Dear Brothers and Sisters, peace be with you! Previously, we mentioned that people are sinners. From history, we have already committed sin, fallen short of the glory of God and failed to attain His standard. Therefore, everyone is a sinner. There is no exception. Dear Brothers and Sisters, since this is the truth, how do we solve the issue of sin today? Sin has resulted in numerous tragedies, affected our interpersonal relationship with others and caused our relationship with God to break down. We look down on ourselves, feel inferior and cannot accept ourselves as we have sinned. On the contrary, we need to face the reality that we are sinners honestly and then, take a further step to be cleansed of our sins.

First of all, we see that most people in the world do good, commit acts of merit, meditate, set free captured animals, become vegetarian, refrain from killing and others to redeem themselves from sin. However, the Bible clearly tells us that all these are futile. It is because no matter how I redeem myself, I am still a sinner. Our past sins will not disappear because of our good works today. Talk about doing good, it is what we should do as we possess the image of God. It is our responsibility to do good. However, people do good to solve the issue of their own sin so that they can enter heaven for eternity. This is not the viable way.

The Bible tells us that breaking the laws of God is a sin. No matter how we do good, we will still break the laws of God and not reach His perfection. If you are a good person, I will call you a good sinner but you are still a sinner. You say, “I do not commit any terribly evil thing but only commit a small evil.” Then, you are the ‘small’ sinner. Regardless of whether you are a great sinner, a small sinner, a good sinner or an evil sinner, we are all sinners. Therefore, doing good works, religious acts or even the acts of evasion cannot solve the issue of sin that has resulted in curses.

The way to deal with sin in the Bible. On the contrary, if we look at Hebrews 9:22 from the ESV Bible: “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”, the Bible has provided another way, that is, through the shedding of the blood. Whose blood was shed? John 1:29 from the ESV Bible tells us: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The lamb of God is the beloved Son of God. Ephesians 1:7 from the ESV Bible tells us: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” This means that we are redeemed through the blood that Jesus Christ has shed on the cross. There is life in the blood and only the blood that gives life can redeem lives. Only His precious blood can cleanse us from our sins.

Therefore, Romans 3:27 - 28 from the ESV Bible tells us: “Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” The Bible clearly tells us that we should believe in Jesus Christ and give our sins to Him. Jesus wants to forgive our sins as He has borne our sins and accomplished the great work of redemption on the cross.

How to have victory over sin as a Christian? When we believe in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. Therefore, we are a new creation and become a Christian. How do we, then, take a further step to look at our lives and the sins that surface from time to time?

We need to confess that sin is a reality. Sin is an omnipresent force that slips through any hole. Even the Christians find it difficult to evade its effects. How do we deal with sin? The Old Testament mentioned a righteous man called Joseph. He was greatly tempted. Even his master’s wife tempted him and wanted to sleep with him. However, Joseph trod the path of wisdom. How did he deal with the sin?

Firstly, he was clear about his own identity. He said to his master’s wife: “How can I sleep with you? How can I sin against God? My master has entrusted all things to me except you! How can I commit such an act and sin against my master and God?”

God, whom Joseph believed in, was the focus of his life; the Lord is God. How could I commit a great evil and sin against Him? However, his master’s wife continued to pester him and catch him by the garment to pull it off. At that moment, Joseph escaped immediately. There is no sense of reasoning and logic in sin. Despite knowing the evil of wars, the world is still full of wars; we also know that gambling is not good, but people still gamble in the casinos till they are bankrupt. However, Joseph dealt with sin very wisely. From a positive point of view, his strength came from his belief in God. It had enabled him not to sin against God. From a passive point of view, he avoided sin and escaped from it. He was reluctant to have a direct confrontation with sin so he evaded it. His master’s wife caught him and yet, he escaped.

Just like what 1 Corinthians in the Bible tells us: “You must avoid adultery.” We must avoid adultery and should not negotiate or haggle with it. It is because the Bible tells us: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you? How can you defile your body?” Therefore, as Christians, when we believe in Jesus Christ, we have to be cautious and clearly know that there is a God above us in heaven. We must not let Him down. As for others, I must not let her husband, his wife, son, daughter and parents down. How can I do such a thing to sin against them?

On the other hand, we should not let ourselves down. Our bodies are clean, redeemed by God. How can I defile them? Let us remind ourselves of David’s adultery as an example. I need to guard my soul and eyes lest I sin. If sin creeps into our souls and gains a foothold, gradually it will result in terrible actions. James 1:14-15: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This means that the desire in us will grow gradually, start to keep us in bondage and finally, we commit sin unknowingly. That is evil, that is committing sin.

On the contrary, if the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and keeps them clean and holy, we will not sin. Like a Chinese saying. “Wild grasses will not grow in our hearts and yet flowers will open freely in the garden.” Don’t let wild weeds or wild grasses of desires grow in our hearts. In this way, we will not sin. Then, we will truly be people of freedom.

David sinned because he had nothing to do and slept till the sun was setting in the west. Not only that, he was walking to and fro on the roof and saw Uriah’s wife bathing. As a result, he looked at her with eyes of lust. The more he looked at her, the more he relished it. Finally, he used his own authority, summoned her into his bedroom and slept with her. This was the desire of the heart. A life of material comfort led to sexual desire. A step further, it was the lust of the eyes. Another step forward, he used the authority that he should not use to summon the woman and commit a sin. So are our lives. If we desire excessively, it will implicate our souls. It will become a great force to control us and we will most likely sin.

How can Christians conquer sin?

Thirdly, as Christians, how can we conquer sin? Other than what we have discussed above, a more important point is to obey the Holy Spirit. When we believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in the innermost being of our souls. Our master is the Holy Spirit who talks with us in our inner recesses and is in control of us. When we have evil desires, He will remind us. Then, we have to respond to Him and obey Him.

Romans 8:5-6 from the ESV Bible tells us, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Thus, Paul said further in Galatians 5: 16-21, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Therefore, we believe in Jesus Christ now and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We obey the Holy Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit. What comprises this fruit? The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22). What is its meaning? If the laws do not restrict it, there is freedom. It surpasses the laws and comes from our inner lives. It is not produced out of compulsion or created from outside. It is also not produced as a result of enforced religious rules. On the contrary, when we obey the Holy Spirit, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Like a tree, if it is of a good breed, naturally it will bear fruits of good quality which are fragrant, sweet and good.

In the same way, today, we rely on the Holy Spirit and do not sin. In addition, we depend on the Holy Spirit to have victory over sin. On the contrary, if we yield to the desires of the flesh as in Adam and heed our desires, we will sin! It is because sin is a kind of power. It is like a hegemonic king which constantly directs us, controls us and enslaves us. That is very painful. Thus, are we willing to give our sins to Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive us? Are we willing to sincerely come before Jesus Christ and trust in Him, asking Him to cleanse us of our filthiness so that we can commit ourselves to obey the Holy Spirit, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in us and rely on the Holy Spirit to live holy lives? This is what God wants to give you and me. Let us live the Christian lives that are victorious, holy, joyful and peaceful. Amen.

Let us pray together.

Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty God, we thank you. We have forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. Our lives are transformed and we are reborn through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. You have placed the Holy Spirit in us and enabled us to be redeemed by your grace. Thus, we can submit to the Holy Spirit and not yield to the desires of the flesh. Lord, provide us with the strength so that we can say “No” to the power of the flesh. May we always be sensitive to the touch and guidance of the Holy Spirit, saying to the Holy Spirit: “Yes, I am willing to submit to You.” Regarding God’s help and leading in our lives, we also say: “Yes, Lord, help us.” As for the Holy Spirit, that lives in the innermost being of us, may we hear your voice and obey you so that we can bear the fruit of the Spirit all our lives and have peace and joy. We pray this in the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

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