How Can I Stop Committing Sin?
The Bible states, “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Man has an inherited weakness in keeping the law. When he tries to stop sin by his own strength, he loses his joy of salvation and set himself up for repeated failures. Sadly, he labors under a terrible burden. He feels pressured to do something to secure salvation, but, at the same time, his sinful nature renders him unable to obey the law.
The more he focuses on keeping the law, the more his sinful nature rebels. The more his sin nature rebels, the more frightened and joyless he becomes. Paul describe this condition: “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” (Romans 7:15).
God Gives Victory
Praise the Lord! For He provided all the grace necessary to overcome sin. God gave us the law so that we would be aware of our sin and turn to Him for help, power and strength (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:23-26). While the law is good because it is a reflection of God’s nature and His perfection, it can never save us. It is Christ who fulfills the law in us (Matthew 5:17).
The only way to break the cycle and stop sinning is to have a daily relationship with God and rejoice in the power of His love that was shown in the Cross (John 3:16). The role of the believer is to abide in Christ, that He may do the work of transformation. Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).
Through the daily study of the Scriptures and prayer, the believer can have a constant connection with God, who will enable the believer to have full victory over every weakness and sin. Then, the joy of salvation comes from accepting the fact that God’s grace is really sufficient and very effective in transforming our evil nature into good nature. God can certainly change us and conform us to the image of Christ, and that it is His work, not ours (Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:20-21).
Once this reality is truly grasped, sin loses its power. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). If the devil can make us sin, then God can certainly make us not sin. The good works, God accomplishes through us, are done because of love and joy rather than out of fear “For the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
God promises, “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).
Thus, the restoration of a believer to favor with God and to his initial state of perfection and liberty from all the consequences of sin, is done by the mighty power of God working through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25). For this victory over the power of the enemy, the saved will give thanks and glory to God throughout eternity (Revelation 5:11–13; 15:3, 4; 19:5, 6).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
