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Recently I read the amazing account of a man who submitted to a scientific
hypnosis experiment. While under the influence of a light hypnotic trance
the subject was ordered to pick up a glass from the table. Although he
was a strong, athletic type, the man could not budge the glass from its
position. His most strenuous exertions could not lift the glass that was
light enough for any child to remove.
Why could he not do it? Because the scientists, after placing him in the
trance, had told him that it was impossible to pick up the glass. Because
his mind was convinced that it could not be done, his body was unable to
carry out the command to lift it. What a dramatic demonstration that no
person can really obey commandments which he believes to be impossible
of performance!
Is this the reason so many Christians are living weak, defeated lives?
There is no question that the popular, modern theology has been teaching
millions that no one can really live without sinning. The Ten Commandments
have been portrayed as an idealistic code produced only for the purpose
of making people conscious of their need.
Many modern Christians are turning more and more to a soft, lenient stance
on the subject of law-keeping. They believe God's love is incompatible
with strict rules and penalties for violation.
That is a very comfortable doctrine but completely foreign to what the
Bible teaches. Millions are being conditioned to break the great moral
law of the universe - without feeling any guilt! The Word of God gives
no one an excuse to feel relaxed about sin. It is the central problem of
every person who has been born. Like a highly contagious disease, sin has
infected every soul with the germs of death, and no earthly cure or deterrent
has been found to halt the fatal progress of the sickness.
From the first appearance of sin in the Garden of Eden it has been totally
disruptive of everything good. Never in one instance has it been able to
coexist with righteousness and holiness. The requirements of God make it
utterly impossible for sin or disobedience to be a part of the Christian
lifestyle. The new tolerance for it is not biblical in any sense of the
word.
Jesus came to save people from it; He came to destroy it. It will never
enter into Heaven. Our attitude toward it must be uncompromising. There
can be no question of making it more acceptable by diminishing the amount
of it or changing its form. It must be destroyed. And the only means of
eradicating it is by receiving the fullness of Jesus Christ and His grace
into the life.
How strange it is that so many church members have now become apologetic
for sin, as though it cannot be prevented from triumphing in the life of
a Christian. How dare we misrepresent the power of God's grace in the gospel!
Jesus has already defeated the devil, and no Christian should be intimidated
by an inferior, defeated foe. We have no business justifying the transgression
of the Ten Commandments.
It is serious enough to engage willfully in an act of sin, but it is infinitely
more deadly to defend it as something which cannot be prevented. To say
that victory is impossible is to deny the adequacy of the gospel and to
negate a large portion of the inspired Scriptures. In addition, it adds
support to the original charge of Satan against God, and gives a paralyzing,
false security to everyone who believes in it.
Often people are defensive of sin because they have not been able to stop
doing it in their own strength. For example, when they can't stop smoking,
they must find a rationalization for its presence in their lives. Instead
of making the humiliating confession that they can't conquer it, they fabricate
arguments that it really doesn't hurt them or that no one can be perfect.
Or the popular, convenient doctrine that no one can really live without
sin anyway.
It is probably safe to say that the majority of Christians today are resigned
to falling short of the moral law. In fact, they are quite satisfied that
God doesn't even expect them to fulfill that law completely, either in
the flesh or in the spirit.
The effect of such a teaching is exactly what one would expect - multitudes
of emotionally happy, but disobedient, church members who feel that any
concern about keeping the commandments is nit-picking and legalistic.
What a delusive strategy of Satan! As the inventor of the doctrine, the
evil one is simply supporting his ancient accusation that God was asking
too much. He accused God of being unfair by requiring something that was
impossible. He was able to convince a third of the angels that God was
unreasonable to expect obedience to His law, and he has been trying to
make everybody else believe it since that time. Think about it for a moment,
and the entire scheme begins to make a lot of diabolical sense. Satan knows
that sin is the only thing that will keep anyone out of heaven. Since sin
is the "transgression of the law," he had to perfect a plan to make people
look lightly upon breaking the law and also cause it to appear unobjectionable.
1 John 3:4. To make the idea acceptable to Christians, Satan actually was
able to disguise it as a doctrine and sell it to a compromised Christianity.
Even Christians who have accepted the claims of the moral law are not too
concerned about how well they fulfill it, either. In a subtle way they
have been affected by the prevalent belief that too much concern about
obedience is a form of salvation by works. Incredibly, some seem to be
so fearful of keeping the law too closely that they actually make provision
to break it. By doing so they perversely comfort themselves for not being
legalistic.
How could people committed to keeping God's commandments ever come to such
a confused contradiction within themselves? Exposure to a false concept
of righteousness by faith is only part of the answer. Much of the problem
is based upon human failure and weakness of the flesh. Because they found
themselves stumbling in their efforts to be perfect, they finally concluded
that it was impossible not to sin. From that point it was easy to start
interpreting Bible texts to support their weak experience. Satan exploited
the psychological bent of the human mind to rationalize, and soon they
had developed a comfortable doctrine that accommodated their occasional
deviations from the law. Consequently, most Christians today are resigned
to an alternating experience of victory-defeat, victory-defeat. To them
it is the approved life-style of normal Christianity.
But something is fearfully wrong with this position. In the first place,
doctrine should never be based on feeling or human experience. It must
be rooted in the plain, unequivocal teaching of the Word of God. It is
true that Bible texts can be assembled which seem to support the doctrine
of spiritual imperfection. We are assured that all have sinned, that the
carnal mind is enmity against God, and that man's righteousness is as filthy
rags. But all the verses about failure, sin and defeat are in reference
to the unregenerate experience of a person. There are literally scores
of other texts which describe an opposite experience of total victory and
sinless living. In every case they are referring to the Spirit-filled life
of a converted, committed child of God.
This distinction must always be recognized in the reading of the Scripture.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. His grace
is stronger than all the concentrated forces of evil. Jesus came to save
His people from their sin. No one who reads the sixth chapter of Romans
intelligently can believe that the Christian is free to practice sin. Paul
utterly devastates the doctrine that a believer should keep on falling
into sin.
It is true that provision is made for cleansing in case sin is committed,
but God's perfect plan made it possible for man to overcome every sin and
to live a life of perfect obedience through Christ. In fact, the promises
of the Bible are so clear and specific on this point that it is hard to
get confused. No secret meaning or hidden reservation can be found in the
myriad of texts which describe the victorious experience of the born-again
child of God. And just because one may not have grown into that fullness
of faith which brings constant victory, he should not, therefore, deny
the power of God to give such deliverance. When Peter began sinking in
the Sea of Galilee, it was not because God's plan or power had failed.
Peter could have rationalized, like so many modern Christians, and said,
"God didn't want me to walk on the water, and besides, it's impossible
for anybody to do such a thing anyway." Like our first parents we still
tend to place the ultimate blame on God when we fail to follow His plan
of holy living.
Total Victory Promised
The Spirit of God seemed to anticipate the struggle many would pass through
in accepting the biblical assurances of total victory. Consequently the
inspired writers were moved to use almost fanatical language in describing
the possibilities for overcoming sin. Superlative expressions are utilized
which actually boggle the mind. Instead of saying we may be saved, the
Bible says we can be "saved to the uttermost." Hebrews 7:25. Instead of
saying we may conquer, it assures that we can be "more than conquerors."
Romans 8:37. Instead of being told that we can just triumph, we are told
that we may "always triumph." 2 Corinthians 2:14. Instead of promising
whatever we might ask to help us in our spiritual battles, the Bible says
He will give us "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."
Ephesians 3:20. And the verse just prior to that one clearly guarantees
that we may "be filled with all the fullness of God." Verse 19.
Admittedly, many of these promises are too vast for our human minds to
comprehend fully, but surely they are intended to impress us with the magnitude
of God's resources in our behalf. If the language sounds exaggerated it
is only because we are too feeble in faith and too weak in the flesh to
believe such purity and sanctification could ever be fulfilled in us. We
tend to trust our feelings quicker than the Word of God.
Is it important to believe the promises exactly as they read? Yes, because
it is only through those promises that deliverance can be accomplished.
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that
by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.
Notice that it is "by these" that we escape the corruption of sin. What
are "these"? The promises of God. The sequence of victory is plainly marked
out in this fantastic text. By faith in the promise we become a partaker
of the divine nature, and through the power of that new nature in us we
are able to escape the corruption of sin. In other words, everything depends
on the surrender and commitment of one's self to the indwelling Spirit
of Christ. "Without me," Jesus said, "ye can do nothing." John 15:5.
Equally important is the inspired comment of Paul, "I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. That little expression
"all things" is the key to victory for every one of us. It includes power
over drugs, immorality, appetite, pride, and every act of sin that would
rob us of eternal life.
All Things Available
The big point here is that when you get the power of Christ in your life,
you have everything else you could ever desire. "He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32. There is that term again - "all
things." You will find it also in 2 Peter 1:3: "According as his divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness
... "
When you put those texts together, an incredible picture emerges. By claiming
the presence of Christ in your life, you also receive everything that Christ
possesses. Paul described it this way: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Here the "all things" are broken down into very particular, individualized
experiences, and we begin to see that Peter was right in stating that God
has given us all things that pertain to godliness. Those Christians who
doubt the possibility of overcoming sin completely should read these verses
carefully. What do those words "righteousness," "redemption," and "sanctification"
include? All three of those words promise us more than deliverance from
the guilt of our past sins. The word "redemption" is not limited to redemption
from the guilt of sin, but from the power of sin also. "Sanctification"
is a word that describes continuous, daily growth in overcoming sin. "Righteousness"
literally means right-doing and applies to a dynamic fulfillment of God's
will. They are all big words, but they all have the connotation of being
set free, both from the guilt and the practice of sin.
Every child of Adam needs two things desperately - forgiveness for the
past, and power for the future. Redemption includes both of them; and the
idea that full deliverance from the guilt of sin is included, but only
partial deliverance from the power of sin, is a perversion of the gospel.
Jesus did not come to save us from the consequences of sin only, but to
save us from the sin itself. Salvation is not a negative thing; not just
the absence of something. He did not come just to take away something -
our guilt, but to give us something - victory over sin. For God to forgive
us and leave us under the power of continued sin would make God an accomplice
of sin. He not only counts us righteous through the imputation of His atoning
death, but He makes us righteous through the impartation of His victorious
life.
After thoughtfully reading the entire sixth chapter of Romans, if you need
more assurance that victory can be yours, read the following:
1 John 5:4 - "For whatsoever is born
of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith."
Philippians 2:5 - "Let this mind
be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
2 Corinthians 5:21 - " ... that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him."
1 John 3:6 - "Whatsoever abideth
in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known
him."
No one is going to put forth any serious effort to do something that he
believes to be impossible. Obviously then, those who believe they cannot
live without sinning are not attempting to live without sin. No reasonable
person will waste time and effort in a vain struggle to accomplish nothing.
That brings us to an interesting question: Can a person believe that there
is no way to stop sinning, and yet make plans not to sin? Logically, it
would seem highly unlikely, if not impossible. Yet the Bible commands us
to "make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Romans
13:14. Do we indeed make provision for sin by holding that it is impossible
not to sin?
To Him That Overcometh
The entire book of Revelation is addressed to the seven churches of Asia.
In each of the churches certain ones received high commendation and glorious
promises of heavenly reward. Without exception the blessing was extended
"to him that overcometh." Those seven churches symbolize every period of
the Christian church from the apostles to the end of time. If victory over
sin is not possible, no soul will be saved from those centuries of time.
To deny the possibility of total victory over sin is to rob God of the
glory of His mission. He came, the Bible says, to destroy the works of
the devil. Those works are the works of sin. If no one claimed His power
to overcome sin completely, the devil's accusation would be confirmed.
The requirements of God would be exposed as too difficult to obey.
Jesus stated that He had come "to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:10. Here He indicated that more than just people needed to be restored.
"That which was lost" included a sinless character. His mission was to
counteract and neutralize the entire program of sin-defilement introduced
by Satan. Restoring the image of God in man is a very important part of
the everlasting gospel. That work of the gospel must be done before Jesus
comes and not as some magical afterthought of our returning Lord.
The book of Revelation identifies the crowning characteristic of the redeemed
as obedience. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12. "And
the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesus Christ," Revelation 12:17. "Blessed are they that do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through
the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.
How significant it is that man's condition for remaining in Eden is also
the condition for being restored to Eden. Anyone who believes obedience
is unimportant should read again the dramatic story of Adam and Eve. A
tiny, physical act of sin led to all the stark tragedy of the past 6,000
years. Those who are restored to that lost paradise will have demonstrated
that they can be trusted with eternal life. Through faithful obedience
in the face of death, they will have proven Satan's charges to be utterly
false. Their steadfast loyalty will be an eternal guarantee of the security
of God's restored dominion.
What can we say, then, concerning those who look so lightly upon the good
works of obedience? They are subjects of grave deception and are playing
into Satan's deadly sin-trap. The most glorious experience of the truly
converted is to break the pattern of self-indulgence and sin. Under the
rule of the Spirit of God, fleshly habits may be conquered and expelled
from the life. Through faith in the promises unbelievable power may be
released into the life of one who is willing to give up the enjoyment of
sin.
The heart of God longs for us to take Him at His word and to claim the
power He has promised. It is the only road to real victory. But no one
can experience victory who does not believe victory is possible. Read again
the assurances of the Bible. Do not try to twist them to match the weaknesses
and failures of your human experience. They mean what they say. Deliverance
is yours for the believing and the asking.
Right here we need to pause and consider an objection which is always brought
against those who believe in total victory. It goes something like
this: If you believe it is possible to live without sinning, are you able
to say that your own life is free from sin?
Although the question deserves an answer, it should be pointed out that
the objection is not relevant to the issue. If the Bible establishes a
truth, it should be received on the grounds of its inspired authority and
not on the basis of the messenger's experience. If victory over all sin
is possible through Christ, it is true, whether the preacher has claimed
it or not claimed it. Further, the work of sanctification is a progressive,
lifelong experience and can never be considered as finished in point of
time. Even if one could be unconscious of any known sin, he could never
boast of being sinless. In fact, the person who is closest to perfection
would surely be the least likely to recognize it. Because the nearer he
gets to Jesus the more imperfect he will appear in his own eyes.
The claim might also be made that the doctrine of victory over sin is highly
idealistic and too theologically complicated to be practical. But nothing
could be farther from the truth. Even a child can understand the simple
faith-transaction of appropriating the promises of the Bible. There is
not a habit or sin known to man that cannot be conquered through faith.
In the next few minutes as you read the rest of this article you will be
able to appreciate the beauty of this divine victory plan. You will learn
how to stop smoking, cursing, overeating, gossiping, or committing any
other sin. Since so many are struggling with cigarettes, I will use that
indulgence as an illustration of the victory we are describing. Put your
own problem into the text, and then take the four steps to glorious victory.
The Secret of Victory
Have you heard about the evolutionary way of getting the victory over tobacco,
or any other sin? It is sometimes called the "tapering" method, but generally
it just doesn't work. Oh, it partially works, of course, because old age
takes care of some temptations and sins, and time settles the rest when
death comes. But do you know why "trying" does not work in overcoming the
devil?
Why can't we fight the devil for a few months and finally drive him away?
Because the devil is stronger than we are. We could fight him for a year,
but he would still be stronger than we are at the end of the year. Trying
will never break the power of sin in a single instance, because we're facing
an enemy who will always be stronger than we are. What, then, is the answer
to our weakness and defeat? This question leads us to the sweetest and
most sublime secret in the Word of God. Let us study it thoughtfully and
with much prayer.
First of all, one must understand that all of Heaven's gifts are available
to us through the promises of the Bible, and we receive them by faith.
Peter describes the "exceeding great and precious promises" and assures
us that "by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature." 2 Peter
1:4. Mighty power is stored within the promise to fulfill itself to all
who claim it in faith. So few are willing to believe that the promised
blessing becomes theirs the very moment they believe it. Why is it so hard
to believe implicitly that God will do what He promises?
Now let us come down to the very heart of victory and consider the four
simple scriptural steps that any believer may take in claiming God's power.
Four texts will illuminate the amazing transaction. First: "But thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57. Allow your mind to savor the fantastic message of
these words. Victory is a gift! We do not earn it by our efforts, or deserve
it because of any supposed goodness. The only thing we need do is ask for
it, and the victory will be given to us freely by Christ. He is the only
one who has ever gained the victory over Satan, and if we ever possess
the victory, it will have to come as a gift from Him.
Let me ask you something. Do you need victory in your life over some binding,
miserable habit of sin? Some are slaves to appetite, to alcohol, or tobacco.
Others are struggling helplessly against impurity, anger, or worldliness.
The Bible says you may have the victory as a gift through Jesus Christ.
Do you believe He will give you that power if you ask Him? How certain
can you be that God will answer your prayer for victory immediately? Here
is how sure you can be - just as sure as Christ's words are true! Our second
text is Matthew 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven
give good things to them that ask him?"
Is it a good thing when you ask for victory over tobacco, or any other
fleshly or moral evil? Of course it is! And you don't even have to ask
if it is God's will! He has already told us in the Bible that it is His
will to destroy the works of sin and the devil. If we pray for more money
or a better job we should always ask according to His will but the victory
over sin is promised to every one who asks in faith.
Will God give the victory when we ask Him? Jesus said He was more willing
to give this good thing than we are to feed our children when they are
hungry. He is waiting to honor your faith and to "supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. These
assurances are so open-ended and unlimited that our minds are staggered
by it. Why have we been so reluctant to apply for the provisions of grace?
Why is it so hard to believe that God means exactly what He says? He will
keep every promise.
Faith Makes It So
Here is the next question. How do we know we have the victory after we
ask Him? Simply because He said we would have it. We know God did not lie.
We can believe His promise. The very moment we ask, we should accept the
fact of fulfillment, thank Him for the gift, get up and act like it has
been done. No kind of proof-feeling or sign should be demanded or expected.
The self-fulfilling power in the promise is released in response to our
faith alone.
This brings us to the third text, found in Romans 6:11, "Likewise reckon
ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through
Jesus Christ our Lord." The word "reckon" means to believe, or to consider
it done. Every particle of faith should be focused on that one request
for victory and then it should be accounted as done. Do you remember how
Peter walked on the water? He asked Jesus if he could step out of the boat
onto the raging sea, and Jesus told Peter to come. But how long did Peter
do the impossible by walking on the water? The Bible says, "When he saw
the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying,
Lord, save me." Matthew 14:30.
What was Peter afraid of? He was afraid of sinking and drowning. In spite
of Christ's assurance that he could safely walk on the water, Peter began
to doubt the word of the Master. That is when he began to sink. As long
as he believed the promise of Jesus and acted in faith, he was safe. When
he doubted, he sank.
Now, what is the impossible thing as far as you are concerned? It is not
walking on water. It is overcoming that tobacco habit. And Christ says,
"Come to me. I will give you the victory." As long as you believe that
you have been delivered, you will have the victory. It is as simple as
that. The very moment you ask for victory it will be placed in your life
as a reservoir of power. You won't feel it, but it is there. It will remain
there as long as you accept it in faith.
For some people the deliverance is so dramatic that they lose even the
appetite for the sin. Tobacco addicts have sometimes been delivered from
the craving, but this is not the usual way God does it. Usually, the desire
remains, but in the moment of temptation, the power to walk past the temptation
springs forth from within. Faith accepts the fact of deliverance and constantly
claims the victory which is in the secure possession of the believer.
The final step to victory is described in our fourth text, Romans 13:14.
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh,
to fulfil the lusts thereof." So strong is the confidence in the appropriated
power of God that no consideration is given to falling under the power
of that sin again. Under the old "trying" plan, provision was made to fail
in most cases. Cigarettes were placed on a shelf, and the smoker said to
himself, "I'm going to try never to smoke again, but if I don't make it
I know where they are." But under the "trusting" plan, we have no reason
to fear failure on the grounds of human weakness. Victory does not depend
on our strength but on God's power. We might fail, but He cannot fail.
Cigarettes are thrown away. All plans that might involve any degree of
compromise are abandoned.
Little Jimmy was in trouble because he had gone swimming against his mother's
orders. When asked why he had disobeyed her, Jimmy answered, "Because I
got tempted." Mother then said, "I noticed that you took your bathing suit
with you this morning. Why did you do that?" Jimmy answered, "Because I
expected to get tempted." How typical of those who do not quite trust their
own strength to win the victory. They make provision to fail. They take
their bathing suit along. With God there need be no provision to fail.
Someone might raise the objection that this could be discouraging. Suppose
the person does fail? Even Peter began to sink. Would it not shake confidence
in God if the victory was not maintained? No. Peter's sinking had nothing
to do with the failure of divine power. It did not change Christ's will
for him to walk on the water. It only pointed up Peter's need of stronger
faith to enable him to obey Christ's command. Our faith could weaken. We
might need to be reminded of our total dependence upon His strength. But
this does not diminish the beautiful plan of God to impart power and victory
through "exceeding great and precious promises" of the Scripture. Without
faith by the receiver not even God's promises can be appropriated. The
limits are clearly defined in the words of Jesus, "According to your faith
be it unto you." Matthew 9:29.
There it is in all of its simplicity. And it works! If you are willing
to be delivered, it works. Nothing will help the one who is not willing
to give up the cigarettes. But if you want it, it is there. Victory, power,
deliverance - just reach out in faith and it is yours. God wants you to
be free.
1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Let us return for a moment to the analogy of the hypnotized man. He could
not physically lift a small glass from the table because his mind was so
fully convinced that it couldn't be done. Has Satan been able to immobilize
the church through the power of his hypnotic, lying assertion that obedience
is impossible? It certainly seems so.
