STUDY #5: YOUR VICTORY OVER SIN (PART B)

AIM:  To share insights from the Bible’s on how to face and gain victory over our battle with sin.

MEMORY VERSE 7: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn.1:9)

MEMORY VERSE 8: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor.10:13)

Understanding Your Sin Problem and God’s Provision of Forgiveness:

1. THE APOSTLE PAUL DESCRIBED HIS STRUGGLE WITH SIN:

¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me (Rom.7:14-20).

QUESTION:

What does the apostle Paul’s battled with sin explain about your struggle with sin?

2. THE IDEA OF SINLESS PERFECTION CONTRADICTS THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE:

⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us … ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and His word is not in us … (1 Jn.1:8 & 10).

 ¹ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 Jn.2:1).

QUESTION:

How easy is it for believers not to sin? When you sin, how is it possible for you to be right with God?

3. BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, JESUS DIED AND PAID FOR YOUR SINS:

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – ⁸ but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life (Rom.5:6-10).

QUESTION:

How do these verses describe you before you received the gift of salvation?

4. JESUS PAID FOR ALL YOUR SINS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE:

¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him (Col.2:13-15).

 ²⁴ Jesus Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed … (1 Pet.2:24).

 ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1 Pet. 3:18).

 QUESTION:

How many of your past sins did Jesus pay for? How many of your future sins are paid for by Jesus’ blood?

5. GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP OVERCOME OUR SIN PROBLEM:

 ¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil.2:12-13).

 ²¹ And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, ²² and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarentee (2 Cor.1:21-22).

MORE:

What special assistance has God provided for us to obey Him? – John 16:7-11 …

Gods’ answer to my two problems with sin. (Phil.2:13 – Living Bible)

• There are times when I actually like to sin and so I go ahead and disobey God. But “… GOD IS AT WORK WITHIN YOU … HELPING YOU WANT TO OBEY HIM” (Phil.2:13).
• At other times, I want to do God’s will, but I seem powerless to resist the temptation. But “… GOD IS AT WORK WITHIN YOU … HELPING YOU DO WHAT HE WANTS” (Phil.2:13).
• The Holy Spirit dwells within all true believers and creates the desire to obey Him and also provides us with the power to be victorious.

6. WITH GOD’S HELP WE HAVE A CHOICE TO RESIST TEMPTATION:

¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry (1 Cor.10:12-14).

Paul wrote – ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ¹⁹ And My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:12-13 & 19).

QUESTION:

What promise has God made to give you victory in trials and tests? What part do you play?

START AFRESH DAILY BY KEEPING SHORT ACCOUNTS WITH GOD:

Exploring the memory verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13. (Lessons on Assurance NavPress)

What is true about every temptation you face?        

Who can give you victory when you are tempted?  

Does God remove temptation? 

What does God do for you? 

⁷ If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn.1:7-9).

Propitiation

Propitiation is a word that describes how God’s anger against our sins is turned into a smile of acceptance because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

¹ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ² But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn.2:1-2).

QUESTION:

What has God done to deal with your daily sins? What must you do to find forgiveness?

Exploring the memory verse: 1 John 1:9. (Lessons on Assurance NavPress)

What does God want you to do about your sins?     

What does it mean to confess?    

In the act of forgiving us, how is God described? 

What else does God do when you confess your sins?  

7. YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL BE PRESERVED AND SO PERSEVERE TO THE END:

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it (1 Thes.5:23-24).

²⁴ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever (Jude 1:24-25).

QUESTION:

What promise is made about your future victory? How does this give you confidence?

MORE:

Romans 6:22-23 …