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Sin no More - Living Without Sin

1 Peter 2:21-22 .....'For even hereunto ye were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps, WHO DID NO SIN, neither was guile found in His mouth.'

Sin no more.  Those three little words from the lips of Christ Jesus should make all professing Christians sit up and think.  Jesus healed a man by the pool in John chapter 5, and after He had healed the man, He said the following words:

John 5:14 .....'Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.'

And then we have the woman who was caught in adultery by the Scribes and Pharisees.  What did Jesus say to her?

John 8:10-11 .....'When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'

Now if it was not possible for us to live without sin, why would Jesus say those very words, SIN NO MORE?  These two Bible people above received the grace of Jesus, and yet He told them to sin no more.  The majority of preachers and teachers out there today talk plenty about being "free" in Christ, but very little, if any, about living without sin.  Why do we hold on to the Bible teachings that sound nice and easy, but ignore the ones that call us to live without, and sacrifice?  We must take in the whole council of God, not just the bits and pieces we like.  Yes we are "free" in Christ Jesus, but what are we free from?  Are we free from God's law?  Can we now continue in sin without being condemned?  What did Paul say?  GOD FORBID! (Romans 6:15).  So what are we free from? 

Romans 8:2 .....'For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.'

What is the law of sin and death?  Well, what is sin?  It's transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4).  And what is the result of that sin?  The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  And when we are born, because of the fall of Adam, what are we automatically born into?  We are born into sinful flesh.  As Paul said in Romans 7:14 .....'For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.' ..... In other words, we are slaves to sin in our flesh.  In simple terms, that's the law of sin and death.  We are born into sinful flesh, and the wages of sin is death.  BUT THANKFULLY:

Romans 8:1-2 .....'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.'

Who are free and have no condemnation?  Those who are IN Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  And what should happen when we are in Christ Jesus?

Romans 6:1-2 .....'What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?'

We DIE to sin, and should not live any longer therein.  Read through Romans 6 and you will see Paul pointing out a number of times that we who are in Christ should be dead to sin and should have "put off the deeds of the old man"(Colossians 3:9).  We do not walk after the flesh anymore, but after the Spirit.  What do you think these words of Jesus mean: "take up your cross and follow Me"?  Does this not mean, crucify your old sinful man and follow Jesus, ie, sin no more?   Jesus did not sin, and He is asking you to follow Him.  Yes, all these words confirm the words of Jesus, "Go, sin no more".

Just look at what the apostle Peter said about this issue of continued sin in a believers life ..... 2 Peter 2:12-14 .....'But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin.' ..... What does he say happens to those who cannot cease from sin?  They utterly perish!

How do we Sin no More?

To sin no more in our lives and start living without sin, we need to surrender fully to Christ Jesus and trust in His righteousness.  So many Christians today just accept that they cannot live without sin on their own, and ignore the power of Christ living in them.  Is anything impossible through Christ?  Of course not!  We need to trust in His power in our lives to transform us.  Take a look at this great Bible verse:

2 Peter 1:2-3 .....'Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.' ..... Through Christ, we are given ALL THINGS that pertain to Godliness.  What does that"all things" include?  Does it include being able to sin no more?  Yes!  It's ALL THINGS!  Trust Him, that He will perform His perfect work in you.

We even partake of the divine nature as it says in 2 Peter 1:4.  Now would we continue to live a life of sin if we were partaking of the divine nature of God?  Of course not.  God does not sin, there is no evil in the divine nature, therefore sin would no longer reign in our lives.

What is the same as saying "sin no more"?  Keep the commandments!

Matthew 19:17 .....'And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.'

1 Corinthians 7:19 .....'Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.'

1 John 5:2-3 .....'By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.'

Revelation 14:12 .....'Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'

Although it is only through Christ Jesus that we can sin no more, we must make the effort to turn away from sin also ourselves.  We cannot sit back, continuing to sin and just wait for Christ to turn us from sin.  If we don't make the effort in surrendering fully to Christ then it will never happen.  As James says in James 4:7 .....'Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' ..... We must humbly surrender to Jesus and He will enter our hearts and minds and renew us. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2)

We cannot live without sin on our own, but through Christ Jesus we can.  Let us fall on our knees before God, repent of our sins, and surrender our hearts to Jesus.  We need to watch and pray every day.  Come before God at the start of every day and ask Him to renew His Spirit in you and help you get through the day without sin.  You may be surprised how Jesus will change you.  Take it one day at a time. 

Remember the words of Christ, "Go, sin no more".

Hebrews 12:1-2 .....'let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.