Recipe for Living Sin Free

There are two kinds of cooks in this world. There is the kind that just throws everything in and it somehow turns out right. And there is the other kind – my kind. I’m the kind of cook that gets a hold of the recipe and doesn’t let go until the dish comes out of the oven perfectly made.

The thing I’ve learned in my short cooking lifespan is that to become the kind of chef that can just throw things together and come up with an edible dish you have to have cooked many dishes step by ridiculous step.

When you’re relatively new to cooking, someone can tell you to make a lasagna and you would intuitively know that you’d need pasta, tomatoes, meat, and a bunch of spices, but you better believe that without a recipe the dish that would turn up would be quite a far cry from your mother’s lasagna.

My blog about sinning yesterday was a little like asking you to make lasagna without giving you a recipe: totally unfair! I mean, who doesn’t want to stop sinning? Most Christians who fall in a pattern of habitual sin hate that sin, and desperately want to quit it. The question is HOW?

I’ve compiled a short recipe for you that for many readers may have to be followed to the nth degree at first. I’ll confess that I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years and I still have to get that recipe out on a regular basis and make sure I’ve got the right steps and ingredients. I hope the practical-ness of the word of God helps you as you grow in your obedience to Him.

1. READ. I mean read the Bible. This is the main ingredient you will need for this recipe. God speaks to us through His word. Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 4:12-13 are key verses in understanding the importance of God’s word. You want to know the truth? Start by reading God’s word.

2. ADMIT. Admit that you have a sin problem. I John 1:8 says that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves. Don’t deny it. Admit it.

3. BE SPECIFIC. Identify your sin problem. In John 16:7-11 we are given the Holy Spirit’s job description. Part of His job is to convict us of sin. He does it specifically, not generally. Be specific in identifying the root of your sin problem.

4. AGREE. Confess your sin to God. I John 1:9 says that if we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness. Tell God that you agree with Him in regards ot your sin problem.

5. RUN. Run Forest Run! Proverbs 28:13 describes a critical step in this process. It says “whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”  Do you mean business with God or are you just trying to appease your conscience? If you’re serious about getting over your habitual sin, you’ve got to come to a point of forsaking it! I love the words of Timothy in II Tim 2:21-22. We are told to FLEE youthful lusts! Run for your life!  Run to what, you may be wondering? Well, read on!

6. CHANGE. I’m talking about your habits. Ephesians 4:17-32 and Colossians 3:1-17 are key passages for you. Out with the old, in with the new. Get rid of sin, replace with godly habits. Change means changes. That means that some friends have to be replaced, some things have to be thrown out (for some, it’s the computer, or the television, or some books), and other things have to be integrated into your life (like a new Bible study to fill that gap on Tuesday night when you found yourself busy with sin). You get the idea. If you’re still not sure, send me an email and I can help you out more specifically.

7. TELL. Be accountable to others. I find it harder to go back on a resolution when my whole world is watching to see how I’ll do! It’s a lot easier to give up when you keep your decisions secret. James 5:16 addresses this point pretty directly. Find yourself a couple of trustworthy Christians, or even better, a Small Group of believers that gather regularly at your local church and start sharing your life and struggles with them. That’s how Christians grow!

8. PRAY. I know what you’re thinking. Been there, tried that. And maybe you’ve been sin free for some period of time in the past, but you’ve found yourself back in the clutches of that sin that haunts you. Don’t despair, but understand that you cannot make this recipe work in your own strength. God has to mix the ingredients in your heart for you. No amount of human strength can give you the success that you are looking for. Don’t even try to do this on your own. You will ultimately fail. Read II Corinthians 12:9-10. God’s grace gives strength in our weakness. With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible!

I don’t care what sin you’re struggling with, it’s as easy as pie! Follow these steps from God’s word and live sin free! This is a dish you can’t afford to live without!

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