What About ‘Besetting Sins’?’

‘But if by the Spirit you put to death the desires of the sinful nature, you will live …’ Romans 8:13

As we come to the end of our study about how you and I can overcome temptation we should look finally at the contrasting teaching of Pharisaism.

Occasionally we meet people, especially religious people, who take the view that we can be motivated to change by being punished or through intentional suffering.

When the teachers of the law and the Pharisees wanted to kill the woman caught in adultery, Jesus responded by not condemning her and simply telling her to leave her life of sin, John 8:1-11.

Jesus was strongly critical of the Pharisees; ‘you tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on people’s shoulders’. In direct contrast he invited everyone; ‘Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light - Matthew 23:4 and 11:28-30.

No human beings are changed and become more holy and Christlike by receiving severe beatings, by obeying hard religious laws, or by harsh fasting, frugality, or deprivation. Harsh discipline does NOT make us more loving, or more kind.

Our hearts are NOT filled with love for Christ through having others inflict pain on us. The outcome over time from such an approach is likely to be the very opposite. People become hard and calloused.

We change as over time we learn to love Christ more than the desires of the sinful nature, as we learn how to pray ‘thy will be done’ and ‘lead us not into temptation’, as we learn how to practice godliness, and as we learn how not to make provision for the sinful nature.

We are changed by the word of God: ‘be transformed by the renewal of our minds’ Romans 12:2

We are changed by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit; ‘But if by the Spirit you put to death the desires of the sinful nature, you will live for those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God’ Romans 8:13-14.

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