Yancey Arrington » Gospel Sanctification Sin

Everyone knows we are in a fight with sin. Everyone understands what it’s like to get in the cage with a sin that “owns” you and find yourself face down on the mat, time and time again. There is no question sin is a very tough and incredibly strong opponent. But did you know the gospel liberates believers in Christ from the power of sin? Do you realize that sin does not have to be your master anymore?

Sin Doesn’t Own You Anymore

In the past we did sin’s bidding no matter what, but as a follower of Jesus, sin does not own us any longer. This is the gospel’s beautiful work in us through Christ, of which the great hymn Rock of Ages proclaims:

Be of sin the double cure,
cleanse me from its guilt and power.

It is also why the gospel is critically important in trying to defeat any sin we struggle with in life. Christ’s work on the cross is not only significant for those who are seeking Jesus, but also those who have found and are trying to follow him.

The Gospel Isn’t Elementary

Unfortunately, many promote the idea that while the unbeliever needs to receive the work of Jesus on the cross (i.e., the gospel), what one needs most after conversion are the spiritual disciplines of discipleship. The gospel was elementary, now it’s time to “do the disciplines” and employ other means in order to grow spiritually. Now, are the spiritual disciplines bad? Not at all! Indeed, they are critical to fighting sin and growing in Christ! There is, however, something that should precede them and give them their rightful context: the gospel.

You Can Defeat Sin with the Gospel

The gospel is not only what we need most before coming to Christ—it is what we need most after coming to Christ! Romans 6 teaches us that at the cross Jesus freed us from the penalty and power of sin. That means we have not been defeated by sin! On the contrary, the gospel makes it possible for us to win against any sin we face.

The gospel is not only what we need most before  coming to Christ—it is what we need most after  coming to Christ!

Think about that one sin which owns you—the one to which you easily and repeatedly submit. The gospel says not only do you not have to listen to its soul-shrinking temptations, but you can actually defeat it. You can tap it out in the cage of your life more often than it does you! That is the gospel’s glorious work when it comes to fighting our sin. It is the essential belief we must have in the forefront of our mind!

Belief Before Behavior

Thus, defeating sin is not first about doing things but believing truths—belief before behavior. We must grasp this! Without it we will not have lasting victory over the sins that pin us to the mat. We must believe and trust in what God has done through Jesus at the cross before we attempt any behavior to try to grow in holiness. For all who desire to tap out sin well, it is necessary to begin with the “double cure” of the gospel. The key is belief before behavior.

 

You can learn more about fighting sin well in Yancey Arrington’s new book Tap: Defeating The Sins That Defeats You.

 

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