For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [1]
What do we really believe about the implications of sin in our life? What do we really believe about the possibility that God, through faith in Christ, brings freedom from sin and freedom for right living?
In my experience we have an aspirational understanding that our faith in Christ does matter when it comes to sin. We do, theoretically, have power over sin through Christ. But, pragmatically, we live with sin as real and present with no timeline of its end except in death or the return of Christ. Often our energy is, therefore, spent on sin management. Finding tips, tricks, and tools to keep sinful activity at bay, or at least out of the public eye! We may even beat ourselves up and believe what Chrysostom said, “How is it that sin can reign in you? It is not from any power of its own but only from your laziness.”[2] Ouch!
But what if I told you there is more to that story? That your aspirational understanding of sin as something God can take away is a real possibility? That we can have freedom from sin and a freedom to righteousness?
First of all, a theology of ‘no’ is unsustainable. It will eventually wear us and others out. Avoidance of sin, or sin management, is not the Gospel message. I am not here to tell you that you are lazy. This is not a try harder sermon! I am also not here telling you to just do it. This is not a tolerance sermon! There are some practical steps that you can do to NOT put yourself into situations of temptation. Don’t buy cookies if you are trying to avoid sugar in your diet! Don’t go to a bar if you are trying to not drink! But, these aren’t the gospel reality. They are simply a gift of common sense. God offers so much more than common sense and our limited will power!
What the Apostle Paul encourages us to do in Romans 5 is first, cut evil off (eg. use your common sense) AND second, yield to God.
Check out the full sermon below for practical ways to make yielding to God a part of our life.
[1] Romans 6:23 from The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print.
[2] Chrysostom’s Homilies on Romans.
todd nelson 