BEING AN OVERCOMER OF SIN

The question of whether we can overcome sin is one that seems to cause a bit of uneasiness even for many devote Adventists.  Ask a group of regular church-going Adventists if any think it is possible to quit sinning and I’m going to guess the majority will say no and they even have a Bible verse to back up the notation that we have no choice “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23.

The fact is, that no, we cannot.  However, if we really pay attention to the new testament, we see over and over it is filled with texts that talk about overcoming sin, that “our body of sin is done away with” (Rom 6:6), “we should no longer be slaves to sin” (v. 7), “whoever is born of God does not sin” (I John 3:9), and there are many more.  So, why does the Bible repeatedly say God’s children do not sin?

In fact, let’s go take a deeper look at the verse used by too many to make it seem as if we can’t help but sin and keep on sinning, here is Romans 3:21-26 (CEV):

²¹Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses.²²God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. ²³All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. ²⁴But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. ^25-26God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life's blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus. 

When read in the full context, this is no excuse to keep on sinning but rather a promise that by our faith, we can become partakers in Christ’s forgiveness and that God has provided a way for us to get past the sin problem.  It brings us to a study of justification and sanctification.

Justification is to be made right, to be brought whole, or to have settled a score.  If someone commits a crime, they are taken to court and the verdict is given and “justice is served”, meaning the harmed person has been given reconciliation for the harm done them.  If we apply this idea to our lives then we can look to the cross and see how the victory over death by Christ justifies us for we are made whole again by His having overcome death for us.  Death is the result of sin and we are all sinners.  We need to be reconciled or made whole in order to obtain eternal life and thus win the victory, the verdict in our favor, over sin and death.  This is a one step process which we receive by accepting, thru faith, the gift of Calvary.  The symbol of our acceptance is baptism.

When we feel God working in our life to the point we want to consecrate our life to Him, we are baptized as a symbol.  We are baptized into Christ’s death and His resurrection as a symbol of joining His victory at the cross and the grave.  Romans 6:4 tell us that “we are buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.”  If you keep reading, there is more “we shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (v. 6) and “he who has died has been freed from sin” (v 7). 

Here is proof that we should not continue to dwell in sin.  Why would we wish to go backwards when we are on a path to glory and eternity?  Paul puts in well, “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Phil 3:13).  He continues the idea in Col 3:1-2 by saying that if we are raised with Christ then we are to seek those things above rather than the things of this earth.

Here is the crux of the problem for so many Christians, we allow ourselves to be distracted by the things here on this earth or we dwell in our past rather than revel in our future.  The things of this earth are tangible, we experience them here and now and for many, that is easier than to focus on the intangible we experience here on earth when we fully surrender our heart, minds, body, and life to Christ.  Paul lends some excellent perspective on this in 2 Cor 4:18 “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”.  Where is your focus?

There is also a danger of using the wrong type of justification, one where we justify repeating the same sin, feeling sorry and asking forgiveness, and then telling ourselves that God will forgive us if we mess up again.  To not acknowledge the power of God to also take away the temptation which we are assured He can, "then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment" 2 Peter 2:9.  It is a dangerous thing to deny God's full power, to not fully accept the gift given in love.


Now let's get to the heart of why we should even ponder this notion of becoming sinless.  Simply put, we won't be among the saved if we don't.  When Christ comes again, His rewards are with Him "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." Rev 22:12.  This means that they have already been decided, prior to the second coming.  Continuing to verse 14 we read "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." We see clearly here in Revelation, when the prophet is foretelling of the time of Christ's return and who will be saved, that it is those who have kept the commandments.  Keep in mind that to sin is to transgress the law, the commandments.  Thus we are given two sets of people at the end, those who have kept the commandments and if that is true, they are then without sin, and those who have unfortunately made choices to continue in sin.


Before you get scared and think "I can't do that, I'm doomed", remember that God isn't asking that you do it yourself, He has provided everything each person needs to reach this goal.  The main thing to remember is that we don't achieve this goal on our own, our job is to have faith in Christ, to allow His will and character to replace ours.  We do this by the example that Christ Himself gave us while living as a human.  He daily studied the scriptures and prayed, spending time with the Father to have the strength needed to overcome temptation.


Here are just a few promises that show we can be victorious:


Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV) "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."


I Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, w ho will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."


I Peter 1:5 "You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day.  Then He will save you, just as He has always planned to do."


Psalms 29:11 "The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace."


Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

2 Thess 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil one."