Dr. Henderson was for 25 years, from 1972-1997, the principal English language speaker on Lifeword, an international radio outreach of the Baptist Missionary Association of America.  Dr. Henderson was the Writer of the Adult Sunday School Quartely (Baptist Publishing House, Little Rock, AR) for 39&1/2 years. He  authored four books and numerous religious periodicals.

©Lifeword Broadcast Ministries
Conway, Arkansas
Reprinted by permission

Prisoners Bible Crusade
P.O. Box 696
Picayune, MS 39466

Contents
Understand the Nature of Sin
Recognize the Seriousness of Sin
Receive the Release of Sin
Practice the Abandonment of Sin
Take the Antidote for Sin

Sin is a fact of life even for born-again children of God Christians must not let the presence of sin in their lives make them doubt their salvation or turn aside from a life of holiness. These five radio messages by E. Harold Henderson help the Christian to understand the presence of sin in his life and how to gain victory over sin in his daily walk.

What, in your opinion, is sin? Consider the question before you reply. Your answer is of great consequence. What you believe about sin will influence your total religious outlook. Only as you understand the heinous nature of sin will you (1) turn from it; (2) fly to God for help; and (3) rightly extol Him who saves you from it.

It is not enough that you settle in your mind a definition of sin. You must also understand the mind of God on the subject. It is to an understanding of what the Bible says about sin in relation to your daily experience that this series of messages is addressed.

You are invited to share five studies on the subject "How to Deal With Sin In Daily Life." The study is based on several Biblical presuppositions. (1) Sin is a reality. (2) Sin is hurtful. (3) Sin should be shunned. (4) Sin is a problem in the life of the Christian as well as the non-Christian. (5) Sin must be dealt with daily if the believer lives in unbroken fellowship with God. (6) A Christian can so deal with sin in daily life that his fellowship with God remains unbroken, fresh and vital.

Our study on "How To Deal With Sin In Daily Life" will approach the subject with five suggestions. (1) You must understand the nature of sin. (2) You must recognize the seriousness of sin. (3) You must receive a release of past sin. (4) You must practice the abandonment of all sin. (5) You must partake of the antidote for sin.

Now, let us deal with the first proposition. If you would successfully deal with sin in daily life, you must understand the nature of sin. It is impossible to deal with sin unless you know what sin is. There is widespread misunderstanding at this point. Some people deny there is such a thing as sin, declaring all else a mere "mistake." Yet others view the totality of man’s nature and actions as sinful. Does God give an answer? Does the Bible speak on the subject? Yes, God has spoken in His written word. He defines, describes and demonstrates sin so carefully that there is no need for anyone to misunderstand.

Sin is an act

The Bible declares that sin is any act, which violates the will of God. It is easy for man to understand that concept of sin. When God says, "Thou shalt not" do a certain thing, but man does it anyway, that is sin.

"Transgression" is God’s term to describe sins of action. It means an overstepping of the boundary set by law. It is an open and daring defection against God’s stated will. You see it in Genesis 3 as Eve, knowing full well God’s command concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil ("Thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," Genesis 2:17), "took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat," Genesis 3:6. That is the sin of transgression: going beyond God’s permissive bounds, stepping into forbidden territory. Each person is guilty of that kind of sin. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law, "I John 3:4.

Sins of actions are often called "iniquity," meaning vanity, crookedness, a twisted and leaning disposition, which produces sinful deeds. It was such sins, according to Isaiah 53:5,6, which the Savior bore when He suffered for sinners on the cross.

Sins of action include all deeds, which mark a departure from right. Any turning aside, any moral obliquity accompanied by willfulness, is sin. It is in that sense that God declares, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, "Romans 3:23.

Any lawlessness (spiritual anarchy which denies God’s right to command the life), and trespass (intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority), any failure (missing the mark of God’s divine standard), any error (departure from the right way), any transgression (open and daring defection against the way of righteousness), any act not consistent with the revealed will of God, is sin.

Understand this truth: To deal with sin in daily life, you must deal with those actions, which are not consistent with God’s will.

Sin is more than action; sin is an attitude. It is an attitude of enmity toward God or the things of God. It is described in Colossians 1:21 as a condition of being "alienated and enemies in your mind. " Sin is that attitude of spirit which makes one an "enemy" of God who must be "reconciled" to Him, Romans 5:10. That sinful disposition of mind, which God condemns, is called "the carnal mind" in Paul’s epistles. Hear Romans 8:6-7: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." You see, God makes it plain that one may sin by attitude as well as by action.

The depraved spirit in man produces the "carnal mind," the attitude of enmity (which means, "the strong settled feeling of hatred," and is the bitter attitude or feeling of hostility which one has toward his enemy). That is why the Bible insists that one must be "born again" (John 3:5) so as to become a new creation in Christ Jesus, " II Corinthians 5:17).

If you would deal with sin in your daily life, watch your attitude as well as your actions. Keep your attitude toward God and man pure and upright.

Do not sin with your mind - your inner attitude - any more than you would sin with the members of your physical body.

Sin is a condition

Why does a man sin? He sins because he is a sinner. It is not his actions, which make him a sinner; it is his nature. For instance, why does a tree produce apples? It bears apples because it is an apple tree. The fruit only indicates what kind of tree it is. It is an apple tree in the dead of winter when it has neither foliage nor fruit. So, if you would deal with sin in daily life, you must recognize that the actions of your body indicate the condition of your spirit.

The Bible declares the condition of the unsaved person is the absence of righteousness (Romans 7:18), the presence of darkness (John 3:19,20), the problem of separation (Isaiah 59:2), the presence of emptiness (Psalm 66:18), the pressure of guilt (Romans 3:19) and the problem of corruption (Genesis 6:12; Psalm 14:1). That is to say, the person without Christ is dead in spirit because of trespasses and sins.

Do not be surprised if a corrupt nature within you produces sinful deeds through you. If you want your daily life to be clean, come to God for cleansing of your inner spirit. Jesus warned about trying to wash the outside of a cup while the inside is filled with corruption, Matthew 23:25-26. You need to start with an inner cleaning. Turn from sin; trust Him alone for forgiveness. He will make you a new creature through salvation. Only then will you be able by His grace to deal successfully with sin in your daily life.

Do you have a problem with sin in your daily life? If so, do not be dismayed. The great majority of Christians have the same problem. God knew it would be so. He warned that we would be engaged in a spiritual warfare in which the higher and lower elements of our nature would contest each other. He gave instructions on how to deal with sin in daily life.

I am setting forth-scriptural guidelines to help you live in purity. Last time, we considered this truth: To deal with sin in daily life, recognize that sin can be an action, an attitude or a condition of spirit. Begin at the cross, receiving cleansing and spiritual life through salvation and sanctification in grace. Now, let us pass to a second consideration.

To deal with sin in daily life you must not only recognize what sin is, but also must be aware of what sin does. You must recognize the seriousness of sin. Sin is no small thing. It is deadly serious, effecting as it does your relationship with God and man. Let us consider prayerfully the second guideline: To deal with sin in daily life, you must know what it does.

Consider this solemn word from God, recorded in I Peter 2:11; "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." There it is concisely stated. What does sin do in daily life? Peter replies, "It conducts warfare against your soul." What a solemn word!

You wouldn’t drink water you knew was polluted with death-dealing germs, would you? You wouldn’t eat food you knew would poison your body and destroy your health, would you? You wouldn’t ride in a vehicle you knew was unsafe and would surely crash, would you? Of course not! Then, do not permit sin to enter your daily life; it conducts a state of unceasing warfare against your spiritual life and health.

God is not trying to withhold something good from you when He warns you against sin. His is a heart of love, which desires the best for you. If the prohibitions seem strong, it is because they are so serious; the danger is so great. God wants your happiness and knows you can be happy only when you are holy. So, He inspired the Apostle Peter to preface his warning against sin by the affectionate term, "Dearly beloved." Because He loves you, God wants the best for you. Sin is not the best thing.

Watch out for "fleshly lusts," Peter warns. When passion seeks Gratification in ways not approved of God, it becomes a "fleshly lust" which wars against the soul of the Christian.

So many people are under tragic slavery to lust. Their habitual self-indulgence has made them bondslaves to sin and has robbed their lives of its deeper meanings and higher joys: Do not indulge the flesh with outward acts nor inward wishes. You were not born to be the servant of your fleshly desires but to be their master instead.

How can a Christian control lust? I suggest three things: (1) Never permit passion to be aroused apart from the control of your will and reason. In other words keep a level head. (2) Permit passion to be aroused only when it is the proper answer to a valid need. (3) Always stop the passion when and where it should. You can have victory over fleshly lusts.

What does it mean to "abstain" from fleshly lusts? It means to refrain from obeying them, to refrain by an act of the will. Do you ask how? I suggest that you flee the first prompting; kill before there is a harvest. Pluck them up like weeds growing in your lawn before their seed can mature and increase their number. Never cultivate fleshly lusts by satisfying it in an unbecoming manner. Men are set on lower pleasures only because they do not know the higher. Observe God’s warning to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," Ephesians 5:11. Immunize yourself by prayer, resolve, Bible study and Christian fellowship.

I can imagine someone thinking, "God made us as we are. He put passions in us as a part of our nature. Why is there any harm in permitting one to satisfy his passions’?" It is not the satisfaction of passion, which is condemned in Holy Scripture. It is the satisfaction of passion outside the areas assigned of God. Then it becomes "fleshly lust" and an enemy to our spiritual welfare.

Battle those "fleshly lusts," for they "war against the soul." Fleshly lusts are not engaged in a onetime battle against the soul. They carry on an active and continuing campaign. The purpose of Satan is to conquer you and rule you through the normal human passions you experience. "Do not yield the members of your body as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God, " Romans 6:13.

Satisfaction of the lusts of the flesh may seem harmless and very enjoyable. God warns that they are not as they seem. Learn a lesson from history. In ancient times, the Greek army laid siege against the city of Troy. After days and days of battle, it became obvious they could not take the city.

So the Greeks built a large wooden horse, let it in the plain before the city of Troy, returned to their ships and departed. Citizens of Troy thought the horse was left behind by the Greeks as an admission of defeat, and they drew it inside their city with great celebration. They did not realize that inside the hollow structure of the horse, Greek soldiers were hidden. While the city slept, the soldiers quietly left the horse and opened the gates of the city to the Greek army, which had returned in their ships under the cover of darkness. Carnage raged, and the city fell with a great slaughter. Hear the warning dear Christian. Innocent appearing lust is as that wooden horse. If you let "fleshly lusts reign in your body, you are betraying your own soul. Your spiritual life will surely suffer.

Remember, child of God, that you are a "stranger and a pilgrim" in this world. Your citizenship is in a heavenly country. The language and manners of this present age are not like those in the country to which you are going. Do not let your affections settle here as if this were your permanent home. Since you are "risen with Christ, seek those things which are above . . . set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, "Colossians 3:1-2.

Remember, too, that your purpose on this earth is to glorify your Father who is in heaven, not to satisfy your lusts, which are limited to earth. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. " Matthew 5:16.

Here is how to deal with sin in daily life: Recognize that sin is the enemy of our soul; flee from it; ask God for deliverance from its dominion and cleansing from its defilement. "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh... If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. "Galatians 5:16,25

How does one deal with sin in daily life? The far too common method is to resolve to do better, to quit some sins, to turn over a new leaf. That is good, but it is not enough. An honest dealing with sin must not only take into account a change in future conduct; it must also deal with past failures.

Consider these questions: (1) Recognize that sin may come in the form of an act (transgression of God’s known will), an attitude (dislike for the will and way of God) or a condition (state of hostility toward God). Sin takes many forms. (2) Realize that sin is very serious since it carries on a warfare against your best spiritual interests. (3) Receive God’s offered forgiveness of all sin that, being released from its guilt and government, you may be able to live worthily in the present and the future. It is the third suggestion, which we now consider.

God offers the remedy for your sin through His Son, Jesus Christ our Savior. You can deal successfully with sin in daily life only when you receive forgiveness and cleansing through Him.

Sin brings a curse. God’s law carries this solemn judgment: the sinner is under the curse of his sin. God warned of that curse, announcing, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die, " Ezekiel 18:20.

Someone may object, "That is not the Christian view of God, is it?" Yes, it is the Christian view. However, the prophet Ezekiel goes further to record the words of God, saying, "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live," Ezekiel 33.11. The Christian’s God moves in justice against sin and pronounces the judgment of death upon it, but He also moves in mercy toward the sinner, offering forgiveness and eternal life to him.

Read Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." He bore our sins in His own body when He went to the cross. He died in our place and stead. He suffered as a guilty sinner though He did not sin that we might be made righteous in Him. You can deal with sin only as you accept what Jesus Christ did for you when He died on the cross and rose again. He bore your curse that you might go free.

Ephesians 1:7 speaks of Jesus as the One "in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. According to the riches Of his grace." From curse to cleansing, from death to deliverance, from guilt to glory, Jesus has redeemed those who trust Him as personal savior.

Do you ask, "How can I receive the blessing He offers?" I John 1:9 replies, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "(1) Here is your part in dealing with sin: you must confess your sins. To confess does not mean to enumerate. God already has the complete list of your sins. To confess means, "to agree with." It means to accept God’s verdict that you have sinned. It means to be willing to face your record before God and to set it straight. That is your part. (2) God’s part is to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. To forgive means to take away; to cleanse means to purge and make pure. God does both. When you bring your sins to Him, He takes them away and makes you pure and clean.

How can you be sure that if you confess your sins to Him, He will forgive and cleanse? The Bible declares that He is "faithful" and "just." That means He is trustworthy, dependable; He will do the right thing. The text promises: If you will agree with God concerning your sins, admitting your involvement and personal guilt in them, you can absolutely depend on Him to do the right thing about them; which is, in view of Jesus’ death and resurrection, to forgive them and to cleanse you from their stain.

God does not simply clean up the old carnal nature and try to get it to behave. He makes a person over again - makes Him a new creation - in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah was instructed of God to go to the potter’s workshop to learn a spiritual lesson. He watched the potter at work forming a vessel on his wheel. In the process, the vessel was marred. The potter did not throw it away; instead, he molded it anew and made of the same material a vessel, which pleased him. God is like that potter. You are like that clay. You are blemished, but you are not abandoned. God will make you over, make you a new person in Christ, just as the potter made a goodly vessel from a blemished one.

II Corinthians 5:17 reads, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new." That will happen to you if you come to God with your sins and ask for His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

How can a man become righteous when he is guilty of sin? How can he who is accustomed to do evil suddenly begin to do good? It is as impossible as it is for the leopard to change his spots or the black man to change the color Of his skin, Jeremiah 13:23. What hope is there for a man who has sinned? How can he be righteous?

The Bible replies that he becomes righteous in Christ. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to him. He no longer has mere human self-righteousness, but the righteousness of God Himself. II Corinthians 5:21 expressed it thus: "Him who knew no sin he made sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in him" (literal translation). The Apostle Paul expressed wonder at being in Christ, "not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, "Philippians 3:9.

You can know Christ’s righteousness in the place of your unrighteousness. "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification Romans 4:3, 23-25. God will impute His divine righteousness to you in the place of your sins when you confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing.

Consider carefully the suggestion: If you would deal with sin in your daily life, receive the release of every sin by confession to God and petition for forgiveness. That way, each sin is taken away, and full fellowship with God is restored. Follow this suggestion, and you will know the fullness of joy, which comes to the human spirit in the unhindered presence of God.

Would you like to be a spiritual Christian? Would you like to know daily victory over temptation and sin? You can. God tells you how in His Word. Consider carefully as I set forth-another guideline, which will enable you to enjoy an abundant life in Christ.

This is the fourth of five guidelines, which will help you deal with sin in daily life. Take a moment to review. (1) If you would properly deal with sin in daily life, you must understand that sin is any act of rebellion or trespass against the government of God, whether it is by act, attitude or condition. (2) If you would be pure day by day, you must recognize that sin contests your higher spiritual good and opposes your joy in the Lord. (3) If you would know daily victory over sin, you must experience forgiveness of all past sin. Forgiveness is offered by God’s grace and received through man’s faith in Jesus Christ. (4) If you would properly deal with sin in daily life, you must practice the abandonment of sin.

The Bible repeatedly calls for sin to be abandoned, given up and forsaken. Here are typical statements.

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, " Isaiah 55:7.

"If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. "Job 11:14.

"Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, "Ephesians 4:22.

"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 run with patience the race that is set before us, "Hebrews 12:11.

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, " I Peter 2:11.

Those passages are but typical of the many times God calls us to forsake sin in order to live in righteousness. There is no room to question God’s will in the matter. The only question is "How may a man forsake his sin and live in righteousness day by day?" The answer can be found in Romans 13:12-14, which reads, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not is rioting and drunkenness, not is chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof"

God clearly informs us how to abandon sin. (1) He admonishes, "Make no provision for the flesh, " (2) commands, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Investigate the meaning and application of those two divine injunctions.

What does that statement mean? The term "flesh" is used with five different meanings in the Bible. (1) It is the soft substance of the physical body which covers the bones and is permeated with blood, Genesis 2:21. (2) It is the material body of man as opposed to the spirit which lives within, John 1:14. (3) It is the creatures of the animal world as opposed to the vegetable kingdom, Genesis 6:17. (4) It is the intimate and permanent relationship which exists between the husband and wife, Genesis 2:24. (5) Spiritually, it is the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence; it is that part of man’s nature, which is prone to sin and to be opposed to God. Whatever in man is weak, low, depraved and tending to ungodliness or vice is the "flesh" nature, Romans 7:14; 8:8.

If you would like a holy life, "make no provision" for the flesh nature within you to satisfy itself. Make sure that you provide no opportunity for the lusts of the flesh to be satisfied improperly. Do not think on any plan whereby the flesh can find illicit satisfaction. Instead, say "No" to the flesh on every occasion. Occupy yourself solely with Jesus Christ. The "flesh" expresses itself in "lusts" - a craving with strong desire for that which is forbidden. You cannot be spiritual and obey the flesh.

How will the flesh act when it is pampered and permitted expression?

(I) It will express itself in the public sins of intemperance - rioting and drunkenness (reveling and dissolution). (2) It will express itself in private sins of impurity - chambering and wantonness (immorality and indecency). (3) It will express itself in social sins of discord - strife and envy (quarreling and jealousy). It is evident that you cannot live a pure life if you permit the "flesh" to express itself. Therefore, practice the control of the flesh by the abandonment of every type of sin.

The alternative to control by the flesh is control by the Lord Jesus Christ. You will be subject to one or the other.

What does it mean to "put on" Christ? To put on another person denotes the complete assumption of his nature. It refers to the most intimate spiritual union and appropriation.

"Christ put on man in nature and condition, man should put on Christ in disposition and character. He became partaker of our physical nature; we Should become partakers of His moral nature"—J. Brown.

That is the repeated abomination of Holy Scripture. Romans 13:14 advises us to "put on Christ. "Ephesians 4:24 counsels to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness," Colossians 3:12 says we should put on Christ likeness. Ephesians 6:11-14 suggests we put on the whole Christian armor. Each text declares that spiritual victory is possible only as the believer turns from sin to become more like Jesus Christ.

Do you understand what God is saying to you? If you would deal with sin in daily life, so as to be a sure and victorious Christian, you must practice the abandonment of sin for the sufficiency of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is in the world to convict men of their sins. He will make you know if there is anything in your life, which is contrary to God and your best spiritual interest. The moment He brings any sin to your attention forsake it, confess it, and ask for forgiveness of it. God will forgive you and cleanse you. You can start over again with a clean record before God.

Hear this solemn word from Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Be honest with God. Settle the sin problem with Him right now. Then give up all right to continue in sin. Make self come down from the throne of your life and let the Savior rule instead. That is the way to enjoy true spiritual victory.

If you would truly deal with sin in daily life, practice the abandonment of every sin that Jesus may reign supreme.

The statement is attributed to D.L. Moody, an evangelist of a generation gone. He was referring to a particular book when he spoke the words. See if you can identify the book of which he spoke. The statement is:

"This book will keep you from sin: or sin will keep you from this book." I’m sure you recognize immediately that Mr. Moody was speaking of the Holy Bible.

Written originally on skins of animals or material made form dried reeds, the Bible came to us through forty different writers whose lives covered a time period of about 1600 years. Its human authors were kings, statesmen, herdsmen, tax collectors, fishermen, prophets, priests and others. Its divine author was God. The record was written from the wilderness of Sinai, from the cliffs of Arabia, from the hills and hamlets of Palestine, from the king’s palace in Jerusalem, from the prisoner’s dungeon in Rome and from the lonely island of Patmos in the Agean Sea. It has been copied laboriously by scribes translated into more than one thousand languages by scholars and has been the annual best seller among books for generations.

The Bible is not a jumbled collection of myths, fables and visions. It is a living textbook of religion. The New Testament is enfolded in the Old Testament; the Old Testament is unfolded in the New Testament. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a consistent progression of divine revelation. It contains truth beyond estimation.

I am excited about what God has done in giving us the Bible. There is no book like that Book. Indeed, it is "The Book." Its influence in the lives of men and nations is beyond estimation. Mr. Moody was correct when he said, "This book will keep you from sin; or, sin will keep you from this book."

In this fifth study on the subject "How To Deal With Sin In Daily Life" we must consider the place of the Bible in keeping pure the life of the Christian. Someone may ask, "Will the Bible really help me to keep my life pure?" The answer is, "Definitely, yes!" Read Psalm 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Jesus pointed out the cause of religious error in His generation, saying, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures. Nor the power of God. "Matthew 22:29.

God wants your life to be free from sin. He has given His inspired word, the Holy Bible, to keep you from sin. Like the inoculation, which the physician gives to keep you from catching some contagious disease, so God gives His Word to keep you pure. If you would properly deal with sin in daily life, take large doses of the antidote for sin; study the Holy Scripture and live By what you learn.

II Timothy 3:16,17 reads: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of god may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

My heart aches with spiritual immaturity in myself or in others. How wonderful it would be if all inefficiency, inadequacy, failure, moral breakdown and sin were gone. God wants it so. He desires that each Christian grow, becoming increasingly complete and competent at each stage of his development. He wants each child of God to be a man of God. Therefore, God has given His word to aid our growth so we can increasingly conquer sin and live the life of Jesus Christ.

Expose yourself to the Word if you would be a mature and victorious Christian. II Timothy 3:17 confirms that the end result of exposure to God’s Word is that the believer becomes "perfect" and "thoroughly furnished" unto all good works.

To be "perfect" does not mean to be sinless. It rather means to be complete, ready, prepared, and proper. It is used of a woman who prepares her house for guests. When all things are in their proper place, her house is "perfect’ - in full readiness for their arrival. Let the Christian give proper place for the Word of God in his life, and he will be in full readiness for whatever ministry God intends for him.

As if one analogy is not enough, the Holy Spirit added another. The man of God, taught by the Word of God, is not only "perfect" (in a state of readiness); he is also "thoroughly furnished." That means he is equipped for the task. The term "perfect" and "thoroughly furnished" were sometimes used to describe a soldier who is trained and equipped for duty. God’s Word will make you prepared and equipped, if you will give it due place in your life and thoughts. That is God’s goal for you as one of His beloved children.

The Word of God is "profitable" because it works out that blessed result in the obedient Christian. Expose yourself daily to His word and you will find yourself daily growing in His grace and strength.

(1) The Word of God is profitable for instruction. The Christian never gets out of school. Anytime he ceases to learn of God, he begins to be less a man of God. You can never be a man of God unless you have the doctrine of God’s Word implanted and increasing in your heart and mind. Each Christian is to attend the school of Christ, taught by the Holy Spirit, with his textbook being the Holy Scripture. The Bible will teach you what you can be, and Should be, in Christ.

(2) The Word of God is profitable for reproof. In those areas where there has been the intrusion of sin, or the lack of development, the Bible will reprove you. That rebuke will lead us to repentance and improvement. It is not enough that you judge yourself. It is the business of the Holy Spirit to use the Bible to reprove us.

(3) The Word of God is profitable for correction. That is to say, it leads us from error to truth, from sin to righteousness. It rests the direction of the life. As an ancient divine expressed it, "I thought on my ways and turned my feet to thy testimonies."

(4) The Word of God is profitable for instruction. It shows the way of righteousness and enables us to walk therein. Through its discipline, we become involved in a spiritual education, which is essential to holiness in heart and life.

Therefore, if you would successfully deal with sin in your daily life, stay close to the Word of God. Through doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, it will make you completely prepared and thoroughly equipped to engage in any good work God designates. How else can you become the kind of Christian He has put it in your heart to be?

And now, we have come to the conclusion of this series of studies. I have given you five suggestions on "How to Deal With Sin in Daily Life." Here is the list: (1) Understand the nature of sin - that it may express itself as an act, attitude, or condition. (2) Admit the seriousness of sin - that is it carries on warfare against your soul. (3) Receive a release from sin - accepting cleansing through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. (4) Practice the abandonment of sin - turning at once and completely from each sin of which the Holy Spirit convicts you. (5) Partake of the antidote for sin - hide God’s Word in our heart through daily prayer and Bible study to keep you clean and ready to serve. Follow those suggestions, and you will enter with joy into the more abundant life awaiting you in Jesus Christ.

John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. "

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

James 1: 14-15, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. "

Romans 5:8-9, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him!"

Revelation 1:5, "And firom Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood!"

Romans 10:9-10, 13, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation ... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!"

11 Corinthians 6:2, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation! "

Hebrews 11:6, "But without FAITH it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him! "

Matthew 11:28-29, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy' and my' burden is light".

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