What is your attitude toward sin? Many typical believers feel it is nothing to concern themselves about. Unfortunately, a prevailing attitude among some believers is that sin is of no consequence and they are actually proud of their sins.
They try to live a life pleasing to themselves instead of God. They prefer to live in conformity to the world. This is dangerous thinking because it dims the view of Christ in us to the world.
Casual Attitude Toward Sin
This casual attitude toward sin makes it easy for us stray away from the will of God and do things that are displeasing to Him. By this callous disregard for the consequences of sin, not only are we not glorifying God but we are giving fodder to the enemy. Instead of being used as a tool for God, we are becoming a stumbling block for those seeking God.
It is important to remember, we have been freed from the power of sin. Unfortunately, many of today’s believers tenaciously hang onto their old nature preferring to please themselves.
This is a sad state of affairs considering believers have a new nature indwelling them and a wonderful new position in Christ. Our sin was dealt with when our old man was fastened to the cross with Christ. This has freed us from the bondage to sin allowing us to now serve God.
—2 Corinthians 5:16–19 NKJV “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
Desire to Serve God
Even though sin has been dealt with by Christ at the cross, the influence of sin still effects our daily life. It does not effect the status of our salvation but it effects the way we glorify God and how effective we can be to the world for God’s cause.
As believers we have been given the wonderful gift of life in Christ. In appreciation of this, instead of serving self, we should have a desire to share this life giving message to the world. However, this message is dimmed by believers who have a careless attitude toward sin.
How we act in our body is a reflection of our attitude towards God. Our bodies should be a means of worshipping and loving God. When the world sees how we live our lives; will they see a selfish person or someone reflecting the love of Christ?
—1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NKJV “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Battling Natures: New Versus Old
This side of heaven, all of us through our old nature still feel the influence of sin. None of us are perfect; we will make mistakes, we will stray from the path and in moments of weakness give into temptation.
Knowing that God has given us ultimate victory over sin, when we do fall down, we need to knock the the dust off us and get up again. Through prayer, study and reflection on God’s Word we can give strength to our new nature. The nature we give the most attention to will be the one that influences us the most. The more we let our new nature influence us the less falling down we will do.
While on earth, the believer is in a constant battle. His old nature and new nature are at odds with each other and our continually fighting for control of the believer. This old nature is at enmity with our new nature and it always trying to lead us away from serving God.
Indwelling Holy Spirit
It is always important to remember to keep the perspective that we have become a new creation in Christ. This new life we obtained came at a high price. The debt of our sin has been paid for by the blood of Christ.
—2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
This is great news as being in Christ gives us great strength. We are being energized by the Spirit that indwells us.
—Romans 8:11 NKJV “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
—1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
However, while we walk this earth, we are still clothed in our corruptible body which wages war with our new Spirit. Because of this we will still struggle with temptations and sin.
But we are not alone in the battle as God has given us a powerful weapon, in this battle; we have the indwelling Holy Sprit which will allow us to be victorious. The believer needs to draw on the strength of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives us strength and guidance to withstand temptations. It can help us overcome the challenges of sin. By giving ourselves over to the Word of God, our old nature will not have control over us.
Set your Mind on Things Above
We are urged to keep our focus on the things above.
—Colossians 3:1–4 NKJV “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God . Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
This verse reminds us that our home is in heaven where we will spend eternity and where we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings. The new creation that is in us will live forever in fellowship with God, while our old creation will rot and die when we inherit our new body.
In essence there is no profit in feeding the desires of the old nature since it has no life. There is no good reason to let a dead thing control or influence our life. Instead of fools the believer is advised to be wise and to give control to his new nature which will endure forever. We are persuaded to put aside the temporary things of this earth and focus our minds on the eternal.
Attitude Toward Sin: Who do we Serve?
Believers will sin but they should not be proud of their sins. Neither should they take a relaxed attitude towards sin. Our old nature loves it if we think sin is harmless. The more Lackadaisical attitude we have about sin, the easier it is for our old nature to rule our lives.
As believers, we have been called to a higher calling. We have been freed from the bondage of sin by Christ and should glorify and serve God. We need to feed our new nature residing inside us with the Word of God. By doing this our new nature becomes strong and has control of our mind allowing us to glorify and serve the Lord.
Does it make sense to serve something that is dead like our old nature or does it make more sense to serve the eternal life giving God who out of love made the greatest sacrifice ever so that we may have life.
Danger of a Casual Attitude Toward Sin
I urge you not to have a careless attitude toward sin, Please do not think even though I have been saved it does not matter how I live my life.
Satan loves to corrupt the Word of God and likes to encourage our old nature to lead us down paths that make us less fruitful to God. When you feel the pull of your old nature, recognize the danger that a casual attitude toward sin can have.
At those moments of weakness open your Bible and reflect on Word of God. By doing so you are putting your focus on the things above. You are starving the old nature and feeding the new which allows the new nature indwelling you to influence your life.
I hope you now understand why your attitude on sin is an important reflection on your attitude toward God.
—Ephesians 4:22–24 NKJV “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”