We are born and everything looks so promising, bright and cheery. New baby, new life, new hope, new plans, new outlook, nothing but happiness. Soon after, the reality of our situation starts to take hold. All around us we see suffering, sickness, anger and hatred. Everywhere we see broken glass, broken promises, broken hearts, broken dreams, and broken people.
What's funny, we see broken people condemning other broken people. We look in the mirror, and the mirror is broken. We look left and right, and all we see is broken. The question is, why are we broken?
"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." Romans 5:12 NIV.
Sin came into the world, which indicates that it was not always here. God created all things, and all was not just good, but very good. (Gen 1:31). Sin came into the world (Gen.3) and brought death with it, twin partners, running buddies, sin and death, and infected us all.
because of sin, Cain slew his brother Able (Gen.4). Because of sin, God sent the deluge to cleanse the earth (Gen.6). Because of sin, God sent his son, that we might be saved from sin (John 3:16).
The Virus of Sin Within Us
"For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come - sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these come from inside and defile a person" (Mark 7:21-23).
We spend a lot of time trying to fix up the outside. We eat right, exercise, do good things, wear nice clothes, get a good education, live in nice areas, try to be helpful to others, but sin corrupts from the inside. All that defiles us is on the inside, large or small, it is all on equal footing, all sinful. We at times try to rank sin, or compare our sinfulness with others. What is the worse sin to you? How do you rank sin? We don't really grasp it, we just see its manifestation in the world and in ourselves.
Sometimes we turn to the law to find out what to do, and try to do good. Like Spike Lee, we try to "Do The Right Thing." We follow all the rules, but inside we all still struggle. "The Law of Moses was unable to save us because of the wickedness of our sinful nature. So God did what the Law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in the Body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins" (Romans 8:3 NLT). While the law points to sin, it is not the antidote to sin. The antidote is the life saving, unconditionally loving, sacrifice of our Lord and savior, Christ the Lord.
Sin and death walked in, hand in hand, but God sent His Son, and sin and death had to step back. Sin and death walked in, but God sent His Son and said "death where is your sting" (I Cor. 15:55)? Sin and death walked in, but God said, "My Grace is sufficient" (2 Cor. 12:9).
The Antidote
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature. The old has passed away, behold the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV). The moment we believe and accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are born again and receive a new nature, a new spirit. The spirit of sin has no more hold on us, the Spirit of God fills us, and we are covered with Christ's righteousness. (2 Cor.5:19). "But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom.5:8 NIV).
Your salvation is assured by Faith in Christ. However, the virus of sin is persistent. While Christ has made a way for us, sin wars within us. It won't give up its throne easily. You want to do what is right and good and holy, but there are times when you don't do what you should do, but what you know you should not do. "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions" (Gal.5:17 NLT).
It is in the mind that sin wars with us. While Christ has covered us with His righteousness, the battle for his allegiance continues. As faithful believers we need to hold fast to what you have until He comes. (Rev.2:25).
Don't Despair
When you feel unworthy, don't despair, He is worthy. His love is unconditional. His love makes us whole again. Don't despair, when the battle rages in our spirit, we have an advocate that sits at the right hand of God, (Mark 14:62), and this advocate has never lost a case.
While Christ has made a way for us, we have to live in His Spirit. We have to starve the old spirit by spending time in prayer, personal and corporate worship. Create an atmosphere of worship where ever you go. "Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy" (Eph. 4:22-24).
We are broken no more. Chris has made you whole again. Sin has no power over you, sin is defeated at the cross. His broken body, is healing for our sin sick soul. His broken body is grace, His unmerited favor that He so lovingly bestows to us. His broken body is our salvation. We are not defeated by sin, we are victorious in Jesus Christ.
Photo by Ismael Sanchez from Pexels
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