Dead to sin:
Dead to sin: no room for sinful generational characteristics
It is the sinful undesirable generational characteristics that are not to be given any room into our lives. We're to be dead to sin (Romans 7:4). Dead to sin means our senses no longer love the sin, wish to live in sin or condone sin.
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God,” 1 John 3:9.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:11-12.
Each of us has areas of weakness where we'd fall far much easier than others who're strong in these areas. Here's a short list of areas of weakness:
- in dealing with sexual desires (e.g. Samson, David and Solomon)
- an easy money influence (e.g. Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:15-16)),
- craving for alcohol (e.g. Lot (Genesis 19:30-38)),
- “heartless” personality or lack of empathy for the needy (e.g. the rich man that had no empathy for Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)).
The list goes on. It can be a whole book. My book, Breaking Spiritual Strongholds and Healing the Wounded Spirit: Dealing with Root Causes , goes into greater detail on such areas.
Some of these weaknesses may descend from our undesirable genetic or generational characteristics. Such areas of weakness if we repeat them become what some in the body of Christ call generational sins. Generational sins are repeating the sins of any of our parents and ancestors.
Wherever the weaknesses come from weather inherited, through wrong upbringing, or through unpleasant experiences these areas constitute sinful areas when practiced.
They ought not to ever be carried out in our Christian lives since there is no excuse to justify them. In all the four examples above of individuals who had weaknesses in these areas all suffered dearly for it. On untamed sexual desires Samson lost his strength and significance to be used by God. David suffered endless family heartache. Solomon got the bad credit for resulting in a divided Israel (North and South) soon after he died (1 Kings 11:31-33). For many generations the Israelites fought each other.
On the weaknesses of easy money influence Judas Iscariot accepted “thirty silver coins” just to murder Jesus (Matthew 26:15-16).
On the weaknesses of a craving for alcohol Lot did the most disgusting and inhuman things you'd have to read it for yourself (Genesis 19:30-38). It doesn't end their. He had such a week will and loose conscience. This is what alcoholism does to most people. It drastically decreases one's level of conscience, of being able to distinguish between right and wrong.
On the weaknesses of a “heartless” personality or lack of empathy for the needy the heartless rich man went to hell while Lazarus the beggar went to heaven (Luke 16:19-31). The heartless man gained a slice of the world, had a nice time here but lost his soul.
Thus it's not worth entertaining any areas of weakness that are outright sinful. And God is more than able to ensure we walk uprightly against such areas of weakness. Whenever you feel overpowered by any sinful areas take it to the Lord in earnest prayer.
And more still if you have no health problems it's worth fasting over the matters. Chapter 4 “Prayer and Fasting: Major Deliverance and Healing Weapon” deals with this spiritual discipline.
It's not worth allowing our weaknesses to hinder or even abort our destinies – with all that God desires to fulfill in and through each of us. It's worth doing whatever it takes to ensure we're not remote controlled by whatever genetic or inherited influences.
Paul is our great example of a person who victoriously battled the fallen nature. He prevailed over both the genetically inherited weaknesses and inherited weaknesses from the Original sin.
He, like any of us, had his areas that he wrestled with on a constant basis. He admitted he was not perfect and had weaknesses to wrestle with. It is these weaknesses that humbled him, instead of being all puffed up in pride. “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness,” 2 Corinthians 11:29-30.
At one point Paul lost his battle over the fallen nature and he grieved over it. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do… Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Romans 7: 15, 20, 24.
This is the person who ascended to the third heaven, received revelations God said were just for his consumption, and a person that God used to write a third of the New Testament! Yet he was still no superman. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24.
Did Paul lose hope? Not according to the verses that follow up. Paul said, “Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord… Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 7:25; 8:1. Paul fought back by appropriating God's grace available through Christ's work on the cross.
Thus anyone that may experience a fall has plenty of hope - through Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no condemnation for the fall as long as one gets up again. Jesus paid the price for our freedom on the cross. God's grace that is granted to us on the grounds of Christ's work on the cross is available to enable us to get up gain.
More important than getting up is actively guarding against a fall in any area(s) of weakness. Prevention is better than cure. Every fall has its levels of loss and regret, even if we end rising up. The more important the area the bigger the loss and regret.
The “secret” to guarding against any fall is to strive in managing our lives in such a way that we “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to,” Luke 13:24. This isn't an easy journey yet is possible with God who provides the grace for it.
The bible says, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness ... Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires,” 2 Peter 1:2-4.
The Christian life is a challenging call to perseverance and righteous living. Scripture doesn't say it's easy. That's why few make it or desire it. However the bible does say it's possible – through God who provides the grace for it.
It'd be a dishonor to God to make up excuses or to lower the standards because of difficulties of meeting required standards. God is faithful in doing his part of sustaining us as long as we remain faithful in fulfilling our required input.
The bible's prescription for doing our part in guarding against any fall is: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 1:5-7.
Here are prescriptions on a more practical level in guarding against any fall:
- Watching vulnerable areas, guarding areas of weakness,
- Employing biblical disciplines such as fasting when overwhelmed by challenges,
Cultivating intimacy with the Lord – deeper abiding in Christ through Christian disciplines of growing in God's word, obedience, love, charity, prayerfulness, etc.