Holiness matters. And the good news Is that believers are given joy to obey! God’s grace gives us right standing before God and that grace leads to obedience and transforms our hearts. Theologians call this process Sanctification.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We are called out of our sin and into holiness. Ephesians 4:25-32 tells us that we are called to be imitators of God, to forgive, walk in love, exercise wisdom and discernment and to expose sin. It tells us that fruits of the spirit are kindness, gentleness, and love.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Did you catch the one that says as followers of Jesus we are supposed to expose our sin and turn away from it? Matthew tells us that we can not serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So how do we kill sin?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So how do we kill sin?
1) Confess. Sin always grows best in the dark.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16
2) Repent. As John Owen once said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you”. Part of repentance means we are going to have to make changes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
Acts 3:19
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
3) Believe. Read Romans 8:9-11 below. If you are in Christ, you have all that you need to move on from that sin.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:9-11
4) With patience.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
5) Through community: We need others to encourage us, to lovingly point out our sin and to walk alongside us! (Psalm 133:1, Romans 12:4-5).⠀⠀
The love of Christ will have to be the spring from which your holiness flows. This is the only way to have lasting obedience and true transformation. God, in Christ, loves you. He forgives you and is committed to working in and through you. Press on in your Sanctification, sweet sister in Christ. Do not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). He who began a good work in you will surely carry it through to completion! (Philippians 1:6)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀