Here’s The Best Reason For Christians To Avoid Sin
We talk a lot about grace here. We teach total forgiveness. We teach no judgment, no punishment, no fear.
So, that yields an important question. Why not just sin all the time?
Here’s the #1 reason for Christians to avoid sin. It’s not fear. It’s not judgment. It’s not punishment. It’s identity. It’s about recognizing you have totally new desires.
Believe it or not, the old you was crucified with Christ. You are a new Creation.
Believe it or not, God removed your old heart of stone, and gave you a new heart, with new desires.
Believe it or not, the new you will never be fulfilled by sinning. You will only be fulfilled when you walk in the Spirit.
Believe it or not, it’s grace that leads to repentance.
You, my friends, have a new identity in Christ. That’s the reason to avoid sin. Live out why YOU ARE.
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
