If you haven’t realized it by now, sin is destructive. It can destroy families, hopes, dreams, and people’s lives. Thankfully, as a Christian, you don’t have to be a prisoner to sin. So how do we begin seeking freedom from sin?
Why Do We Need to Seek Freedom From Sin?
I think it is important to define what sin is before we go any further. In short, sin is disobedience. Anytime you think, say, or do something that is in disobedience to what God wants you to do, it is a sin. You can sin by what you do, known as the sin of commission. You can also sin by what you don’t do, known as the sin of omission. Regardless of the type of sin, an important step in defeating sin is recognizing the nature of sin and how it affects you. Allow me to share with you three aspects of sin.
1. Sin is deceptive. Sin always promises something it cannot fulfill. Many people give into sin because it promises pleasure and satisfaction. Others sin because they believe the sinful action is the best option at the time. Both groups are mistaken. While sin may produce pleasure and possibly a temporary escape, it cannot satisfy, and it never leads to positive results. Everything about sin is short-term and shortsighted, which is part of its deception.
2. Sin is progressive. Once the initial pleasure of sin wears off, there is often an emptiness that results. To fill that emptiness, people go progressively farther than before because what they did earlier does not satisfy them anymore. Taking another step deeper into sin may promise more pleasure or satisfaction, but again, it falls short. This is part of the deception and progression that traps people in sin.
3. Sin is addictive. By its nature, sin always has an addictive element. Perhaps the worst part of being trapped in sin is that long after the pleasure, you may desire to continue committing the sin. When this happens, it is a sign that you are trapped. I have heard many who don’t like what they are doing, yet they still do it. This is the addictive nature we must watch out for.
Don’t Christians Already Have Freedom from Sin?
Let’s begin with the good—no, great—news. In Christ, the power of sin over your life has been broken. You are no longer under the curse of sin, and the eternal punishment for sin no longer binds you. That is a reason to rejoice. As Paul puts it:
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)
While the verse is true, it challenges us to face another truth. If we are no longer slaves to sin, why do so many Christians still wrestle with sinful behavior patterns?
We are free from sin but still live in a sinful world. We are in the “already-not-yet” phase of God’s kingdom, waiting for Jesus’ perfect kingdom and the fully realized freedom to be fully realized. Until then, various kinds of sinful behavior will affect our lives, with family history and other factors making things still more complicated. Yet we know we are free from sin as believers and can pursue freedom from sinful patterns.
So, how do we step out of sinful behavior patterns and experience the freedom we already have in Christ?
You must take some practical steps—and as we’ll see, you don’t have to follow these steps alone. If you wrestle with sin, know that it is possible to find freedom. Christ died to set you free from sin. Now is the time to begin walking in that freedom.
Where Does the Journey to Freedom from Sin Begin?
Regardless of where you are in your relationship with sin, all hope is not lost. You can find freedom from sin, but there are some steps you must take to achieve that freedom.
1. Acknowledgment. Before you can find freedom from sin, you must realize you are living in sin. One of the best examples of this in the Bible is the parable of the prodigal son. After taking his inheritance and spending it all, he finally reached a point where he acknowledged where he was.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.’” (Luke 15:17-18)
Nothing changed in this son’s life until he first considered how he was living. Sometimes, you may have to hit rock bottom to realize the emptiness that sin is bringing into your life. It does not have to get that far, but it may be the thing that wakes you up, allows you to come to your senses, and makes you realize you must change.
2. Repentance. Acknowledgment is not enough. For freedom to occur, there must be repentance. Repentance means you change your direction. You are walking in one direction, and you choose to walk a different way. The truth is that some people acknowledge their sin, but they are not ready to turn from it. These people will not have freedom from sin because they are unwilling to let it go.
Part of the repentance process is confessing that you have sinned; the other part is looking at what steps need to be taken so you don’t repeat sinful actions or behaviors. This may mean removing some things from your life and possibly even some people from your life as well. However, it is good to know that you will find forgiveness with repentance and confession of sin.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
3. Accountability. When there is repentance, there should also be tangible actions that accompany it. Incorporating greater accountability into your life is one enormous step towards finding freedom from sin. Accountability is a two-step process. For it to work, you need to have people in your life willing to hold you accountable, and you must want to be held accountable.
The accountability process only works to the degree you will allow it to in your life. If you want freedom from sin, then you need to allow people into the areas of your life where sin has held you captive. You must also be open and honest about your struggles, temptations, and failures. This isn't easy, and it's why accountability only works to the degree you will allow it. That’s why you need people who can be completely honest with you and love you through your struggles. Your willingness to do this and stick to it will determine whether you will find the freedom from sin you desire.
How Do We Get Help Seeking Freedom from Sin?
The greatest source of strength you have in breaking free from the power of sin is the Holy Spirit. Even though he is present in your heart, it does not mean you won’t have fleshly or sinful impulses. You have a power within you that can help overcome them.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
Please pay attention to what this Galatians passage does not say. Paul does not say you won’t have desires of the flesh. He says you won’t fulfill them. That is the work of the Holy Spirit within you. This means you don’t find freedom from sin alone. You find this freedom when you walk in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. It does not mean the journey will be easy. It means you will have the power to endure along the way.
Why Is It Important We Seek Freedom from Sin Now?
If you are trapped in sin and want to be free from it, then don’t delay. Nothing good is going to result from staying in your sinful condition. Whether other people know or you feel like no one knows, God does. Because he loves you so much, he wants to release you from that prison of sin. I encourage you to find some people you trust and share where you are. God wants you to be free, and you probably want to be free. The good news is you can be.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
For a deeper look at seeking freedom from particular unhealthy patterns, read:
What Does the Bible Say about Addiction?
Should Christians Go to Therapy?
25 Bible Verses about Addiction
5 Reasons Why Christians Should Prayerfully Consider Therapy
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/Urupong
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.
This article is part of our larger resource library of Christian questions important to the Christian faith. From core beliefs to what the Bible says about angels, we want to provide easy to read and understand articles that answer your questions about Christian living.
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