2 Lies We Believe About Sin

"Sin introduces a kind of static interference in communication with God and as a result, shuts us off from the very resources we need to combat it."
~Phillip Yancy~

Christians aren't perfect. We will never get to a point in our lives when we are immune to temptation. We will always be in need of God's mercy and grace. However, as we mature in our faith, we should expect to have more consistent victories over sin. This may not happen if you believe one of these (or other) lies about sin.

Lie 1: I can't overcome my sin
This lie (like most lies) is partially true. We cannot overcome our sin, but through God, He will help us overcome our sins (John 15:5). If you believe in your heart that you are held in bondage by a sin that you continually commit, then you will be held in bondage to that sin. The only way to overcome a lie is with its opposite, the Truth. Here is the Truth:

"Having been set free from sin, (you) have become slaves of righteousness...For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death..."
~Romans 6:18, 8:2~

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."
~Romans 6:6-7~

These Scriptures show us that we can overcome sin...through Christ Jesus. As children of God, the Lord enables us to overcome the sinful bondage in our lives. Ask yourself these questions:

Do I truly agree with God that this behavior is sinful?
Do I believe that there is nothing wrong with my sinfulness?
Have I come to a place where I long to be set free?

If you have come to this place, then "confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16). Confide in an older mentor in your life, and ask for them to hold you accountable. Pursue radical amputation!

"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire" (Matt. 18:8).

Stop giving yourself access to the things that lead you to sin, and you will kill the temptation. In other words,
"Feed what you want to live...starve what you want to die".

Lie 2: In certain situations, it's okay to break the law (or rules) if I am not hurting myself or others.
In Psalm 10, we are told (three times) that those who sin believe that they will get away with it. Satan wants us to believe that sin is a good and pleasurable thing, and in a way, he is right. Hebrews 11:25 says that Moses "chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time".

The Truth is, sin leads to death. All sin leads to death, even if we think it is small and insignificant. "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:15). A friend of mine once said this to me:

"The deceptive offer of temptation
is the immediate offer of pleasure without penalty.
The basis of all immorality is need...
but we fill that need outside of God's plan and it becomes sin."

The consequences of sin are great. Even if they are not immediately visible to you, you cannot break God's rules (or the rules of others) without ultimately hurting yourself and those around you.