February 7th
34Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:34-36 NKJV
11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14 NKJV
13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:13-14 NIV
These passages capture a key concept for sex addicts and others who struggle with habitual sin: we can choose to live as sons of God or slaves to sin. Too often Christians live broken and defeated lives as slaves to sin. Jesus died to pay our sin penalty and rose from the dead to free us from sin’s slavery.
Having a “son mindset” instead of a “slave mindset” will help us to start living in the reality of our freedom from sin. If we recognize who God says we are (a son), then our faith will help us gain additional power to subdue our sinful urges that desire to master us. A helpful verse to claim to this regard is Galatians 4:7 NKJV: “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
As a son, you can stake your claim to life in God’s house as a permanent resident. When Satan comes around to tempt you, you can remind yourself that he is an intruder who is trying to steal your inheritance. No pleasure that sin offers is worth forfeiting your inheritance. As a co-heir in Christ, you can rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus and command him to leave your house.
If you have been living as a slave to sin, take courage that Jesus has already secured your freedom. If you will reckon yourself with him, i.e. confess by faith that you are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ, you can lay hold of that freedom. This is easy to say but challenging to live out because our flesh is not used to submitting to the Spirit’s will. As we exercise obedience to the Spirit, our flesh will learn to submit and will be blessed accordingly.
Questions for further thought:
Why does it seem easier for us to live as a slave to sin rather than a son of God?
What did God tell Cain to do about the sin that desired to master him? (Genesis 4:7)
When we refuse to live as a son of God, how does that reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for us?
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, Thank you for dying for me and purchasing my freedom from sin’s slavery. Please forgive me for not laying full hold of the new life I have as a son of God. I desire to begin living in the reality that I am a son of God and that I am victorious over sin and the devil. Please strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, such that I will walk in obedience and purity for you. Thank you, Lord! I receive that power and I praise you now and forever, Amen.”