Red Letters
March 11, 2023

The Sin Management Problem

Main Point: Sin is not something that can be managed or controlled. It is either eradicated or it takes over.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:31-32

NASB - “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.”
NLT - “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.”
ESV - “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”
MSG - “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.”

It is ultimately our actions, not our knowledge, that indicate whether or not our lives really belong to Jesus.

“Consider this remarkable fact: in the Sermon on the Mount, there is not a single word about what to believe. Only words about what to do and how to be. By the time the Nicene Creed is written, only three centuries later, there is not a single word in it about what to do and how to be–only words about what to believe.” —Robin R. Meyers, Saving God From Religion

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” —John 8:33

Our own lack of humility can blind us to the things that are keeping us from being free.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” —John 8:34

Anyone stuck in a cycle of sin is a slave of sin.

“No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good.” —C.S. Lewis

Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. —John 8:35-36

The only way out of the cycle of sin is the freedom that Jesus offers us.

“When we come to the end of self we come to the beginning of Christ.” —Charles Spurgeon

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. —James 4:7-10

Submit - Resist - Purify - Humble

Takeaway: God’s will for your life is for you to live in the freedom that Jesus died to give you.