HOW TO DEFEAT AND OVERCOME SIN In this study we will look into the varied ways we can defeat even the strongest temptations to sin through the divine assistance of Christ and also the reward that awaits the overcomer. We will begin by looking at a few Scripture verses which tell the depth and or amount of suffering Christ endured for us. These texts are: “For in that he (Christ) himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Christ is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” because He was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 2:18; 4:15. Let us now take a closer look at His life upon earth in order that we might discover the truth behind these verses. We begin by looking at His birth in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph and can see that He was by no means in a privileged setting at the place of His birth (Luke 2:1—7). He was born in a rude dwelling where beasts live which shows that these surroundings were far less congenial than what we are faced with today. So now we know that He was born as we are born let us find out more about what happened next. We see that the Devil tried to compass His destruction by Herod killing all the children in Bethlehem and the coasts thereof from two years old and under. They escaped this through Joseph being obedient to the directions given to him in a dream by an angel (Matthew 2:13—18). At the age of twelve Jesus and His parents went down to Jerusalem for the Passover and once the days were fulfilled His parents left Jerusalem without Him thinking He was somewhere in their company. As a result they spent three days looking for Him and found Him in the temple. When they reached him they asked, “Why hast thou thus dealt with us?” He replied simply yet with an implied rebuke for the neglect of their duty, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:42—49. Here is where He shows His knowledge of the great burden resting upon Him but even with this knowledge He still submitted Himself unto His parents and returned with them to Nazareth. Now let us have a look at His surroundings in Nazareth and we can see that in just one question asked by Nathaniel the reputation of the people living there (John 1:46). They were known for their wickedness and what a place for the Saviour to grow up in being continually surrounded by evil. Here again we see that He didn’t receive any special privileges but was more disadvantaged with being surrounded by the prevailing wickedness of the city of Nazareth facing temptations at every step yet “without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. His example shows that even amidst the most uncongenial conditions for spiritual growth a character can be moulded and shaped after the divine similitude. After His baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist Jesus was taken off into the wilderness and fasted there forty days and nights. Then as if in answer to His prayers an angel (Satan) comes supposedly to His aid but Christ quickly ascertains who it is by the words first spoken. The way in which Christ defeated Satan in all three of the greatest temptations to assail mankind though suffering intensely from hunger shows what man is truly capable of when he places his entire faith in God and His power to save (Matthew 4:1—11). Not only this but throughout His life on earth He showed how we too can overcome the Devil and ultimately sin. This fact can be clearly seen in the way in which He dealt with the bigotry and prejudice of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees who pursued Him continually either personally or by spies (Matthew 16:1—12; Luke 20:19—26). He even gave us an example in His death and resurrection which showed that though he (the Devil) may kill the body yet he cannot touch the soul that is consecrated to the Heavenly Family (Luke 23:45—56; 24:1—12; Matthew 27:45—66; 28:1—8; Isaiah 26:3). The reason being that because Christ rose from the dead they too have the hope of being raised in the resurrection of the just at Christ’s Second Advent (Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:50—55; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). We will now summarise Christ’s life on earth in order that we may see the secret to His success against the Devil. Firstly we will look at this verse, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. We know that the commandments of God are the Ten Commandments which are recorded in Exodus 20:1—17 but just what does it mean when it talks about the people in the last days having the faith of Jesus? In order to answer this question we need to look at His life on earth and when we do so we can see that He was in constant communion with the Father sometimes passing whole nights agonising in prayer (Luke 6:12). He learnt how to skilfully use the sword of the Spirit (the Bible) in order to so utterly defeat the Devil that He was forced to flee from Christ’s presence (Ephesians 6:17; James 4:7; Matthew 4:1—11). The reason why the Devil could find nothing in Jesus through which to tempt Him to sin was because of His faith in the Father’s power to defeat the prince of this world (John 14:30). It is this faith that gained Jesus victory over the Devil, the flesh, and the world and this is the faith we need to possess. Christ obtained this faith through so utterly emptying Himself of self that He rendered entire conformity to the Father’s will which is expressed in the Ten Commandments (John 15:10; Psalm 40:8). Now that we know all this how can we apply Christ’s example to our warfare against the Devil? We can use the same methods He used as well as relying upon the same source of Infinite power that was available to Him. This power is now ready and waiting to be used all we need to do is “Ask” and we shall receive (John 16:24). First of all we need to “Resist the Devil” and we are promised that “he will flee from you.” James 4:7. We need to call upon the Mighty Arm of Omnipotence acknowledging our own inability and inefficiency, in our own strength, of being able to defeat the Devil. We need to learn how to use skilfully the Sword of the Spirit along with a simple “It is written” in order to cut our way through all unrighteousness and rely wholly upon the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:17; Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Philippians 4:13; Revelation 3:21; 12:11). We will look now at the reward that awaits all who overcome sin and ultimately the Devil. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” “He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in whit raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7. Here we have seen the reward that awaits the overcomer which is eternal life in the New Jerusalem and the Paradise of God. There we will receive a new name written on a white stone and have our Father’s name along with the name of the City of God, the New Jerusalem, and Christ’s new name. There we will be priests in the temple of God ministering there forever doing the work ordained by God.
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 06:37:45 +0000
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