Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, we’ll discover an important caveat of Christ ending of the power of sin.

In today’s scripture, Romans 6:10‭-‬12 (NLT), Paul wrote…
When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

Consider…
One of the definitions Oxford Languages provides for power is, the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.

This is the definition that applies to today’s scripture. Christ died once to break the capacity and ability of sin to direct or influence our behavior.

That’s good news, but what exactly does it mean? I mean according to Psalms 51:5 (ERV)…
I was born to do wrong, a sinner before I left my mother’s womb.

And even the author of today’s scripture confessed…
So if I do what I don’t want to do, then I am not really the one doing it. It is the sin living in me that does it.

• Romans 7:20 ERV

So how can we truly believe the power of sin was broken when Christ died?

I believe the answer is provided in Hebrews 4:15 (ERV), which says…
Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned.

Jesus was living proof that temptation doesn’t make a person sin. If that’s true, then what makes us sin? I humbly submit it’s our desire. Said another way, we sin because we want to. James 1:14‭-‬15 (ERV) explains it this way…
You are tempted by the evil things you want. Your own desire leads you away and traps you. Your desire grows inside you until it results in sin. Then the sin grows bigger and bigger and finally ends in death.

Notice, desire grows until it results in sin. Be honest, how often can you trace your sin to an unchecked evil obsession. Let’s tell the truth, we’re no better than Eve, who willingly submitted to her evil desires within. Look closely at Genesis 3:6 (NLT), which reads…
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

Like Eve, we sin because

• We convince ourselves
• It looks good (fun) to us
• We want the power (wisdom) it offers

1 John 2:16 (ERV) emphasizes…
This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world.

The Holy Spirit just flashed, Adam most likely accepted the invitation to sin, because he secretly felt the same way Eve did. Be honest, usually no one can make you do anything that you don’t want to do.

Still, today’s scripture says Christ died and broke the power of sin. So what was His secret? I believe the answer is found in Philippians 2:7-8 (NLT), which says…
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Jesus chose, and obeyed, His Heavenly Father as His Master, rather than his human desire.

In the same way, just like Joshua challenged the Israelites, we have to choose whom we will serve. (Joshua 24:15)

Romans 6:16 (ERV), reiterates…
Surely you know that you become the slaves of whatever you give yourselves to. Anything or anyone you follow will be your master. You can follow sin, or you can obey God. Following sin brings spiritual death, but obeying God makes you right with him.

That’s the key, we follow who or what we want most. I say most, because like the rich young ruler, I believe we want God, we just may not want Him the most. (Matthew 19:20-22)

Recall, Jesus admonished His disciples (us)…
“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

• Luke 14:26 NLT

Christ is showing us that the power of sin can only be broken by our desire for Him. He demonstrated that while He dwelt among us. In John 6:38 (NLT), He said…
For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

You see, sin had no power over Jesus, because He chose to do His Father’s will, not His own. Jesus always exercised self-control.

Jesus is also stressing the point, that the power of sin decreases as our love for Him increases. Jesus always loved His Father more than Himself.

So today, if you are feeling powerless, instead of powerful, as it relates to sin, I recommend you check your love for Christ thermometer. It could be that you just need to turn up your desire for Him, in order to overcome your desire to sin.

As a matter of fact, Galatians 5:24‭-‬25 (NLT) states…
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

That tells me if Christ is our Lord and Savior, we must sacrifice our passion and desire for sin.

God is asking the same question today that He asked in the garden, will you choose Him or the earthly fruit of sin. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Speaking of fruit, notice the last fruit of the Spirit is self-control. It’s as if the Holy Spirit knew that although Christ broke the power of sin, we would need help overcoming the sinful desires that linger within.

That makes me want to pray Psalm 51:10 (KJV) daily…
Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

Jesus ended the power of sin, the caveat is that it requires complete submission to Him!

Today’s song is….
My Desire

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)