Barriers to change
Proud self reliance – our attitude to sin is often more self centred than God centred (anger at oneself for sin is a veiled form of pride) BUT cf. Mic 6:8
Proud self justification – we think we’re okay alone
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Excusing sin – Gen 3:11-13 – e.g. context, upbringing, personal history, biology BUT cf. 1 Cor 10:13
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Minimising sin – “it was a little sin; everyone does it” BUT Is 66:2
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Hiding sin – won’t change if costs other’s approval(see 1) BUT cf. Prov 28:132; … We need to remember that grace disarms the fear of exposure
Hating the consequences of sin but not the sin itself – We need to be violent with sin. If we hold back, it’s almost certainly because we don’t want to be violent towards something we still love.
Satan’s six arguments to keep us sinning (John Flavel)
1. The pleasure of sin – it’s so good!
The pleasures are real but so are the flames of hell
2. The secrecy of sin – no-one will ever know!
We cannot hide from God
3. The profit of sin – i’ll gain so much!
But might lose my soul
4. The smallness of sin – why worry!
There is no little hell for little sinners; and the less the sin the less reason to commit it.
5. The grace of God – He will pass this over!
There is no promise of mercy for presumptous sinners. Shall we turn grace into a reason for sin?
6. The example of others – Plenty have done it and been restored!
Such examples are not for me to copy but to warn me in light of their suffering
1“it is one thing to make a resolution; it is something completely different to repent, diligently seek counsel and, in concert with others , develop a plan that is concrete and Christ centred”
2Jn 3:20-21
