Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)There is no place for defeat, discouragement, or self-condemnation in Christ. The principle of life at work in us – that life comes through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit because of the work of Christ on our behalf – sets us free from the principle of life-sucking sin and death. The Law could not bring righteousness because in our human ability, we could never obey the Law. But, empowered by the Spirit of God, we can live a life characterized by victory over sin, a life characterized by righteousness.
The provision of deliverance from the power of sin is through the death of Jesus Christ, but experiencing it in one’s daily conduct comes through the controlling power of the Holy Spirit. – John A. Witmer (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
How wonderful is the Word of God! What a true picture it draws of the person I really am! On the one hand I am a slave, a prisoner, for sin has such control over me that I cannot lead a sinless life. Yet, on the other hand, I am a free person. For though Satan tries with all his might and trickery to keep me from doing what is right, he cannot stop me from doing so. The sense of victory, which I possess in principle even now and will possess in perfection in the future, sustains me in all my struggles. I rejoice in the freedom which Christ has earned for me! – William Hendriksen (Baker New Testament Commentary)Victory over sin and spiritual discouragement will be found when I choose to “walk in the Spirit,” be “led by the Spirit” and “controlled by” the Spirit, and “keep in step with the Spirit.” This is not an ambiguous or mystical experience. It is very real and practical. It is all a matter of practical choice.
Walking in consistent victory over spiritual defeat and discouragement is a matter of shunning anything that is contrary to the will and glory of God, and saturating my life with the Word of God, worship of God, and constant, interactive communication with God.
Walking in victory over sin and spiritual discouragement is really not very complicated. Paul actually put it pretty simply and clearly back in Romans 6.
Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires. Never offer any part of your body to sin's power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of. (Romans 6:12-13 GWN)Paul doesn’t give us a twelve step program for victory, he gives us just two steps. First, stop choosing to sin with any part of your body. Second, actively choose to use every part of your body to do what is right before God. I have a choice in everything, what I think, look at, listen to, say, and do. Will it be honoring to God, His character and glory, or will it be dishonoring to God, contrary to His character and glory. Steer clear of those things which dishonor God and what He approves of and saturate you mind, heart, and life with God and you will sin less!
So, the real question of success over spiritual defeat and discouragement is this, “Will I listen to and obey the desires of my flesh, or will I listen to and obey the desires of the Spirit?” The choice is yours
Next: (15) Defeating Discouragement with Ourselves - Conclusion
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