Study 23 – Winners

Some Christians think that they are basically sinful.  “We’re like onions”, they say, “We’re clothed in Christ’s righteousness but if you peel off the layers, you eventually find a rotten sinner”.

In fact, quite the opposite is true.  People who are born again are new creations, created in Christ Jesus for good works (2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:10).  The Bible calls us “saints” (which means “holy ones”, not “sinners”).  No matter how many layers you peel off, you will ultimately discover a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek 36:26).

John says, “No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning….”  (1 John 3:9).  Indeed, John’s reason for writing the letter was “so that you may not sin” (1 John 2:1).

Am I teaching sinless perfection?  No.

I am saying that sin is out of character for the Christian.

John expected Christians not to continually sin, or be sin’s slave; then he added, “But if anybody does sin…” meaning, “If anyone is foolish enough to sin…” If we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). 

Imagine a large building with great steps leading up to the magnificent front door over which are the words, That you may not sin.

At the back of this beautiful building is a fire escape over which is written, But if anybody does sin.

Normally we should walk in and out of the front door.

Sometimes, however, sadly we do sin.  Then we use the “fire escape”, confess our sin and find immediate forgiveness from God.

The tragedy occurs when Christians simply regard themselves as essentially sinners rather than saints and think that the normal way in and out is via the fire escape.

That is not the gospel.  The bible says that “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37), and “sin shall not be master over you” (Rom 6:14).

Christian, you are not a grasshopper; you’re a conqueror; not a sinner but a winner!

Get rid of all grasshopper thinking.  It is inappropriate for those to whom God “gives…the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).

To Meditate On

JESUS WANTS YOU TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO HIS KINGDOM.

“The righteous are as bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1)

“But my righteous one will live by faith.  And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”  But we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved”
(Heb. 10:38, 39).

Food For Thought

READ Numbers 13:26-33.  When they returned from exploring Canaan, what did ten of the spies say about the people?  The land?  Themselves?

READ Numbers 14:1-9).  What did Joshua and Caleb say about:  the people?  The land?  Themselves?

READ Numbers 14:33-38.  What happened to:  the nation?  The ten spies?  Joshua and Caleb?

Be Inspired

The strength for our conquering and our victory is drawn continually from Christ.  The Bible does not teach that sin is completely eradicated from the Christian in this life, but it does teach that sin shall no longer reign over you.  The strength and power of sin have been broken.

The Christian now has resources available to live above and beyond this world (2 Pet 1:3-4).  The Bible teaches that whosoever is born of God does not practice sin

To Consider

Read 1 Cor 10:13.  Is any temptation so powerful that you cannot help yielding to it?

Read 1 Cor 6:12.  If Paul says “I will not be mastered by anything”, should you allow anything to master you?

To Do

Read Hebrews 10:19-25.

What has Jesus done for us?

What must we do?