Assured By Greg GilbertSample

Besetting Sins

Right from the beginning, we should acknowledge that the presence of long-persistent sins is a common experience among Christians—so common that it’s even earned its own shorthand nickname, “besetting sins,” meaning particular sins that continue to plague a Christian over time despite their justification, regeneration, and even ongoing sanctification. 

Sometimes these besetting sins can even become the defining battle of one’s life. Besetting sins take many forms in people’s lives. Selfishness, bitterness, anger, lust, gossip, drunkenness, irresponsibility, laziness, worry—all these and more can persist as pitfalls for years in people’s lives, causing them to fall over and over again. So, how should we think about these besetting sins, especially given the Bible’s teaching that “no one who abides in Him keeps on sinning” (1 John 3:6)? 

Every Christian is beset by sin. How exactly can we say that so unequivocally? Because just as clearly as John says that “no one who abides in Him keeps on sinning,” he also says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1:8). Even after we become Christians, our sin nature remains. Yes, we are set free from the condemnation of sin and its slavery, but the battle between the flesh and the Spirit remains. That’s Paul’s point in Galatians 5. As Christians, we will always be tempted to live according to the flesh, but our call is to continue to fight to “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16) and “keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25).

When it comes to any sin—whether one that’s easily beaten or one that requires a lifetime of warfare—the critical issue is not the behavior itself (after all, not all sins are behaviors at all) but rather how your heart responds to it. Ultimately, this is the essential question: Have you surrendered to sin, or are you fighting it?

The call to fight is a call to every Christian. The important thing in the war against sin is not so much to see victory; that will come in due time, when God permits. For now, the important thing is to make sure you are engaged in the battle. Our fight as Christians is not only against something but also for something—the glories of eternity. 

Does a persistent sin cause you to question your salvation? Are you willing to receive truth from today’s Scripture reading and replace what you feel about besetting sin with God’s Word?