 279.

2 you theology nerds out there, omnipresence means an ontological presence (God is personally present in all places), which displays the truth of His imminence, that is His nearness to mankind. To put it another way, in the words of my Bible college theology professor, God is at the top-left corner of every room you step into. I used to think that when I would sin (lie, lust, etc.) that I had gotten away with it so long as no one saw me. However, after knowing God more through His Word, I have come to discover, I get away with NOTHING! God is always present. He is always right here and here and over here too. God actually declares this truth: Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the LORD (Jeremiah 23:24). How does this help you overcome sin? The always-presence of God is not meant to scare us into obedience. Rather, it is meant to remind us that God is ever-present to bless obedience or hold back blessing in disobedience. Just like a good human father who gives good things to his children when they obey and bad consequences when they disobey, God will bless us when we obey Him and flee from sin. Spurgeon: Among his children, they are best who best know their Father's mind, and yield to it the gladdest obedience. Should we have any other ambition, within the walls of our Father's house, than to be perfectly obedient children before him, and implicitly trustful towards him? But, brethren, this is a kind of life which will bring communion with God. God often hides his face behind the clouds of dust which his children make by their self-will. If we transgress against him, we shall soon be in trouble; but a holy walk the walk described by my text as faith working obedience is heaven beneath the stars. God comes down to walk with men who obey. If they walk with him, he walks with them. The Lord can only have fellowship with his servants as they obey. (from The Obedience of Faith ) 2) Study and Memorize Scripture The Apostle Paul wrote a very familiar passage: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Note carefully that God s Word has a purpose. We don t just read it to get warm fuzzies for the day or check off a I-did-my-spiritual-tithe-today box. The purpose behind God giving us His Word was so that we could be equipped for every good work. If you are struggling with besetting sins that just seemingly won t go away, I ask you: how is your Bible reading and study time? Are you in the Word of God to learn what God has to say so that you may be adequate, equipped for every good work? If you are, then are you memorizing it? Check out the blessings of memorizing Scripture: How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. (Ps 119:9) Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (Ps 119:11) The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip. (Ps 37:30-31)

3 God promises in the verses above that internalizing the Word is a believer s best weapon to defend against encroaching sin. Are you in it? Are you memorizing it? 3) Surround yourself with God s People The Bible has a whole lot to say about the influence of others. Negatively speaking: Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor 15:33). The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them (Prov 11:3) The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful (Prov 12:5) The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray (Prov 12:26) From these verses, it might be easy to think that we need to stay isolated, far away from any bad influence. But this is not how God wants Christians to be. Rather, you need the church s wisdom! He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom (Prov 18:1) The writer of Hebrews was explicit about this. In Hebrews 10, notice how all the personal pronouns are we or us, pointing to the fact that your growth in your Christian walk is a community activity with other true Christians in the church-life. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb 10:19-25) This verse could not be clearer for the importance of the regular, intentional interaction with other true believers. Yes, this happens on Sunday morning ( our own assembling together ), but this needs to be a daily part of our lives. What is your daily interaction with true believers? Is Sunday the only day? If so, find a small group Bible study and join. If you don t have any small groups, then make some friends in the church and have them over to your home weekly. Get with other godly people regularly and habitually. By doing this, your fight against sin will increasingly stop being about your personal fight and more being a part of the holy, blameless church which Christ cleansed (Eph 5:25-27) John MacArthur: People who think wrongly invariably behave wrongly. Wrong behavior comes from wrong thinking, from wrong beliefs and wrong standards. It is impossible to associate regularly with wicked people without being contaminated both by their ideas and by their habits. (1 Corinthians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Moody Publishers], 429)

4 4) Repent and Rest in God s Forgiveness Again, theology meets practical application. When you repented of your sin and made Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord of your life, you were, at that moment, justified. Justification is a legal term, painting the picture that though you stood before a holy Judge (God) as a guilty sinner, deserving a just punishment, God declares you innocent based upon the death of Jesus Christ. Your sin-ladened account was placed upon Jesus and His righteousness was set upon you (for you theology nerds, this is the imputed righteousness of Christ to Christians). This is why the Apostle Paul can claim there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). From this point on, all Christians are being sanctified, that is, you are being made more and more righteous in this life. Now in this process of sanctification, the power of sin is being slowly eradicated from our daily lives. However sin remains. Remember 1 John 2:1: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins As I said above, sin is still attached. So what do we do when (not if) we sin? First, repent! Remember 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The Apostle John is writing to believers to remind them that when sin occurs in the Christian s life, don t ignore it. Repent! This truth is why Martin Luther started his famous 95 Theses with When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said Repent, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. Second, rest in justification theology above. If you have truly repented from sin and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, then there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You must rest in this truth. God is not a liar and is faithful to keep every promise, including keeping you in His salvific arms (John 10:27-28). J. C. Ryle: His work, and not our work, is our only title to Heaven. 2 5) Re-discipline yourself The Apostle Paul shows clearly that the grace of God trains all true Christians to live a self-controlled life (Titus 2:11-12). Furthermore, the New Testament is full of admonishments to work hard at holy living. Check out these passages: Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12a) Cleanse [yourselves] from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 7:1) Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you (Rom 6:13b-14a) So now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification (Rom 6:19b; 12:1) 2 J. C. Ryle, Holiness, abridged version (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2010), 57.

5 I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (Eph 4:1; cf. 1 Thess 2:12; Col 2:6) In the Apostle Paul s own life he likened the Christian walk as a fight (1 Tim 6:11), a battle (Eph 6:13ff), a race (1 Cor 9:24-27), and work (Eph 2:10). These associations should tell us that the Christian life is one that should be disciplined. In fact, the writer to the Hebrews says discipline to not sin is something that everyone in the church to be working at it (Heb 10:23-24). Why are we to be disciplined? In the words of the Apostle Paul, Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil (Eph 6:15-16). So, how do we do this? I suggest you begin with questions about your sin. Ask: what external circumstance led me into being tempted to sin? What could I have done to avoid it? How did God provide a way out while I was being tempted (1 Cor 10:13)? How can I avoid this situation when (not if!) it comes again? Who can I speak with in the church to help me be more disciplined so as not to sin? For further help in this self-discipline, my friend Peter Goeman has 13 Practical Steps to Self-Discipline 3 that have been helpful to me. May I recommend them to you in your fight against sin. J. C. Ryle: Never, never be content, if your soul does not grow [in grace]. (Holiness [Moody Publishers], 184). 6) Never under estimate sin again (i.e., never trust yourself again!) We come again to theology means practical application. Ask yourself: do I really understand sin? I could wax eloquently here, but I prefer to go to one of my teachers who has been most helpful to me in this area. J. C. Ryle writes: Concerning the extent of this vast moral disease called sin. let us beware that we make no mistake. The only safe ground is that which is laid for us in Scripture. Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is by nature evil, and that continually. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9). Sin is a disease which pervades and runs through every part of our moral constitution, and every faculty of our minds. The understanding, the affections, the reasoning powers, the will are all more or less infected. Even the conscience is so blinded that it cannot be depended on as a sure guide, and is as likely to lead men wrong as right unless it is enlightened by the Holy Spirit. In short, From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness only wounds and welts and open sores! (Isa 1:6). The disease may be veiled under a thin covering of courtesy, politeness, good manners and outward decorum but it lies deep down in the constitution! I am convinced that the greatest proof of the extent and power of sin, is the pertinacity [a quality of sticking with something, no matter what] with which it cleaves to man, even after he is converted and has become the subject of the Holy Spirit's operations. To use the language of the 3

6 ninth Article: This infection of nature remains yes, even in those who are regenerate. So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption that even after we are born again, renewed, washed, sanctified, justified and made living members of Christ these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts; and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved. Sin, no doubt, in the believer's heart, has no longer dominion. It is checked, controlled, mortified and crucified by the expulsive power of the new principle of grace. The life of a believer is a life of victory, and not of failure. But the very struggles which go on within his bosom, the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily, the watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man, the contest between the flesh and the spirit, the inward groanings which no one knows but he who has experienced them all, all testify to the same great truth all show the enormous power and vitality of sin. Mighty indeed must that foe be, who even when crucified, is still alive! Happy is that believer who understands it and, while he rejoices in Christ Jesus, has no confidence in the flesh, and while he says, "Thanks be unto God who gives us the victory," never forgets to watch and pray lest he fall into temptation! (Holiness [Moody Publishers], 24, 26-27) From this I hope you get a sense that you cannot trust yourself. Sin is too deceitful in our pursuit of holiness. You must be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18b), meaning the Christian must be involved day-by-day, moment-by-moment submission to the Spirit s control. This is not some feelings-based emotional high, rather it is letting the word of Christ richly dwell within you (Col 3:16), meaning to take the Word of Christ (the Bible), and let it infuse every thought, action, and word of every moment of our day. We must bleed Scripture. We must always think, what is God s view in the Bible on such-and-such an issue? Put another way, James says we must be quick to hear, slow to speak (Jas 1:19). Many people take this verse and use it as a catch phrase for their Christian life. That s fine, but it misses the context. The context James is dealing with is being a doer of the Word (Jas 1:22) and not just a hearer. So, in verse 19, James is saying to Christians, you need to be quick to hear the Word of God (i.e., be controlled by it) and be slow to speak your own sinful thoughts and intentions. Indeed this passage goes back to point #2 (Memorize Scripture), but it drives the point of not trusting your own thoughts. We must be filled with the Word of God so that we can be quick to be controlled by its truth and be very slow to thing we are wise in our own eyes (Prov 12:15; 26:12). One final note: I had a pastor once tell me Today s successful fight against sin does not guarantee a successful fight tomorrow. In other words, one day or one moment of overcoming sin does not mean the next day or the next moment will be as successful. As you and I grow in defeating sin, the world/flesh/devil will attack harder. But be encouraged 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

7 FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:32-39)