Confronting Sin: A Passion For Being Changed

“Tens of thousands, perhaps millions, have come into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ and they have not been saved.”-A.W. Tozer

A question on many minds is a simple one: Why do Christians look just like the world? Where is this transformation they talk about? As Protestant Christians we know a lot about grace through faith alone. Maybe we know too much about it. For me, as a part of the Salvation Army we believe in grace through faith. But we also believe in the ability to live in complete holiness.

Our culture presents a unique situation. The United States is a difficult place to live in holiness. Never in the history of man kind has humanity been faced with so many temptations from so many sources. It's a literal bombardment: Television, commercials, internet, ads, movies, pornography, fast food, cell phones, smart phones, billboards, and even conversations.

Given our unique situation, shouldn't holiness be at the very forefront of all of our efforts? If there is any greater challenge that could face Christians in an American situation? Sin is engrained in all of us from a young age. And sin leads to death.

We really like grace through faith, but we don't want to hear about sin. Maybe it's because we're in it? Let us consider ourselves and how we live. God is very serious about sin. He slaughtered his own son on the cross because of sin, just to offer a way out for sinners.

Are we confronting the sins in our lives? Are we praying on them, desperately pleading with God to remove them? Could someone tell from a casual conversation that we are saved followers of Jesus Christ?

When I first became a follower of Jesus Christ three years ago sin had a place in every aspect of my life. Sin was second nature. I was selfish, I was interested in entertainment, satisfaction, and it showed. Then I met Jesus Christ. I called out to Jesus Christ. And he delivered me from all my empty pursuits.

What do we do when we meet Christ? We change. The profound conversion experience found in Jesus Christ is, as a rule, synonymous with repentance. Repentance is an admission that our way is wrong and God's way is right.

I don’t think we take it seriously enough. When we sin we think, “Well, I’m saved by grace.” We’re saved by grace it’s true, but we’re also called to radical holiness. Read how the Lord speaks through James.

James 4:4-10 (NLT) says:"You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor."

What is the correct response to sin? It’s an expression of sorrow and total brokenness. Woe is me! I can’t live with this situation! This can’t be true! No more sin!

Following the expression of sorrow is the equally powerful expression of the contrite heart. Contrite literally means “bruised.” We’ve been “hit” by the woe of the reality of sin in our lives. Now our heart is bruised, and we are contrite, we are expressing a heart willing to change. We repent, change our mind about the sin, request forgiveness, and begin to practice the opposite of the sin. If it’s sexual impurity we practice purity. If it’s selfishness we practice service. If it’s hardness, we practice love. If it’s judgement we practice mercy. We practice the opposite of the sin, in so doing we repent.

Many genuine followers of Christ make war on sin everyday. The key to victory over sin is humility in submission before God. God loves us, and he wants to grant us victory over sins in our lives. The best expression I know of, in expressing submission before God is through prayer, on my knees, making a statement of powerlessness and a request for God to take lordship over that area of my life. Then I turn it over.