Struggling against sin

Early struggles

I remember clearly that one of the greatest concerns of my early Christian life, when I first received Christ and started reading the Bible and praying, was to struggle against sin and strive to be holy unto the Lord. It just seemed the natural thing for a Christian to do, and the Scriptures (which were fresh to me at the time) seemed to clearly indicate that this should be the main preoccupation of any believer. It has been an ongoing struggle, waxing and waning, but never ending – in fact intensifying as time goes by.

I used to wonder why I (sometimes) seemed to be the only one who was concerned very much about this, as the Christians around me seemed to be more concerned with more sensational or mystical aspects of the Christian life such as "soaking in the presence of God", being "slain" in the spirit, healing and deliverance, etc. Either that, or they were busy being the very dynamic type of Christian who emphasized doing things for God - going for prayer walks around the neighbourhood, winning souls for God in the marketplace, that sort of thing. There did not seem to be much interest in talking about sin, repentance, sanctification and holiness, things which deeply interested me. In fact I sometimes felt guilty, in the past, about being more concerned with my inner life than actually doing anything for God (I'm quite over that phase now - except for the strong desire to preach the Gospel - that's still there; not because God actually needs me to do it, but because I would really love to).

Kindred spirits

When I discovered Spurgeon and authors like A W Pink and J C Ryle, as well as the old Puritan writers, I knew I had found kindred spirits, and food for my soul. Of late, I have been blessed with audio sermons by the likes of Paul Washer, A W Tozer and Paris Reidhead, and of course sites like Grace Gems. But I digress...

Holiness and sanctification

J C Ryle's book "Holiness" (described quite accurately as being considered the best book on the Christian life that has ever been written) really hits the nail on the head as far as describing my personal experiences struggling against sin and striving for holiness.

In it, he describes the inevitability of progressive sanctification for a true Christian (2 Cor 3:18). Looking back at my life, I indeed give thanks to God for His marvellous grace in granting me victory over some of my worst besetting sins, after allowing me to struggle against them in my own strength long enough to convince me that I could never have done it on my own.

On the other hand, I daily grow more painfully aware of more and more sins which I commit against God and His divine majesty. I see corruptions, new and old, within me, ever trying to rise up and overpower me, and often succeeding, convincing me that indeed, "in me dwelleth no good thing". O wretched man that I am - who shall save me from the body of this death?

Archibald Alexander, in his excellent sermon on "Practical Directions How to Grow in Grace and Make Progress in Piety", explains it this way:

One circumstance attends the growth in grace of a real Christian which renders it exceedingly difficult for him to know the fact, upon a superficial view of his case, and that is, the clearer and deeper insight which he obtains into the evils of his own heart. Now this is one of the best evidences of growth; but the first conclusion is apt to be, ‘I am growing worse every day; I see innumerable evils springing up within me which I never saw before.’

This person may be compared to one shut up in a dark room where he is surrounded by many loathsome objects. If a single ray of light be let into the room, he sees the more prominent objects; but if the light gradually increases, he sees more and more of the filth by which he has been surrounded. It was there before, but he did not perceive it. His increased knowledge of the fact is a sure evidence of increasing light.

Spiritual sweat

One question which J C Ryle raises concerns the issue of personal exertion. I had sometimes wondered if my struggling against sin bordered on works-righteousness, rather than resting in Jesus Christ (as in, you know, the old adage to "let go and let God"). This is what he says:

But surely the Scriptures teach us that in following holiness the true Christian needs personal exertion and work as well as faith. The very same Apostle who says in one place, "The life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God," says in another place, "I fight - I run - I keep under my body;" and in other places, "Let us cleanse ourselves - let us labor, let us lay aside every weight." ( Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 9:26; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 12:1.)

Moreover, the Scriptures nowhere teach us that faith sanctifies us in the same sense, and in the same manner, that faith justifies us! Justifying faith is a grace that "works not," but simply trusts, rests, and leans on Christ. ( Romans 4:5.) Sanctifying faith is a grace of which the very life is action: it "works by love," and, like a main-spring, moves the whole inward man. ( Galatians 5:6.)

I might add that Heb 12:4 does tell us quite plainly: "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."

The importance of fleeing temptation

John Owen, in his book "Of Temptation" has a few good pointers on how to fight sin and temptation. The most important thing, of course, is to really be serious about it in the first place. A very commonsense piece of advice is basically to understand the situations in which we fall into temptation and yield to it, and then take active steps to avoid such situations in future. Quite unlike the boy who was forbidden to go swimming, but brought his swimming trunks along anyway "in case he got tempted". For myself, I have identified certain places and situations which I need to avoid like the plague, and it has been profitable for me to do so.

Some useful definitions

Paris Reidhead has some very good definitions which have helped me think about and understand what sin and temptation are all about.

He teaches that the appetites God has given to us - the appetite for food, for learning, for status (Adam was commanded to exercise dominion over creation), for sex - are all good and appropriate to begin with.

He then defines temptation as "the proposition made to the mind to satisfy a good appetite in a bad (forbidden) way". Sin is defined as "the decision of the will to satisfy a good appetite in a bad way".

So, in the case of Eve, she was tempted when the serpent suggested to he that she should satisfy her appetite for knowledge by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. By Reidhead's definition, she sinned the moment she made the decision in her heart to satisfy her appetite in this forbidden way, even before her hand touched the fruit! (Gen 3:4-6) Our Lord Jesus Himself assures us that sin begins in the heart and will (Matt 5:27-28).

Resisting temptation

Now, we know that it is possible to be tempted and not sin, because Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). I find it quite important to make this distinction, because there are some seasons when I am assailed almost constantly with tempting thoughts which pop into my head, to the point where I have to bow my head, clasp my hands and pray to God to send help urgently, so that I will be able to resist sinning against Him by entertaining the tempting thought.

There are a couple of songs I sing to myself which have proven useful in times like these:

Yield not to temptation

Yield not to temptation
For yielding is sin
Each victory will help you
Some other to win
Fight manfully onward
Dark passions subdue
Look ever to Jesus
He will carry you through

Ask the Saviour to help you
Comfort, strengthen and keep you
He is willing to aid you
He will carry you through

O Jesus I have promised (2nd and 3rd verses)

O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me, around me and within;
But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

I also take comfort in the promise that "there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, but will with the temptation make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it."

No temptation?

There are other seasons when temptations are few and far between, and communion is sweet. How I love these times, but they are also periods fraught with danger. I can easily be carried away with self-congratulatory spiritual pride at my seemingly effortless holiness (1 Cor 10:12).

Will I ever reach a stage in my spiritual life when I do not need to face temptation? How I wish that were possible! But I don't think so. Jesus was tempted from the beginning of His ministry all through to the bitter end, when He struggled at Gethsemane till He sweated blood. Am I greater than my Lord? I think not.

Falling into sin

I obviously do not subscribe to the doctrine of Christian Perfection and the Higher Life. Saints may be overtaken in a fault - in my case many faults (Gal 6:1). What do I do when this happens?

Again, Paris Reidhead has given some very useful pointers, which I now share with you.

The first thing to do is to JUDGE MYSELF (1 Cor 11:31). Take God's side against myself, condemn my conduct and humble myself.

The next thing to do is to FORSAKE my sin (Isa 55:7).

The third thing is to CONFESS my sin (1 John 1:9) and experience God's forgiveness in Jesus Christ. It is comforting that Christ's death paid for ALL my sins - past present and future (not that THAT's any excuse to sin in future!) As someone pointed out, the fact is that at Calvary, ALL our sins were in the future.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

The reason for hating sin

Why do I hate sin so much? It used to be I simply feared the punishment for sin (I still do). I also hated the nagging of my conscience, the lack of peace within me. But I've read enough to know that the real reason we should hate sin so much is that it offends the Divine Majesty of God, and that it was our sin that put Jesus, that Worthy One, on the cross to bear His Father's wrath on our behalf. I catch glimpses of this now and then - may God make it real to my soul so that I can truly see the sinfulness of my sin and repent of it as I ought.

A final word

It may seem, from my description, that my life is an endless, joyless, tiresome struggle against sin, but nothing could be further from the truth! I truly rejoice that God Himself is at work in me to sanctify me, that Jesus Christ has provided all I will ever need in this work of sanctification, and that the Holy Spirit Himself will effectively bring this work about. I cannot describe my joy at this certainty I have in my heart - that the promise given to me will be fulfilled, and that one day I will indeed be made holy (a desire God Himself put into my heart) and fit to enjoy His presence forever (for without holiness no one will see the Lord).

All glory to God!