Station 7 / 10
The fight
Becoming like Jesus: forgiven at once, changed over time.
You're probably here if
- you keep falling into the same sin
- you've realised that following Jesus means real change
- you feel the pull between your old self and your new life
- you're tired of fighting alone and in secret
What this is
When you trust Jesus, you are forgiven completely, at once. Becoming like Him takes a lifetime, and it is not optional. The Bible calls this sanctification. The Spirit and your old nature pull against each other, and Paul's answer is: “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). He also warns: “if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).
Sin's power is broken. You died and rose with Christ, so sin is no longer your master (Romans 6:6-14). God always provides a way out, so you can stand up to any temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). The pull may stay in this life, but it no longer owns you.
Put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24): lies become truth, stealing becomes honest work, harsh words become kind ones. God renews your mind with His truth (Romans 12:2), and the Spirit grows fruit in you that you could never produce alone (Galatians 5:22-23).
Don't fight in the dark. Confess to God, and He forgives and cleanses you (1 John 1:9). Confess to a Christian you trust, and you get prayer and support (James 5:16). When temptation hits, open Levo.
Hold on to this
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Read slowly: Dead to sin, alive to GodRomans 6:1-14
1What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. 13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
To put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
Where to next
- Name your main battleWrite down the sin that trips you most and when: time, place, mood.Do it in Levo
- Plan your way outDecide now what you'll do when it hits: leave the room, call someone, open Levo, pray.Do it in Levo
- Practise the oppositePractise the opposite of your sin this week. Envy becomes thanks, anger a gentle answer, lust honour.Do it in Levo
- Tell one trusted personChoose a mature Christian of the same sex, tell them the truth and ask them to check in weekly. If you're under 18, choose a parent or a youth leader your church has approved. No adult should ask you to keep secrets.Do it in Levo
- Confess quickly when you fallDon't hide or wait to feel better. Tell God at once, receive forgiveness and get up (1 John 1:9).Do it in Levo
- Learn one verse by heartFind a verse for your battle and say it when tempted, as Jesus answered the devil with Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11).Do it in Levo
Watch out: Willpower alone
Trying harder alone ends in pride when you win and despair when you lose. Lean on the Spirit, God's word and other believers. Grace trains you to say no (Titus 2:11-12).
Pray
Lord Jesus, thank You that sin is no longer my master. When temptation comes, show me the way out and give me strength to take it. Change my desires, not only my behaviour, and make me more like You.
4 weeks at this station
A short step most days, about five minutes, with two open days a week. Read any day ahead; you tick it off on its day.