The Victory over Sin
The Victory over Sin
In an issue of The Atlantic Monthly, a kleptomaniac wrote anonymously of her experiences in shoplifting. After a realistic description of the methods of stealing and of the fear that grips the heart of the thief, the article concludes with the "cure" of the habit. The thief was caught on two different occasions, but because of her genteel appearance, was merely forced to pay for the goods stolen at that moment. The fear of punishment gripped her and she wrote, "I wrote a compact with God today, promising quite a sum of money to the church if He would save me from this mistake... I am glad God allowed me to be caught, for it was the only way to stop me. My will was not enough. The medicine had to be bitter to be effectual. I know that I shall never try shoplifting again. I am not superstitious, but I am afraid to be caught for the third time ... The evil of the crime has been branded on my heart, not by the eighth commandment, but through fear of the consequences to my health and professional standing . . It has now been a year since I signed my compact with God. He has kept His part of the compact and I shall keep mine. . ."
It is improbable that the writer of that article will read these lines, but there may be some other person who is sorely tempted with this or any one of a thousand other sins, who will need more than "a compact with God" to keep from sin. We have no way of checking up, but we are sure from knowledge of human nature, and above all, from knowledge of the Word of God, that this poor woman will be tempted and will fall into the same sin again. The despair that will come will be all the more horrible since it will follow a period of comparative victory during which the soul will have been led to trust its own strength.
There is only one way to victory over sin. That is a constant reliance upon the cross of Jesus Christ, and a moment by moment committal of life to His keeping. It is by grace, not law. The woman's "compact with God" was merely a repetition of the covenant of Israel which was never kept by man. When the law was given Israel said, "All that the Lord hath said, we will do" (Exod. 24:7), yet they did not do it. God has definitely told us that the law - covenants, compacts, vows - is absolutely ineffectual - "what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh ..." (Rom. 8:3). Christians are not to make vows to God. Sometimes the devil tempts us along this line, but it is only a shrewd attempt to get us back on the ground of law where we can be dealt a heavy blow.
The truth about victory over sin is that it is found only in Christ. "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." There is God's way of dealing with habitual sin. It is the only way that works.
1. Is cutting a deal with God the means by which he extends his mercy and grace? If not, how does he do this?
2. Why is Christ the only way to have victory over sin?
3. Even though Christ is the primary provision for our salvation and sanctification until we are in glory, what role does the Father and the Holy Spirit play?
