If I Am A Christian, Why Do I Struggle With The Same Sin Over And Over Again?

Transcription

1 If I Am A Christian, Why Do I Struggle With The Same Sin Over And Over Again? Leader Guide Why is it Important to Study this Topic? o We as Christians are called to live holy lives (1 Thess. 4:7-8), so studying this topic equips us to live lives that are pleasing to the LORD (Col. 1:9-10). o Sin is powerful, and, while it was defeated on the cross, it has not been eradicated from this world. Because of this, we suffer from many manifestations of lingering sin. This study helps remind us that one day sin will be removed from all of creation when Jesus returns. o This topic reminds us that we are in an ever- present spiritual war (Eph. 6:12), so this study helps us remain watchful. o Our sin ultimately reminds us of our need for a savior. Sin especially sin that we constantly struggle with strips us of our pride and self- sufficiency. But even though sin is destructive, Jesus forgives, heals, and restores us. Framing the Issue o When a person becomes a Christian, they are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Their old self has passed away and their new self has been born. They become spiritually alive and enter into a relationship with God. Their sins have been forgiven, and they have been freed from the power of sin and death (Rom. 6:5-11). o But the effects of sin are still present in and around us. This can make us believe that our new selves aren t any different than our old selves. So what are we to do? That s what this study will address. Key Scripture o Rom. 7:14-25; 1 Thess. 4:7-8; Col. 1:9-10; Heb. 9:11-14; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:12; 1 John 1:8-9, Eph. 6:10-20 What is sin? All people are sinful (Ps. 14:3; Rom. 3:23) and our sin disrupts our relationship with God and with others. Our sin causes us to grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Eph. 4:30) and is the cause of destruction, pain, and suffering in this world. But first, it s helpful to examine what sin is. It s easy to think of sin as isolated acts such as stealing or telling a lie, but it is far more extensive than this. Theologian Wayne Grudem offers this helpful definition: Sin is any failure to conform to the moral

2 law of God in act, attitude, or nature. 1 Jesus shows the depth of sin in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). Therefore, sin is much more than mere behavior it is a condition that affects every part of us. Fighting the War with Sin Peter says that the sinful desires that are still present within us wage war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Paul personalizes this war when he says I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members (Rom. 7:15, 23). And to top it off, we are waging a spiritual war with evil spirits and the corrupt worldly system (Eph. 6:12). So how do we fight this war? The first step is to understand the war itself. Christian Counselor David Powlinson offers a helpful framework for understanding our continued struggle with certain sins by extending this war metaphor. 2 1) It s a Wider War While we may have a particular sin that is at the forefront (e.g., lust), no sin stands in isolation. There is an interconnectedness between the sins in our lives. Here s a helpful analogy. Imagine your heart to be a multiplex theatre that is screening several movies simultaneously. One sin may be the feature film, but there are other sins playing on other screens in your heart. Therefore, it s important to not focus on one sin in particular as if it is the only one, but rather to examine your whole life to see the big picture. For example, pornography addiction certainly involves the desire for physical pleasure, but anger at God over singleness and/or frustration at work can be sins that are fueling the sexual one, even if they re playing on different screens in the theatre of our hearts. Therefore, addressing the anger and frustration may have a profound effect on abstaining from sexual sin. 2) It s a Deeper War It s easy to focus on external behavior because it is readily identifiable. However, our behavior flows from the desires and motivations of the heart. Therefore, behavior modification is like an air freshener on a garbage pile it doesn t solve the problem. It only masks it. Jeremiah says that the heart is deceitful above all else (Jer. 17:9), and Jesus teaches that sin originates in the heart (Matt. 15:18-20). 1 Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Zondervan, 1994, 2 Powlinson, David. Sexual Sin and the Wider, Deeper Battle. Journal of Biblical Counseling, Spring 2006.

3 Sinful behavior can be caused by a variety of deeper motives. For example, the sin of envy (sorrow over what others have) may stem from a deeper sense of inadequacy. To eradicate envy, it would be necessary for this person to work on being content with what they have. If they were to simply avoid the person they re envious of, they wouldn t solve the problem itself. Pastor Tim Keller argues that idolatry is the root of sinful behavior. While it s tempting to think of idols as inherently bad, this is not the case. Anything can become an idol, and oftentimes the things that are very good family, career, health are what we idolize. What is an idol? It is anything that is more important to a person than God is. Anything that is more foundational for happiness, fulfillment, and meaning has taken his seat on the throne of our hearts. Keller offers a profound definition of these counterfeit gods: A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. 3 He identifies three dominant idols: 1) Love (and sex), 2) money, and 3) success and power. Each person struggles with these to varying degrees. However, these idols cannot simply be removed - they must be replaced. Keller says, The only way to free ourselves from the destructive influence of counterfeit gods is to turn back to the true one. The living God, who revealed himself both at Mount Sinai and on the Cross, is the only Lord who, if you find him, can truly fulfill you, and, if you fail him, can truly forgive you. 3) It s a Longer War We must see the battle with sin as lifelong. If we seek quick fixes or expect immediate results, we will end up discouraged. Our faith is being refined like gold in a fire (1 Peter 1:7). This purification process takes time. The process of sanctification (being made holy) is a direction we are heading. Sometimes we go 70mph; sometimes 10mph; sometimes we get lost for a bit; sometimes we go the wrong direction. But we will end up at our final destination (Phil. 1:6). So repentance is not just the narrowly defined act of saying I m sorry, God. It s a lifestyle. As we continue on our Christian journey, we continually learn to turn from sin and to Jesus. Remembering that the war is lifelong helps us from feeling defeated when we sin. It reminds us that God is at work in us constantly and that he is conforming us into the image of his son (Rom. 8:29), even when we fail. 3 Keller, Tim. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power and the only Hope that Matters. Dutton, 2009.

4 4) It s a Subtler War Some sins like murder are obvious both to us and others. But some sins are more private and are harder to detect. For example, greed is such a dominant sin in American culture that we as Christians can be unaware that we are greedy too. As the Psalmist says, Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults... (Psalm 19:12). When we feel overconfident that we aren t struggling with sin, we may in fact be the most susceptible to falling (1 Cor. 10:12). Therefore, we must constantly be on guard. The Cross of Christ Seeing how deep the battle with sin is shows the extent of Jesus cleansing work. He did not die so that we would merely change behavior (e.g., stop cussing or drinking excessively). He died so that our sinful hearts would turn to worship God above all else. Jesus forgives us to an extent that we can t fathom, and as we continue on our Christian journey we will see this more clearly. Discussion Tips This is a very personal topic. Some people may be outspoken about a particular sin they are struggling with right now, but it is important to keep them from dominating the group meeting. If they go on too long, let them know you will be willing to meet with them to discuss it further. Others may feel embarrassed or scared to share. Encourage everyone to be open and honest, but don t force anyone to speak. Remind your group that the sickness needs to be identified before the healing can occur. Some people may be struggling with something that requires counseling, such as addiction or adultery. Encourage them to seek pastoral counsel from one of Summit s pastors. Suggested Reading Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power and the only Hope that Matters, by Tim Keller

5 Group Discussion Guide Welcome Do you consider yourself to be a fighter? Do you like challenges and/or competition? Why or why not? Or What is one goal you ve set for yourself this year? What is your plan to accomplish it? Worship Read Luke 23: Offer prayers of thanksgiving to God that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Word 1. Read Rom. 7: What is Paul saying here? Do you identify with his grief over the continued presence of sin? 2. Read Eph. 6: Identify the various pieces of spiritual armor. Which of these is easiest for you to utilize? Which is most difficult? 3. As Christians, what does our ongoing battle with sin teach us about the cross of Christ? Note: Seeing how deep the battle with sin is shows the extent of Jesus cleansing work. He did not die so that we would merely change behavior (e.g., stop cussing or drinking excessively). He died so that our sinful hearts would turn to worship God above all else. Jesus forgives us to an extent that we can t fathom, and as we continue on our Christian journey we will see this more clearly. 4. What is the difference between confession and repentance? What are some characteristics of a repentant person? Note: Confession involves the acknowledgement of sins, but repentance involves turning from them and towards Christ. While all repentance will involve confession, not all confession will lead to true repentance. 2 Cor. 7:10 shows that godly grief (the realization that you have sinned against God) produces repentance, whereas worldly grief (the sorrow of getting caught) only leads to death. Witness Recall week 6 of P.S. There s Hope. The C in the A.C.T.S. prayer model stands for confession. 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Do you make a regular practice of confessing your sins to God? Why or why not? Break off into groups of 2 or 3 for prayer. Pray for the sins that you continually struggle with. This week, pray for the members of your LIFE group and for what you can do to help them overcome the sin in their lives.