When I became a Christian, I was so profoundly changed that I was convinced I’d never sin again. Imagine my utter heart-break when I found myself sinning the next day! The good news, of course, was that by his cross, Jesus had paid the penalty for my sins; but how could I possibly be hurting someone who loved me with a love beyond anything I had ever experienced?
All Christians struggle with sin. And since the Holy Spirit dwells within you, sin hurts. How can we more effectively avoid it? Regardless of what sin we’re guilty, Scripture indicates that all sin comes from a lack of faith.
Yes, faith concerns belief; but faith is also a matter of trust. We trust God to look after us and keep his promises found in Scripture. One such promise is 1 Corinthians 10:13:
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure.
“Huh? If he’s going to provide the way of escape, then why do I keep sinning?” A fire-escape doesn’t help if we don’t use it. Like any kid who trusts their loving parent, we must run and ask the Father to make everything better; that is, we pray in faith, trusting that God will powerfully answer. Jesus said:
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13)
It’s the Holy Spirit who empowers us to resist sin…if we trust God to answer our prayer. Thinking that he can’t help us overcome sin is a lack of faith, especially in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection, where sin was decisively overcome!
“Struggling with temptation isn’t my problem,” someone might say. “I have faith in God’s promises. My problem is there are times I want to sin! How can I pray when I don’t want to repent?” Ah! In those cases, the problem is a lack of faith!
Sin is an attempt to satisfy a need or want which we imagine isn’t being met. It’s an act of not trusting God to provide. Look at the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve were convinced they were missing out because they couldn’t eat the forbidden fruit. They chose to put their trust in the serpent’s words rather than God’s.
Then there’s the Ten Commandments. A lengthy statement about God providing for his people is followed by prohibitions of sins that show a self-reliance and a lack of trust in God’s provision (stealing, adultery and covetousness being the most obvious).
Jesus says that everything we need will be provided in due time if we simply trust him:
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Simply trusting” can be challenging, however. Thankfully, it’s a gift, not an achievement. Our prayer should be that of the father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:24: “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”
Amen!
-Andrew MacLeod
