In my Christian life I have found certain so-called “keys” that helped me overcome sin. These are things which I have learned slowly, through much falling, before I finally came to an overcoming life. The main verse to remember with all these keys is, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6. If I am proud, these keys will not work, but when I am humble they help me to always overcome.
1. Believe that God has called me to always overcome sin
This is important because Satan, who is also called “the accuser”, tries to tell me that I can’t always overcome because I am so easily tempted. It became very clear to me that God chose me when I heard somebody say, “You can be sure God called you if you have a longing to serve Him, because God is righteous and wouldn’t plant that longing in your heart if He hadn’t called you.” That made it really simple for me, because I wanted to be well-pleasing to God. Even if I didn’t even know exactly what that meant at the time.
Since that time, I have believed that God has called me, even when I, for example, see how quickly I am tempted to get angry or impatient, and how truly bad my human nature is. When the accuser tries to use that as an excuse to make me sin, as if I “can’t help it”, I use these words to fight back:
“Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (NCV).
I can be glad that I am in this group of people together with Paul and the many others who have gone before me. I have no reason to become discouraged when I have such company, because God has called me and will help me to always overcome.
2. Admit how weak I am
This key was the hardest for me to come to. I can think I am strong and allow myself many things that I actually shouldn’t, like watching a TV show that I know isn’t good. This makes it harder for me to keep my thoughts pure. I want to be pure, but now I have impure images or jokes in my mind because I watched a TV show I know I shouldn’t have.
I had told myself that if they don’t actually “show” anything impure on the show then it isn’t so bad. But that is a lie, because it is almost impossible to hear something and not get a mental picture of it. It is the same with reading. I have found that these mental pictures can come back and trouble me later, and it is really all because I didn’t see and admit how weak I am when it came to my lusts and desires.
“Some of you say, ‘We can do whatever we want to!’ But I tell you not everything may be good or helpful.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 (CEV).
I need to hold on to this verse, so I don’t drift away from the truth. And the truth is: I am extremely weak, I’m very easily tempted to impurity. The whole world is plagued by it, and I as a Christian will also be troubled by it if I allow myself to look at these things. Each person must find out for themselves what they need to give up in order to be well-pleasing to God and keep themselves pure. For me it means that I need to be very careful what I watch and read and look at on all the different forms of media. I can’t let myself watch or read anything I shouldn’t, if I’m being honest about what is good and helpful and what is upbuilding.
3. Seek fellowship!
This is in close connection with number two. I understand I am weak, but being together with brothers and sisters who fight the same battle can give me strength and can encourage me a lot. As a “soldier” I should never miss an opportunity to build up my strength for battle!
I am lucky enough to be part of a church where there are many people around me who also long to always overcome. It is my responsibility to do what is written in Hebrews 10:24 (NCV):
“Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds. You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming.”
Fellowship and coming together has become important for me because I need it. Without it I start losing power in my life. and forget what is important. This has been a great help for me to come to an overcoming life.
4. Call sin, sin!
I have realised more and more that if I don’t see sin for what it is, then I become careless. What the Bible sees as serious sins have become very normal in the world today.
Backbiting, for example. Everybody backbites. We maybe don’t call it backbiting, but that’s what it is, although people try to justify it. But I have to remember that in Romans 1:30 backbiters are classified together with haters of God! When I understand how God feels about it, then I will see that backbiting is a serious sin.
I need to pray for a growing seriousness and hatred for sin. I should see sin just as God sees it. It is impossible to sin in one area and not start giving in in other areas. Sin creeps. It starts with one area and soon I am back to being bound in many areas. This I have personally experienced and can testify that it is true.