Stop Sinning

Change from a Cycle of Sinning to Freedom in Confession, Repentance and Resistance

The all to familiar cycle of "sin-confess-sin-confess..." needs to be replaced with "sin-confess-repent-resist"

The sin-confess cycle is a never ending cycle, it has truly become a bad habit that seems impossible to break.  At least that's what the devil wants you to believe.   In order to truly stop a bad sin habit, otherwise know as an addiction, we need to add repentance and resistance to the process.

What does the Bible say about Stopping Sin?

Jesus tells people to stop sinning

John 5:13-14 (ESV)
¹³ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

John 8:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

The Apostle Paul tells Christians to stop sinning

1 Corinthians 15:34 (ESV)
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Submit to God's Discipline which Will Yield the Peaceful Fruit of Righteousness

Hebrews 12:3-14 (ESV)   "Do Not Grow Weary"

³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
⁶
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. ¹⁴ Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Present Yourselves to God as Instruments of Righteousness

Romans 6:9-14 (ESV)
⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Consistent Confession of Sin and Repentance are Key to Freedom from Sin

1 John 1:9 (ESV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 3:2,8 (ESV)
² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ... ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death [because sin is still present].

Resistance Must also be Added to the Process of Coming Away from Sin

These scriptures make it clear that God expects us to stop sinning.  And we can stop because Scripture says: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil 4:3) It may not be easy.  Nothing worthwhile in life comes easily - we must expend effort and we must persevere (James 1:2-4).  The Scriptures tell us that we must resist temptation and the sins that can come as a result of not resisting but even that probably won't bring us freedom from our personal sins unless we follow the complete instructions - humble submission to God comes first, right relationship with God should always come first.

James 4:6-8 (ESV)
^6b God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and [then] he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands [stop sinning with your body], you sinners, and purify your hearts [stop sinning in your heart and thoughts], you double-minded.

Here are Our Key Responsibilities in Stopping the Sin Cycle and Addictions

• Confess our Sins to God and One Another (1 John 1:9, James 5:16)

• Repent which Means Turning Away from our Sins (Ezekiel 18:30, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:19-20, Matthew 4:17, Luke 15:7, 2 Cor 7:9-10)

• Resist the Devil's Temptations and Lies (James 4:6-8, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Hebrews 12:3-4)

Related Links...

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