As Christians, we possess a strong aversion to sin because we have experienced the magnificent glory of Christ. It’s similar to a child who, having tasted meat, no longer wants to eat vegetables. When we savour the greatness of Christ, we naturally develop a disdain for sin. However, when we are justified through Christ, our human nature is not completely redeemed from the capacity of sinning. Instead, it begins an ongoing battle against sin which we all shall fight until our last breath (see Romans 7). On a side note, if you believe that I have just labelled eating vegetables as a sin, then allow me to clarify the purpose of analogies in a future blog post.

Enter Repentance, stage right! This is the powerful weapon we employ to combat sin—the mercy of God. When we sin, we shall repent. This involves acknowledging our wrongdoing, confessing it before the Lord, and, when necessary, sharing it with fellow believers. We place our trust in God’s mercy to grant us forgiveness. In the Bible, the term “repentance” signifies a reorientation, a turning away from sin, or a change of mind. It is not merely a superficial apology but a genuine sorrow for our actions. This deep sense of remorse leads to a strong desire to behave differently. However, what if we continue to sin repeatedly? In such cases, we must continue to repent sincerely and repeatedly. If we persist in this pattern with sincerity over time, one of these conflicting natures—the flesh that craves sin or the spirit that desires to submit to Christ’s lordship—will eventually yield.

Now, let’s address the concern of persisting in sin while relying on the abundance of grace. Here is what Paul has to say on the matter,

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:1-11

It is essential to remember that as Christians, we have become new creations. The old, has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). This newness encompasses specific changes in our lives. We are now dead to sin, meaning we are no longer enslaved to its power. Sin no longer holds the same sway over us because we have received the Holy Spirit, whose power now works within us. As believers, we have been empowered to overcome sin, and the first step in this battle is to acknowledge our transformed position as redeemed saints of God. We have been set free from sin, and death no longer has dominion over us. Understanding this reality of our salvation, Paul encourages us to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. This perspective is crucial in our fight against sin.

Hence, when sin abounds, grace abounds even more. The redemptive power of the cross has completely liberated us from the clutches of sin, granting us the unique ability to wage war against all that is evil. Beloved, rest assured that His mercy is abundantly available to you right now.