How Christians Can Defeat Sin
First Realize That Christians Can Sin
To defeat sin, first realize that christians can sin. Then rejoice that when anyone is saved with Jesus repenting and deciding to stop sinning, the blood of Jesus will cleanse away all sin and make that person white as snow. 1 John 1:7-10 speaking to christians tells us that christians can sin. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. Right now defeat sin. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.
All people have two choices after they sin. Lost people without Jesus can by just good works choose to pay for their sins forever in the lake of fire and never be forgiven. Or lost people can choose to believe in Jesus where Jesus will redeem and pay for their sins with His own blood and forgive them forever with eternal peace.
Without Jesus under the law, Job 10:14 says If I sin, then thou (Lord Jesus) markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. But with Jesus according to Hebrews 10:17 Jesus tells us And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Some people say that christians can not sin according to 1 John 5:18 that says We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. Note that this is saying that a christian's soul and spirit can not sin after salvation. But a christian's body and flesh can sin after salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says that everyone has a body, soul, and spirit. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At salvation, a person's soul and spirit are redeemed and no longer sin. But at salvation, a person's body can keep sinning (lost as a golf ball in high weeds) and will not be redeemed until the rapture when Jesus appears in the air. Romans 8:23 says that christians groan within themselves, waiting (until the rapture) for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of their bodies. After the rapture christians will receive glorified bodies that will no longer sin.
Philippians 3:20 says For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body (during the rapture when the Lord Jesus appears to His saved saints in the air), that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
The apostle Paul explained that the flesh that can sin wars against the soul and spirit of christians. Even Paul the greatest christian that lived admitted that his body could sin. Paul said at Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. Paul went on to say at Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Stop Feeling Guilty Because Of Past Sins
Realize That Sin After Salvation Will Not Remove Your Salvation
Once Saved Always Saved
Many christians believe that when a saved person sins that they lose their salvation. After salvation sin will not cause a christian to lose his salvation. Once saved always saved. We are not saved by our good works and constantly trying to regain salvation after we sin. We are saved by faith in Jesus alone. Ephesians 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Good works don't save. Only faith in Jesus saves. And Titus 3:5 says Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He (Jesus) saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 2 Timothy 1:9 says Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Now I'm not giving christians permission to sin. If you are a christian and you sin, you won't lose your salvation, but you will suffer trouble and might even die when you keep sinning without repenting. Romans 6:1 says What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? And Romans 13:14 says But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. In other words daily deny your flesh and try to stop sinning. Remember Philippians 3:12 tells us to deny sin daily and strive for perfection. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend (take hold of) that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
But remember good works don't save. If you got to heaven and boasted that your good works saved you, you would not need Jesus to die for you on the cross and save you. Galatians 2:21 says I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. It's wrong to tell a drunk, if drinking causes you to be lost, then to quit drinking would cause you to be saved. Instead tell a drunk the truth. A person is lost because they don't believe in Jesus Christ. Therefore to get saved that person must believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus said at John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. And Acts 4:12 says Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Trying to save yourself by good works after every sin is a works salvation that does not save. These people trying to get saved without Jesus by good works incorrectly say "If living wrong takes you to hell, then living right will take you to heaven." No living right by good works without Jesus will take people to hell. The only way to get saved is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ without the merits of the flesh.
You do good works after salvation to let others see Jesus glorified in you. After salvation, your good works will be rewarded after the rapture at the bema judgment seat. I would not work my soul to save for this my Lord has done, but I would work like any slave for love of His dear Son. You don't work to be saved. You work because you are saved. Little Johnny could be a good boy and go to hell without Jesus. But little Bobby could be a bad boy and go to heaven with Jesus after a one time repentance.
Take time to read the following scriptures that promise eternal security and once saved always saved. John 6:37 says All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (after salvation God will not cast out a christian when he sins). Jesus said at John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
In other words I might look like a rooster but I ain't ever been plucked out of God's hand and lost my salvation. I'm not holding God's hand where I can lose my salvation. Jesus' nail scarred hand is reaching down and holding my hand forever with the promise that Jesus gives me eternal life that can not be lost. And I can't jump out of God's hand because I'm in Christ married to Jesus and bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh (the bride of Christ). Romans 12:5 says that we are in Christ as His bride. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Peter 1:5 says that we are kept by the power of God (not our own power and good works) through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This gives us confidence to know that we have a secure salvation sealed unto the day of redemption by Jesus. After salvation God will give a person a witness to know that they are saved. This is promised by 1 John 5:13 that says These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
In other words if someone doesn't know that they are saved, they probably are not saved. After salvation you'll get a witness and know that you are saved with eternal life. The Holy Spirit that anyone receives at salvation is like the wind. You can't see the wind but you can feel the wind and get a witness of your salvation and the presence of the Holy Spirit living in you.
Here are some more scriptures that proclaim once saved always saved. 2 Timothy 1:12 says For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He (Jesus and not ourselves with good works) is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. Ephesians 4:30 says And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed (preserved for security from satan) unto the day of redemption.
The day of redemption is the day of the rapture because our bodies don't get redeemed and glorified until the day of the rapture. A christian's soul and spirit get redeemed on the day of a christian's salvation. But a christian's body will not get redeemed until the day of the rapture. Therefore we are sealed and can't lose our salvation unto the day of redemption or the day of the rapture when christians receive glorified bodies with eternal life.
Romans 8:23 says And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Philippians 3:20 says that christians' bodies will become glorified and redeemed on the day of the rapture. For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (who will appear on the day of redemption or the day of the rapture). Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Realize That Sin Removes The Joy Of Salvation
Also Realize That Sin Removes Fellowship With God
To defeat sin, next realize that sin will remove the joy of salvation. After David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah the Hittite, David lost the joy of God's salvation. This is why David prayed at Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy (God's not his by good works) salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Like David, don't allow sin (bitterness and unforgiveness) to remove God's joy of salvation. Nehemiah 8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is your strength.
And to defeat sin, realize that sin removes fellowship with God. Psalm 66:18 says If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Therefore every time you are tempted by the devil to sin, deny the sin so God can hear and grant all your prayer requests. The way to deny sin and get blessed is to stay in God's Word, pray, and attend your local church.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Realize That Sin Can Ruin Your Testimony
To defeat sin, next realize that sin can ruin your testimony. God will forget our sins after repentance but unfortunately most people will remember our sins. We forget what we ought to remember and remember what we ought to forget. Most people read 3 bible verses and forget them after 3 minutes. But most people will remember a preacher's one small sin for 50 years.
Solomon warned us to avoid small sins that could ruin your testimony. Ecclesiastes 10:1 says Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. Song of Solomon 2:15 says Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. In other words sin can stop a person from witnessing for Jesus and ruin that person's testimony where people will not have the knowledge of God and get saved. Remember daily deny sin. Don't waste time sinning. Instead witness Jesus everywhere and win souls for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember after salvation it's wrong to say I'm saved and I can sin and do what I want. After salvation God owns you and you need to live for Jesus to have joy and peace. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price (Jesus' blood): therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Don't make excuses for your sin. Don't cover or hide your sins. Repent and confess your sins to God and receive forgiveness. And then forsake and stop sinning to receive God's mercy. Proverbs 28:13 says He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Remember a fault denied is twice committed. Be like David at Psalm 51:4 and admit that you are a sinner to God. Tell God Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Realize That Sin Will Remove Rewards In Heaven
Realize That Sin Will Remove The Millennial Inheritance
To defeat sin, next realize that sin will remove rewards in heaven. After the rapture, all christians must appear before the bema judgment seat of Jesus Christ. This is a judgment about service and not a judgment about sin that occurs later at the great white throne judgment. Christians who won't lose their salvation will either receive a reward for their good works or suffer loss because they sinned and failed to live for Jesus. 2 John 8 says Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2 Corinthians 5:10 talks about the bema judgment seat saying For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And 1 Corinthians 3:13 says Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Sin also can remove a christian's millennial inheritance. According to Luke 19:12-27 christians that were faithful with pounds from Jesus, were blessed to rule over cities in the millennium. Therefore if you are faithful to Jesus and deny sin with good works, Jesus will bless you during the millennium to be a mayor or governor over a city. 2 Timothy 2:11 says It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He will also deny us: If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself. If you suffer with Jesus on earth, you will rule with Jesus during the thousand year millennium.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Realize That Sin Causes Sickness And Death
To defeat sin, realize that sin causes sickness and death. Romans 8:13 warns us For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. A christian that committed fornication with his father's wife died but was saved. 1 Corinthians 5:5 tells us that this christian was delivered to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. If christians keep on sinning when they know that they are doing wrong, God can take them home to heaven quickly before they can finish their blessed work for Jesus on this earth. Don't sin and avoid sickness and death by staying in the Word, praying, and attending your local church.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Remember God Will Chastise And Correct
Christians For Sinning
Remember that after a christian sins, God will wake them up to defeat sin by chastising and correcting them like a kind Father. After a christian sins, God chastens and corrects them because He loves them and wants them to stop sinning. A witness that you are saved is when God chastises you after you sin. Hebrews 12:8 says But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers (in other words all saved people get chastened after they sin), then are ye bastards, and not sons. It's a blessing to be chastised by God and corrected by the Word of God to avoid sin, trouble, and death.
Brother Bob had a bad attitude around people on a crowded bus after a day of work. Brother Bob would ignore people on the crowded bus with wrong thoughts about rude people because he was tired. Jesus chastised Brother Bob and told him to love all rude unloveable people on the crowded bus even when Brother Bob was tired. I remember reading 1 John 3:15 that says Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Jesus told Brother Bob to hate no one and love all people (even rude unloveable people on crowded buses).
I rejoiced when Jesus chastised Brother Bob with 1 John 3:15, and I determined to love and be kind to all people on the crowded bus irregardless of my tiredness. The result was that every day all the people on the crowded bus said Brother Bob what is the Word for today and Brother Bob led many people on that crowded bus to salvation with Jesus. Our worst enemy outside of the devil is ourselves. Train your flesh to love all people and it will get easier to live for Jesus. If you are friendly and kind, people will be friendly and kind to you. If you are mean and complain, people will be mean and complain about you. Remember Brother Bob's advice for success: Avoid angry people and forgive forever. Love the hell out of people.
Unfortunately there are some people you must stay away from. When anyone is angry, violent, and has cops around them, pray for this person but stay away from them. Always forgive them, but wait until they calm down and are peaceful to approach them. Proverbs 22:24 says Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.
And when someone rejects you and tells you that they blocked your phone number or threatens to call the police on you, stay away from this person but continue to pray for them, willing to always forgive them anytime. Jesus said at Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
How Christians Can Defeat Sin
Start Over and Forget Your Past Sins
Washed Away Forever By The Blood Of Jesus
To defeat sin, start over and forget your past sins washed away forever by the blood of Jesus. Remember God forgives you so forgive yourself and start living again for Jesus. Right now say this blessed quote from Carl Bard: Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Determine today that you will start your life over new with Jesus with no guilt because your sins are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Make a decision to obey Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin 2233 Pinetree Lane Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.