Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!
As I continue to struggle against remaining sin in myself, I have been thinking more deeply about what it is that makes it so difficult to stop sinning. Sure, I know that I have a new heart and I have seen changes in my speech, attitude, love for others and so on in ways that only God could bring about. But there are still stubborn sins on which I seem to make little or no progress.
What is happening in my heart and mind? I do not want sin to reign in my mortal body. I do not want sin to have dominion over me. I do not want to live in the flesh and live for sinful passions.
And like the Apostle Paul, I can say, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:15-20)
Clearly, there is a war going on within me and the progress that I am making seems insignificant.
As I examine my own life, I am beginning to think deeply about my own efforts to battle sin and am finding that although I know I am saved by grace, there is a very active part that I must do in my sanctification. That is, my victory over remaining sins and my striving to become more like Christ.
And there it is, the word is striving, or to strive. Webster’s dictionary has the definition:
1: to devote serious effort or energy.
2. to struggle in opposition.
We find this striving or it’s equivalent meaning in many sections in the Bible using words like struggle, fight, work, or run.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle (or striving) against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Hebrews 12:3-4).
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Tim. 6:12).
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).
So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 12-13).
When you think about these verses, the thing that jumps out to me is that striving against sin requires a great effort, even to the point of violence. To accomplish what my mind desires for Christ is going to take a striving that demands energy, thought, perseverance, confession, time, meditation, and dedication. This leaves little or no room for anything that does not contribute to winning this race. There is no place for double mindedness.
Jesus said that each of us have to make a choice. We can either love Him or love the world, but we can’t love both. “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Luke 16:13)
So, I’m taking the same tack from the Master to say that either we love to strive to be like Him, or we hate it. We either embrace and welcome striving in our Christian lives or we hate the thought of it, evidenced by us refusing to do it. And the lack of striving is the reason why I am not seeing the victories over the same sins that I have been committing for many years.
In fact, I think the lack of true striving (not weak, perfunctory efforts) has placed a glass ceiling on my desire to get closer to God. I think a lack of true striving against sin has resulted in me becoming satisfied with some of my sins. Why are my prayers not answered? Well, will God be mocked by my self-defined Christianity, a type of Christianity that is without striving? Can I sow to the flesh and reap the things that are spiritual?
Is it possible that my refusal to give all of my life to Christ is leading to a hardening and a belief that my Christianity, even though I don’t strive, is pleasing to God? Will the continued lack of striving for holiness result in a hardening of my heart that blinds me to the hardening?
I have to think about where else I spend my energy and time to see if I can better understand my lack of striving. And I have realized it is thinking that is such a great problem. Do you feel the weight of it as you think about what you are hearing or reading here? Is thinking about sin and striving causing you to not read any further? The great Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached about it over 60 years ago. He warned against the prevalence of alcohol and drugs in society and how it was deadening the minds of people. He was also greatly concerned about people’s desire to be entertained- just another way for their minds to check out of anything that would require serious thinking.
And now, the devil has orchestrated other ways that can help dull our minds. Yes, you probably know where I am going and may be quickly dismissing it before I even say it- social media and the world wide web. Yes, we now have the ability to look at meaningless videos for hours each day, know minute by minute what is going on in the lives of celebrities or sports, or play with the software that can change our faces. Hours each day of opportunities to have quick emotional reactions to what we see and hear, but no significant thinking.
To this point, I have been talking about adults. But there is something more diabolical going on. The parents have been modeling or allowing this sort of behavior to their children. And because the children have been living out this behavior during precious formative years and for a longer period of time, we now have millions of children coming into their adult years who have no ability or desire to think. They are like some sort of screen zombie, just living for the next text or post.
Sadly, our church leaders don’t talk about it anymore maybe because they feel like they are talking to a brick wall because the addiction of the people to worthless things is beyond their ability to effect change.
Recently, I have taken note of what people were talking about at social gatherings, health care facilities, and a barber shop. It was all about the latest movies, vacations, sports events, and famous people. That was it. Nothing more.
These things promise fun and joy, but they are robbing us of life. They just take of our time, energy and minds, and demand that we go back to them again and again to chase away sadness, anxiety, and boredom. In a way, we are behaving like those who were described in Romans 1. They took created, enjoyable things and made them their idols. And one day, when you are sick, or lose your job, when your marriage is failing, when your kid is no longer on the straight and narrow and going off the deep end, how would these loves help you?
And yet, many Christians would be quick to say that even though they acknowledge the dangers and temptations of becoming addicted to these worthless things, they are not affected by them. If you are one of those people, you have just given evidence that you have a serious spiritual blind spot and these time-robbers have already taken away at least some of your ability to think deeply and to strive for the things of Christ.
There is so much to consider on this topic, and it can’t be handled properly in 1,500 word blog posts. That provides a good transition to a resource that is probably the most well written treatment on striving and winning against sin.
Lord willing, I am going to be recording one chapter a week from “The Mortification of Sin” by John Owen in a Cherish Ephesians 6:4 podcast. Here is what the publisher says about the book:
“The Mortification of Sin” by John Owen is a profound and timeless Christian work that explores the necessity of recognizing, understanding, and actively combating the sinful nature within oneself. We have updated this timeless classic into modern, updated English so you can understand exactly what John Owen wrote nearly 400 years ago!
Drawing from scriptural teachings, Owen guides readers through the process of identifying and mortifying their sins, emphasizing the importance of self-examination and reliance on the Holy Spirit to achieve victory over sin and grow in their relationship with God.
In this insightful treatise, Owen not only presents the theological foundations for mortification, but also offers practical advice on how believers can cultivate the discipline and self-awareness required to fight against sin and temptation in their daily lives. Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to seek God’s grace and mercy while acknowledging their own weaknesses, ultimately leading to a deeper, more authentic relationship with the Creator and a life marked by spiritual growth and transformation.
If you have an Apple device, open the podcast app and do a search for Cherish Ephesians 6:4 and you will see, “The Mortification of Sin.” Or, you can click on the link below or the link in the weekly email. One more thing- I am also recording the weekly message on YouTube so if you like the video format, you may try at by clicking the YouTube link below or in the email. Don’t forget to subscribe.
Apple Podcast “The Mortification of Sin”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-mortification-of/id1696454280
This week’s post on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BKw-M5uyXow
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Last modified: July 14, 2023
