Unashamed, continued
Staying free of sin
One of the implications of our new, fresh, clean, shame-free life is that we can keep it fresh, clean and shame-free, and do not have to keep returning to the same old cycles of sin that otherwise keep us trapped in shame. Your new identity is the key to knowing freedom from sin:
6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. (Romans 6:6-7)
Paul is saying that, if death no longer has dominion over you, then neither does sin. This is all about understanding the implications of our new identity. He is at pains to help us realize that our old self that used to live independently of God has been put to death with Christ. And that means we don’t any longer have to dance to sin’s tune.
Realize that you are now dead to sin
11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:11-14)
First, we are to consider ourselves “dead to sin” because we are dead to sin, i.e. we are no longer in a slave-master relationship with sin. Then we are to make a choice not to surrender the parts of our body to sin, but instead to give our body and all its parts to God … for doing right.
Recognize the reality of the devil and resist him
Even though we acknowledge the reality of the devil and demons intellectually and theologically, those of us brought up in the West are predisposed to ignore the reality of the spiritual world when it comes to living our daily lives and exercising our ministries. The Bible tells us that when we sin, we give the devil a foothold, a point of influence inour lives.
It’s all very well receiving forgiveness for our sin, but you’re still walking around with a foothold of the enemy in your life. And that unresolved sin will short-circuit God’s power to enable you to live righteously. It makes it difficult to resist further temptation and difficult to make the right choice. And the more you seem unable to get out of the cycle, the more the enemy accuses you and more shame you feel. At this point so many give up and walk away.
Just sinning and confessing, sinning and confessing, doesn’t do it. Why? Because that’s not complete repentance.
James 4:7 says Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Confessing is just the first bit - the submitting. We need to go on and complete our responsibility by actively resisting the devil and taking back the foothold that we’ve given to him that allows sin to reigh in our body.
Renew your mind
Then we can go on to renew our minds which is where the transformation comes. It’s about replacing the lies we’ve been believing with truth.
Now, watch the 17:07-minute dvd-video.
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT 3
What effect does it have on us and those we are in relationship with, when we try to keep things hidden because we feel ashamed?
When we have fallen into sin, what are the steps we can take to enable us to recover from it?
How will considering yourself “dead to sin” change the way you respond the next time you are tempted to sin?
Truth & lies
Ask God to show you areas where your thinking is not in line with truth and note them down in the Lies List. They may be along the lines that:
1. something in the past will always affect your identity
2. something that was done to you makes you inherently dirty when God says you are clean
3. you are somehow “less” than others
4. you can’t get out of a sin you have been caught in.
Witness
How would you share your new name with a non-Christian friend and explain what it means to you?
In the coming week
Look up the Bible verses in the My New Name list.
Tell one or more people who were not at this session about your new name.
If you are caught in cycle of sin where you keep returning to the same old sin, use this exercise.