How to Stop Sinning and Start Walking Worthy
Have you ever wondered why seven-step programs, rules, and principles don’t work to defeat sin or change someone? It’s because the world tells people that if they “do this, but don’t do that” their problems will go away. If you’ve ever gone on a diet and subsequently failed, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The failure of rules-based living, legalism, is that it only shows us where we fall short. In our flesh, we will eventually fail. The Bible attests to this same truth about the law: it was a schoolmaster to show us our shortcomings and it brings about the knowledge of sin (Gal 3:24, Rom 3:20). Just as a mirror doesn’t fix our eating habits, knowing where we fall short from God’s law doesn’t fix our sin.
As Christians, we are often guilty of recognizing that we are saved by grace through faith alone in the finished cross-work of Christ, but then try to walk in rules, laws, and regulations after being saved by grace. This is the problem that the Galatians had, trying to prove their own righteousness by good deeds and living under the law after being saved by grace (Gal 3:1-3).
While we won’t stop sinning until we die and meet the Lord in glory, we are not a victim to sin. If you are saved by God’s grace, you’ve got the Holy Spirit living in your inner man (Eph 1:13-14, 1Co 6:19, Rom 5:5). The same God that parted the Red Sea, walked on water, and raised from the dead lives in us!
We can overcome sin in our lives and walk worthy in Christ, and Ephesians 4:20-24 gives us a blueprint for how to do so. Contrary to rules, these three steps show the process of change under grace which doesn’t concern your works, but rather a realization of who you already are.
Put off the Old Man – When you trust in the gospel of Christ (Rom 3:21-26, 1Co 15:1-4) there are spiritual things that happen that we may be unaware of. One of those things is that your old man (the unsaved desires/flesh) is crucified with Christ. Grace kills the sinner and the power of sin over you (Rom 6:1-11). When you realize you are no longer a slave to your flesh, that you are dead, it changes your disposition about the spiritual battle we fight.
Renew Your Mind – When you put off the old man, you’re going to have an identity crisis. Who are you? Are you identified by the flesh/old man or the spirit/new man? To be transformed, we need a new mind about who we are, what we should do, where we are going, and why which only comes from God’s word (Rom 12:1-2, 1Co 2:15-16, 2Co 4:16-18, Ti 3:5-7). We forget these things every day which is why we need to continue to remind ourselves through God’s word of all the things Christ has done for us and has made us to be.
Put on the New Man – Another thing that happens when we trust the gospel is that our spirit is made alive and we are created a new creature in Christ. Putting on the new man concerns recognizing who you already are as a member of His Body. You are currently redeemed, justified, sanctified, and given a heavenly calling far greater than anything this world has to offer. When we understand our purpose in Christ as defined in the Bible and taste far superior fruits of righteousness by the Spirit that dwells in us, the desires of our flesh are greatly diminished (Eph 2:10, 15, Col 3:9-11, Rom 8:29, Gal 5:16-18, Gal 6:8).
The law can’t fix sin but a clear understanding of grace can because it attacks the sin problem from the heart level. It changes your mind about sin and who you are in Christ. Grace isn’t a list of things to do to earn God’s favor, but rather a recognition of the complete work of Christ in you.
I pray this week that you recognize sin has no power over you, that you would renew your mind through His Word, and that you would further understand the depths of His grace through the knowledge of who you already are in Christ. Let us not forget we have victory over death and sin through Christ (1Co 15:55-57)!
