Thought I’d briefly post about the topic of sin…specifically our ability as people of Christ to resist it’s temptations over any area in which we are attacked.

The reason for this post specifically, is drawn from the plethora of cliche’ comments I continue to hear in our media circles, from peers or those arround me regarding diret sin issues. The type of comments I mean are those that are simply conceeding sin through statements like “it’s natural” or “we’re only human” or “we can’t be perfect” - and most often these cliche’ statements lead to concession of sin in our own personal lives. (Though all three statements are true in appropriate context…it is our natural inclination to sin, we are but human and fallen, and we cannot be perfect apart from Christ due to our state)

We compare and contrast the sin lives of others - and sometimes benchmark our own by them. We rationalize by saying “they did this” or “they did that” and somehow find minor (though not peace giving) justification to our own sinful struggles.

Christians - I would beg you to consider, when comparing and contrasting, to ignore the lives of those around you (in this sense) and remember OUR STANDARD IS CHRIST - not Bill Clinton or Bill Gates

This is evident in scripture, as is our call to perfection THROUGH Christ:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” - Matt 5:48

“…by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all” - Hebrews 10:25

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?” - Romans 6:1-2

Through the sacrifice of Christ, we have DIED to sin - and we are capable of resisting the temptations that come upon us - by the power of Christ. This means we are without excuse! This may be a difficult thing to understand, if you have been brought up through society’s view of such things, but we must understand we have the power to defeat temptation in Christ. He defeated sin upon that cross, and underwent everything we could bear, and resisted. He can relate to us, and through him we CAN be perfect, for HE was perfect. In fact, we are called to be - as Matt 5:48 says above. Remember, we have a savior who has suffered and proved this possible -

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” - Hebrews 2:18

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Cor 10:13

I just wanted to share this truth, as to help those out there not fall into a “concession” mindset. It is a simple thing to fall into - may we only compare ourselves to the example set forth by Christ!