May 1, 1991 Issue
by Tony Melton

We hear it preached that Christians can be victorious over sin, and the Bible teaches that sin shall not have dominion over us (Rom 6:14). Nevertheless, we see and hear of many Christians failing to overcome sin.

Why is this? One reason Christians fail to conquer temptation and sin is because they try to do so without God's help. It can't be done.

We can receive God's assistance by putting on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6). Without this armor a Christian is like a soldier going into battle without any weapons or protection. In Ephesians six, God reveals to us two reasons why we need to put on the whole armor:

1. That we may be able to stand against the wiles (strategies and the deceits) of the devil (Eph 6:11).

2. That we may be able to withstand in the evil day (Eph 6:13).

These verses show that only those who are dressed in the armor of God can defeat Satan and overcome temptation. If we want to overcome sin, then we must put on the God-supplied armor. The parts of the armor are truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God (Eph 6:14-17). Each piece of the armor can be obtained in one place--the Bible.

Why is it that many Christians are failing to overcome sin? The main reason is simply because they are not reading, studying, and listening to God's word on a regular and consistent basis. Even preachers, who seemingly study the Bible regularly, succumb to temptation. Why is this? Because their Bible study becomes little more than a time to copy and practice some sermon from an outline book for the purpose of teaching or entertaining other members. Preachers often forget to study to improve and strengthen their own spiritual life.

Often we look for other sources to help us overcome spiritual weakness and sin, but according to God, the power for conquering sin is HIS WORD. When we fail to study God's word, we are failing to seek God's help. By searching God's word diligently, we are diligently seeking God's help.

Other OPA Article Links:

Bible - Study Of
Sin

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