Several people have commented on my two messages from I Peter 2.11. Understanding the nature of sin and why we choose to sin is perplexing, as Paul indicates in Romans 7:15. Pursuing victory over sin can be just as perplexing.

In these messages, my goal was to frame the battle and path to victory. However, when time is limited and issues complex, I can make things too simplistic and insufficiently clear. This is best illustrated by the following statement I received from a dear friend who wishes to remain anonymous:

When we talk about sin, I find myself -- like many others, perhaps -- thinking that the conclusion of it all is simply that we shouldn’t sin, and also that we ought to have accountability partners to nag us about it. The combination of shame and nagging is somehow supposed to solve the problem. I’m not accusing you of preaching such a shallow message, Martin, but I think that is the simplest way that most of us knuckleheads tend to assimilate it.

So, let me clarify: First, shame and nagging is never a viable option for long-term victory! It hasn’t worked for me, and I’ve been at this for 35 years. Second, shame and nagging will never catalyze the kind of transformation of our character that the Spirit desires to accomplish. Conforming to outside pressure rather than inward desire never leads to permanent change.

If the shame and nagging usually associated with accountability doesn’t lead to victory, where can we turn? I believe that victory over habitual sin will require us to look a little deeper and think a little more than we’re used to. When we choose habitual sin, we need to ask, “Why am I doing this?” The answer we usually give is, “It’s my sin nature.” In reality, for the sake of argument, this may be true, but it is by no means sufficient. This answer can even become an excuse to continue to sin. Even before Adam and Eve had a sin nature, they still chose to sin. While we all have a sin nature (depraved and corrupt desires) we still have a choice (Romans 6:1-7; Colossians 3:1-12).

In the March 15 message, I mentioned three reasons we choose habitual sin. Two of them bear repeating here. The first is pleasure: “I do what I do because I like it.” This happens when pleasure becomes my idol and usurps the role of the one true God. When I identify this as my motivation for habitual sin, it ought to grieve my heart and move me toward repentance. If it doesn’t, then this is an indicator that my heart may have become calloused and hard. Knowing this ought to move me to beg God to give me the gift of repentance (2 Timothy 2:25).

The second reason is escape. This happens when I use habitual sin as a narcotic for my soul to numb some deeper pain or depression. Escape from pain and the pursuit of momentary comfort becomes my idol and usurps the rightful place of God. When I identify this as my motivation, it ought to grieve my heart and move me to pursue the one true God and His comfort and strength in the midst of my pain.

When ignored, these idols become the gods of my destruction. The journey that leads to victory requires all of us to repent not only of volitional acts of sin but also of the choice to pursue and set up false idols as gods in place of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Victory is never accomplished alone. Community must play an essential role in this pursuit. While Scripture plainly speaks of confession of sin to one another, the clear intention is that the spiritual discipline of mutual confession should begin with confessing our temptations and vulnerabilities to another trusted individual before they lead to deforming, habitual sin. Often, when confession takes place, it is long after the habits have been formed and consequences take their toll. Mutual confession of temptation (and of vulnerabilities before habits are established) is essential to individual and community spiritual health and victory.

Why would anyone tear down the idols and pursue confessional relationships? First they want to be free from the power of sin and death so that they can grow and thrive on the journey toward victory in Jesus. This is their passion! Second, they are captivated with what Scripture calls the glories of Christ. Simply stated, this means they’re preoccupied with His heart and grace toward them. The thought of this motivates them to pursue Jesus more and more.

Perhaps this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote that the grace of God that brings salvation to humanity teaches us to say “No” to sin (Titus 2:11-14). How does it teach us to say “No?” By saving us and setting us free from the bondage of sin and death and making us alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). In doing this we grow preoccupied with His grace which gave us such an extravagant gift of life, hope and future, and also with our unworthiness of such grace. Paul told the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 4:⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

This is all about becoming a new creation with a new preoccupation. This preoccupation is no longer with fulfilling my own sinful desires; it is with connecting with Jesus. Jesus becomes more and more desirable than all else. Yesterday, a new(er) believer said it best: “Martin, I want to do my best to make sure nothing comes between me and Jesus! I never want to go back to the old ways. What I have now in Jesus is so much better than I’ve ever had before. I never want to go back!” Wow! May we all feel the same way!

Why doesn’t everyone feel this way? Simply stated, if you’re not a Christian, it’s because Satan has “… blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ …” (2 Corinthians 4:4). If you are a Christian, you may have set up false idols of sin.

Again, I can only touch the surface on a very perplexing and complex issue. However, this provides a basic framework. That being said, I must say that this is not truly “The Last Word!” I urge you to e-mail me your questions and comments, or submit them on http://www.GotGodQuestions.org/ so we can continue the dialogue. If you like to read, I highly recommend the thought-provoking and readable book by Cornelius Plantinga, Not The Way It’s Supposed To Be: A Breviary of Sin.