How important is the consideration of our sinfulness on our psyche?

How deep do we need to delve into our weaknesses to overcome them?

How can the sin question be settled? What can cleanse this hideous blot? Only the shed blood of the suffering Saviour is sufficient to purge away the stain. Only through repentance and humble faith can we enter into the reality of peace with God.

For the Christian believer the sin question is already settled. We have faced our sin and confessed it to Christ who freely forgives the repentant sinner all their wrong deeds, thoughts and words. He is able to do that because of who He is and what He accomplished on the cross at Calvary. He has paid the price for His people’s sin and is therefore able to forgive and change them, swapping their sinful self with His own righteousness.

To be free from the chains of in-dwelt sin is to be free. No longer are we slaves to its thought processes or habits. The power of the shed blood of Christ is sufficient to forgive us and keep us clean. We keep ourselves in the love of God by deliberately fleeing from the temptations that surround us and we walk worthy lives in the power of that Spirit of God. We keep short accounts with God and don’t allow sins to mount up and overwhelm us. If we keep away from smaller sins it will also preclude us from committing gross sins. We lay straight paths for our feet and remain obedient servants of God.

Praying for a sensitive conscience is also a good strategy for victory. If we are always aware of sin and conscious of its presence and power, we are less likely to fall into its insidious ways and make bad habits that are hard to break. We watch our mind that we do not entertain ideas and thoughts that will lead us into practical sins but keep our mind focused on God and the Word of God. It is always good to commit the Bible texts to memory so that when we are tempted and under a trial, we can find the appropriate key of promise to release us from the power of it. The Word of God is always sufficient and we put our whole weight on it and the reality of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Sin does not have to be our master. As Jesus overcame in the midst of strong temptations, so also can we. We have the power of the same Spirit of God to strengthen our resolve and give us the desires to overcome. When we want to to be holy, we will be holy and please the Lord. The victory will be ours and we will learn and grow in our Christian life with great power. We are not slaves to the power of sin anymore and the question is settled for good.

We may fall, but we do not lie down in its wake, but confess it and move on. No wallowing in the depths of despair, for it is all paid for by the precious blood of Christ.

“For sin will not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.”

Romans 6:14