Christian, You Are No Longer a Slave to Sin

"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1–2)

A Christian is not someone who is entirely sinless, but someone who, by virtue of faith in Christ, stands forgiven and strives by the power of the Holy Spirit to turn away from a lifestyle of sin. Paul emphasizes this transformation in Romans 6:1–2: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?"

The Apostle John also captures this reality clearly in his first epistle:

"No one who abides in Him (Christ) [who remains united in fellowship with Him] deliberately, knowingly, and habitually practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him." (1 John 3:6, AMP)

​"We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him." (1 John 5:18, AMP)

​This is the standard for everyone who professes Christ as Saviour. If we continue to abide in our sins, from what did Christ actually save us? In the Gospel of Matthew, the angel, speaking to Joseph about Jesus, said - "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

As believers, we have been called out of the world to live for His glory. This requires denying our former affections, putting to death everything that belongs to our earthly nature, and constantly fixing our gaze on Jesus through whom we receive strength to live the Christian life. ​Yet, despite this calling, we often make excuses for our cherished "darling sins." We frequently make peace with them, labelling them as mere "weaknesses" or simply "who we are." But this brings us back to the fundamental question: from what did Christ save us?

​Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means, brethren! We are called to wage war against our sin. We must fight, giving no room to the enemy to gain an advantage over us. As long as we remain on this side of eternity, we must engage in this daily battle, seeking grace to overcome our fleshly passions.

When we do stumble, we must not let guilt paralyze us. Instead, let us remember that we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. Therefore, let us draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15–16).

Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by constant struggles and frequent failures; do not quit, dear soldier. Go to the Lord and, like Samson, cry out once more for mercy and strength. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

J.C. Ryle aptly captures this thus: "The true Christian is called to be a soldier, and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. He is not meant to live a life of religious ease, indolence, and security. He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to heaven, like one traveling in an easy carriage. If he takes his standard of Christianity from the children of this world, he may be content with such notions; but he will find no countenance for them in the Word of God. If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice, he will find his lines laid down very plainly in this matter. He must 'fight.”

So, Christian, you are no longer a slave to sin. Fight, persevere, and keep your eyes fixed on Christ. When you fall, rise again and run to Him for grace. May we never make peace with what Christ came to save us from, but daily pursue holiness until the day we see Him face to face.