Points: What is sin? (short) Can we overcome sin? (medium) How to gain the victory over sin?

(long)

What is sin?
The transgression of the law. The Word of God is our basis for knowing what the Lord expects from us and what is sin. You do not need to wait for God to tell you, if the matter is revealed in the Word of God. It is plainly revealed. God will never tell you contrary to what is revealed in the Bible. Temptation is not sin. We all are tempted. Jesus was tempted, in all points like as we are. The only definition of sin in the Bible is the transgression of the law. (Phil 4:8 [KJV]) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Can we overcome sin?

Jesus is our example. (Rom 6:1 [KJV]) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15 v. 57 Satan knows better than Gods people the power that they can have over him when their strength is in Christ. When they humbly entreat the mighty Conqueror for help, the weakest believer in the truth, relying firmly upon Christ, can successfully repulse Satan and all his host. {1T 341.1} God wants to give us victory, it is the gift He wishes to bestow. He wants give us freedom from sin. We can only have victory through Christ. There is no way to get victory without Him.

How can we get the victory over sin?

(John 1:29 [KJV])

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The very reason why Christ died, is to deliver from sin. Principle #1 Divine strength. Surrender the will to God. Give our will to God in the morning. If we do not give our will to God, than Satan will automatically be in charge of your life. In this life we have two choices - be in bondage to Satan and sin or be surrendered to Christ. There is no middle ground. You cannot get the victory without a living connection with Christ, which you cannot have unless you ask to be cleansed of your sin. Prayer and Bible Study every day is so important. It is by this relationship with God that we are fortified to go through the day. There will be days when we dont feel like it but those are the days we need it the most. We can ask God to change our feelings and He will. We need to give ourselves to God with no reserve. To long we have been holding on to things and preventing him from working in our lives. Victory comes Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts. Zach. 4 v. 6 My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12 v. 9 When we know we are weak Christ is able to work. We are assured of victory if we pray as King Asa prayed Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power, help us, O Lord Our God, for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go against this multitude....So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa. 2 Chron. 20 v. 12 The mission of Christ was to rescue him from the power of his great adversary. Man is naturally inclined to follow Satans suggestions, and he cannot successfully resist so terrible a foe unless Christ, the mighty Conqueror, dwells in him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength. 1T Principle #2: Faith Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (1John 5:4 [KJV]) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. (1Cor 10:12-13 [KJV])

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. It is by faith in the Promises of God that we are enabled to gain the victory. (2Cor 7:1 [KJV]) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Pet 1:4 [KJV]) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Act in faith. We must believe that Christ can change our hearts and can give us the strength to be overcomers. Principle #3: Everything centers in the will. The choice. Feelings have nothing to do with it. You have to make the decision in faith to do the right thing. Choose to do the right thing and God will provide the power. Steps to Christ 47 Many are inquiring, "How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?" You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him. {SC 47.1} Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. {SC 47.2} Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith. {SC 48.1}

You might ask, Will giving my will to Christ make me unhappy? Not a gospel of giving up but a gospel of receiving victory and freedom from sin, Can not imagine not having certain sins. Sometimes we think life wouldnt be worth living without 3 hours of TV a day or whatever. That it will take away all joy. Instead it is the beginning of joy and restoration. Often we really do not want to be delivered from this sin. But if we make the choice to allow God to take our life and change it we will be the happiest people on the face of the earth. It is a mistake to entertain the thought that God is pleased to see His children suffer. All heaven is interested in the happiness of man. Our heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to any of His creatures. The divine requirements call upon us to shun those indulgences that would bring suffering and disappointment, that would close to us the door of happiness and heaven. The world's Redeemer accepts men as they are, with all their wants, imperfections, and weaknesses; and He will not only cleanse from sin and grant redemption through His blood, but will satisfy the heart-longing of all who consent to wear His yoke, to bear His burden. It is His purpose to impart peace and rest to all who come to Him for the bread of life. He requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within, the hope of glory. {SC 46.3} An example of how to gain the victory when a temptation comes. Immediately pray to the Lord, Lord, please keep me from this temptation. I cant do it myself. In faith I claim your promise from the Bible I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Then choose to believe Gods promise - to have faith that what He has promised He will do. Take your mind off the temptation. (1Pet 1:13 [KJV]) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; The longer you think about the temptation the more likely you will be overcome by the devil. If you think about the temptation, than you are dallying with the devil and he will continue to provide very strong arguments into your mind that just this once would be ok, tomorrow you can gain the victory, or that you have already went so far you might as well go all the way. His lies are powerful if we allow him to continue to feed the mind. If you quickly remove it from your mind by saying or reading a Bible text or singing a hymn, than you will be able to overcome easier. An example - if you get a temptation to do something you know wouldnt be right, immediately remove yourself from the situation, if its people who are tempting you make it clear that you will not do the thing that is wrong (if you make a strong decision it is harder to go back). We need to cooperate in faith by doing all we can to remove our mind from the the temptation. Keys: Surrender of the Will to God Faith - step out in faith and believe the promises Will - choose to do the right thing or resist the wrong God will provide the strength to overcome

We need to actively fight against drifting and sleepiness - if you have ever read the book Pilgrims Progress you will remember that the closer they got to the kingdom the sleepier they became. We need to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. It is very easy to drift a long ways without knowing it. And soon you find yourself doing what you never thought you would do. The only remedy is to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ every day of lives through watching and prayer. Hindrances to Victory: Being familiar with sin and evil by TV or by association Not making a clear decision right away Thinking about the temptation for a long time Not focusing on those things that are good and pure and noble Knowingly sinning in one area and expecting God to give you the victory in another. Not giving Christ our whole life, if we hold back part, He is not able to work as he would like to. (Heb 12:1-2 [KJV]) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Rev 3:21 [KJV]) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev 12:11 [KJV]) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev 14:12 [KJV]) Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. I am not going to tell you what areas you need to overcome in. I dont know what you struggle with. I only know what I struggle with. But I think all of us have something in our lives that is bringing us down, or that is drawing us away from Christ. These habits or issues in our lives are something we wish to overcome but often we are like Id rather wait until tomorrow to get the victory. or This isnt so bad. Everyone else is worse than me. It may be something that we are watching that we know Christ would not have us watch. Or something that we do. Or something that we know is hurting our health and maybe our relationship with Christ. Or Anger. Or Selfishness. Or Pride. We all have something. And when overcome one thing, we will find that there are other things as well. But Christ can deliver us

from all. But weve found today, the promises of God tell us we can get the victory over sin. There may be a struggle but if we rely on Christs strength we will gain the victory and our life will be much better for it. If you would like this victory stand with me for the closing hymn.