Last week in the Sunday school class that I attend the questions was posed; Can a Christian sin? I think a better question to ask is do you really know what sin is? People will laugh and joke about it even in a Sunday school setting but when you get down to it sin is a horrible thing that traps you and separates you from the Living God. Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34) A slave is owned not free. If you’re a slave you can’t do what you want to do you must do what you’re told. You have no free will as a slave. If a slave tries to leave and escape he will be hunted down and captured then forced to obey his master. People call Jesus Lord; if you plug the word lord into your thesaurus you will get the word Master. Remember a slave has no rights he is owned; your master as the Apostle Paul puts it is your sinful nature. You are owned, you can’t make decisions for yourself, so no matter how much you want to be free inevitably you will obey your true master which is your sinful nature. Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13) No matter what you may say with your mouth your actions will always give proof to who your true Master is. So the question arises; are you a slave of righteousness or unrighteousness. Are you bent on serving yourself or serving the Lord? Jesus said: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Taking up your cross means to die to self. To follow Jesus means to cast aside your own selfish desires and follow the commands He has laid out for us to follow. Jesus said: “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” (John 15:23)
Jesus is the son of God! Jesus said: “A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a Son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, your are truly free.” (John 8:35-36) If Christ being the Son of God has set you free from your slavery to your sinful nature then you’re free and under no obligation to sin. You’re no longer controlled by your sinful nature you’re free to choose. We are all guilty and there is a penalty for sin called Hell, but Christ has paid the price for our sins with His blood and all you and I have to do to be saved is repent and trust alone in Jesus Christ then and only then will you be free. “Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.” (Romans 6:18) Human effort accomplishes nothing; we don’t conquer sin by stamping out desire. When you put your faith and trust in the Savior Jesus Christ you will receive His Holy Spirit and it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ that will transform you. You will become a new creation with new desires no longer a slave of your sinful nature but you are truly free. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
