Overcoming Sinful Habits

The last few posts have been about the Bible's plan for defeating sin in our lives. Briefly, here is how to put this into practice. To defeat sin a person must become aware of the sin that has to be put off. This involves not only knowing that something we do is wrong, but seeing the influence it has on our lives. We should accept that it is sin. We should make ourselves aware of how often we practice this sin and what circumstances trigger the sin.

We also must learn the Biblical alternative for the sin. We should study the Scripture and find what God wants us to put on. What good habit should replace the sin habit? We must make the Scripture a concrete part of our lives.

We also need to restructure our lives. If certain circumstances trigger a sin, then we should avoid those circumstances. If we associate certain things with a sin, then we should get rid of those things.

We must adjust our schedule so that we have time for what God wants us to do. We may need to change our priorities. We should remove everything in our lives that contribute to the sin and add those things that will promote what is godly.

To overcome a sinful habit, we also need to break the chain of sin. We can learn to prevent sin. It is common advice to someone with a bad temper to count to 10 before saying anything. That advice has to do with preventing sin. When dealing with a specific sin, we should learn what leads up to it. We can then deal with the situation before the sin occurs.

Failing to prevent the sin, we should learn how to quickly curtail its effects. We must quickly ask forgiveness and turn away from the sin.

We can also get the help of others. Someone close to us can be used to remind us of what we have said that we will do. We may arrange some signal that a person can give us to warn us that we are headed on the road to that sin. If we truly want to change then we will accept all the help that we can get.

There are two final elements to overcoming sin. We must look at our lives as a whole. Every area of our life affects other areas. We may need to make many changes if we are going to have victory over sin.

Finally, we need to start practicing the new behaviour. We need to put on the new habit by doing it. This should be done at the same time we are putting off the old habit. Slowly the new way will replace the old. We will have victory over the sin.

Putting Off and Putting On

The Bible presents a very simple plan for overcoming sinful habits. It speaks of putting off and putting on. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians presents this simple battle plan for defeating sin. He wrote, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'' (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Paul tells the members of the Church at Ephesus that they should be different now that they have been born again. They should stop doing the wicked things they used to do. They should put off their old sinful habits.

They are also to become new people. They are to replace their old sinful habits with new godly habits. It is almost impossible just to stop doing wrong. We may stop for a time but eventually we will fall back into our old ways. We must not only stop doing wrong; we must also start doing what is right. We must replace the bad with the good if we want to have a lasting victory. This is the advice that Paul gave.

Back in Ephesians Paul continues his discussion by giving examples of putting off and putting on. He wrote, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.'' (Ephesians 4:25-28)

Paul says that a liar should not only stop lying but also should force himself to constantly tell the truth. A person who gets angry should learn to deal with his anger immediately and not harbor grudges. A person who steals should not only stop stealing but should start working and then give some of what he earns to the needy!

Repentance

When sin gains a victory in our lives, we should deal with it quickly. The first step is repentance. Repentance means to change direction or to change our mind. The idea is that we stop following sin and that we turn to God and approach Him.

Sinful habits have a powerful influence over people. To defeat them requires a purposeful choice and a totally new view of them. We must learn to hate sin as God hates it. We need to realize that sin will destroy us. Sin will rob us of joy, peace and happiness. Sin leads only to death and destruction. God wants us to turn away from sin because sin is harmful. God wants what is best for us. He wants us to enjoy a full and abundant life.

When we repent and confess our sin before God, we can obtain forgiveness. The Apostle John wrote, "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 cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'' (1 John 1:8,9)

Now it is essential that we understand that confession and forgiveness are centred in Jesus Christ. We can only obtain forgiveness of sin from God because Jesus died for us. We must approach God in repentance through Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.'' (John 14:6)

Consider also the words of 1 John 2:2, "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.''

The prophet Isaiah links the suffering of the Christ with forgiveness of sin. He wrote, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.'' (Isaiah 53:5)

In Jesus Christ, God offers not only forgiveness of individual sins, but complete forgiveness for being sinful! Through Faith in Jesus Christ alone, God offers complete forgiveness and a home with Him for eternity.

When a Christian sins, he needs to confess that sin to God. Sin will not keep a Christian from heaven. Once a person places his Faith in Jesus, he is eternally secure in Him.

However, sin will disturb a person's relationship with God. It will hinder prayers. The Holy Spirit will convict and make a Christian feel miserable. A person will suffer because of sin. So we should confess our sin and ask God to help us to overcome it.