The Slavery of Sin

When we are born we have the same instincts of an animal. All our activity is for the benefit of our personal survival. When we are hungry, we cry. When we are thirsty, we cry. It is natural for all animals to seek self preservation. As we grow older we become self conscious. We are aware of our physical and mental needs. We become conscious of how we look so we pay more attention to our grooming and clothes we wear. Mankind is dead in sin, and by the time we reach our teens many are blinded by the gods of this age. We are unable to know or to please God in any way. Our appetites are sensual and we are actively hostile against God because we do not subject ourselves to God.  Nothing of the flesh can please God, for He is holy. The natural man, of his own ability, cannot abide by God’s law.

Believers, on the other hand, are not of the flesh, but of the spirit, and the spirit of God dwells within their hearts. The heart in the Bible is a combination of the mind, emotions and spiritual senses. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10 NKJV So when we accept Christ as our King and Savior we are delivered from the slavery of sin. In Romans 7:14 we read, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but we are carnal, sold under sin.”  We do not understand why we do the things we do. What we want to do we do not practice, but what we hate we do. We make a decision to do what is right, we tell ourselves to turn towards God and live the good life, but when it comes time to do it we don’t. We are a slaves to sin, and as long as we do not put our faith in Christ, we will continue to be so.

  Only Jesus can deliver the natural man from sin. He accomplishes this by His crucifixion and the shedding of His blood. The only way we can live a life free from sin is through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. There is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV Through Christ we exchange our slavery to sin for the righteousness of Him Who is sinless, for even the greatest men who ever roamed this earth were unable to do this of their own ability. We have been programmed to need a Master, and the design of our mind is such that we internally desire to worship God. Paul the Apostle said, “ I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.Romans 6:19 NKJV The reason why so many Christians fail is because we are trying to correct something God gave up on in the Garden of Eden. He gave up on the flesh and condemned it to dust from whence it came.

When we believe in Jesus Christ we instantly become a new person. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NKJV  Through His Son Jesus friendly relations are restored between God and men. Now we can  coexist in harmony, and express to others our compatibility. It then becomes our desire to share the gospel of Christ with others. This is how we glorify our heavenly Father.  Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Corinthians 10:31 NKJV

  If you have not accepted Christ as your Savior I urge you to take a few minutes of your time and tell your heavenly Father that you trust Him, and you believe that His Son, Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected from the dead, so that you can be reconciled with God. Christ took our place and paid our sin debt so that we could become a recipient of salvation. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

If you have already accepted Christ as your Savior and you are not receiving the benefits of your spiritual birthright I urge you to make it a point to spend more time with your heavenly Father in Bible study and prayer (DBS&P). If you do these things I promise, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:32,36 NKJV And you will receive the blessings God has in store for you.