Identity — By Grace Through Faith - Monday
TODAY’S VERSE
Ephesians 2:1-2
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. (ESV)
Sin is one of those topics that churches either never talk about or always talk about. It’s not a big deal, or it’s the worst thing ever. I grew up in the type of church that made sin the worst problem we could have, and I believe that’s a good thing. At the same time, the answer to the problem was never Jesus; it was me. However, the Bible shows this is a false statement. Here’s why: I can never be the solution because sin is too big for me to deal with.
In Romans 6:23, we see the detriment that sin has on our lives: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we are living in sin, we are actively dying because sin really is that serious. And because we have a God who is holy, all sin separates us from Him, no matter how much we try to justify it or minimize it. Since we have a holy God who hates sin and still loves us, He sent His one and only Son to deal with everyone’s sin (John 3:16-17).
The character of God is on full display in the Person and work of Jesus. God chose Jesus to exchange His righteousness for our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). In other words, we are nothing but sin if God hadn’t moved towards us first. Jesus came so that we could have life to the full, but the enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Life and death are literally at stake.
The Bible is clear: Sin is the worst thing to happen to humanity. But there’s good news: Jesus is the best thing to happen to humanity. And because of Jesus, we don’t have to continue to walk in sin. This also means we don’t need to downplay the role that sin plays in our lives. Instead, we can remember that the victory has already been won in Christ, and we can walk in that victory.
APPLICATION
What unrepentant sin are you currently walking in? Confess this to God, and ask Him to give you the strength to turn back to Him. Ask someone in your life to help keep you accountable.
PRAYER
Lord, I’m sorry for the ways I’ve allowed my sin to separate me from You. Today, I lay down my pride and ask for Your forgiveness. Show me how to be faithful in turning away from sin and staying close to You.