Battling Besetting Sin
Nathan Rages emphasizes that battling besetting sin is a continual spiritual fight fought from a position of faith in the victory Christ has secured through the Gospel.
This sermon addresses the common struggle with besetting sins that all believers face, emphasizing the need to recognize the ongoing battle and the enemy's opposition. It encourages a commitment to keep fighting the battle with faith as the foundational position, rooted in the victory of Christ's work on the cross. The message highlights the promise of victory over sin through the Gospel, despite the challenges and ups and downs in the fight against remaining sin.
Full Transcript
Can you give me some advice for battling besetting sins? A few key verses possibly? Or just encourage them about the doubts that creep in due to remaining sin. Yeah, I just wanted to start with this. The problem with besetting sin is a problem for all of us.
It's not just your problem, whoever asked the question, because you're in some terrible spot. But all of us as brothers and sisters, we deal with issues. Certain sin issues that are extremely hard.
They lie close to our personality maybe. And they're difficult for us. And we have to realize that we are in a fight.
Brother talked about it this morning. Brother Dexter just talked about it. We are in an all-out fight.
And we have an enemy with all kinds of devices to oppose us. And it's a real fight. Don't be discouraged that it feels like a fight.
And just like a war isn't won instantly, there's ups and downs. There's battles lost. And you're back and forth.
But it's a commitment to keep on fighting the battle. And we fight that battle from a basic position of faith. That's to me absolutely crucial.
You can make this all a matter of certain tactics. And we should use all the tactics we think would help us. But we need to approach it from a basic position of faith, a position of victory in the Gospel.
And so, the Scripture I go to is Romans 6. About sin shall not have dominion over you anymore. Why? Because of Christ. What Christ has done.
Because you've been brought into resurrection life. And it's those big truths of Christ in the Gospel that really fortify us for the fight against remaining sin. That God's Word promises I can have victory over this.
This is a fight. It's hard. But it won't be fruitless.
There is victory that is promised. So, a position of faith. Romans 6. It's worth memorizing.
It's worth memorizing the whole chapter. It's so helpful. Also, say 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man as God is faithful, who with the temptation will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we're able to bear, but with the temptation, will provide a way of escape that we might be able to bear it.
Just extremely encouraging words that don't let us off the hook. You can't ever say, well, this temptation's just too hard. This sin problem's just too bad.
No, God's Word says there will always be a way of escape. So we approach it with faith. Faith in Christ and the Gospel.
The promises of God to us. And then that one verse, 1 Corinthians, really helpful as well.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Reality of Besetting Sin
- Everyone struggles with difficult sins close to their personality
- It is a common problem among believers
- We must recognize the ongoing nature of this struggle
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II. The Spiritual Battle
- We are engaged in a real fight against an enemy
- The battle involves ups and downs, victories and setbacks
- Discouragement is natural but must be resisted
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III. Fighting from a Position of Faith
- Faith in the victory of Christ is foundational
- The Gospel provides strength and hope
- Memorizing key Scriptures like Romans 6 is helpful
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IV. God's Promises and Practical Encouragement
- God promises sin will not have dominion over us
- Temptation will not exceed our ability to endure
- God provides a way of escape in every trial
Key Quotes
“The problem with besetting sin is a problem for all of us.” — Nathan Rages
“We are in an all-out fight... And we have an enemy with all kinds of devices to oppose us.” — Nathan Rages
“We fight that battle from a basic position of faith, a position of victory in the Gospel.” — Nathan Rages
Application Points
- Memorize and meditate on Romans 6 to strengthen your faith in victory over sin.
- Recognize that struggling with sin is common and do not be discouraged by setbacks.
- Rely on God's promise of a way of escape when facing temptation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is besetting sin?
Besetting sin refers to persistent sins that are especially difficult to overcome and closely tied to a person's character.
How should believers approach the struggle with sin?
Believers should approach the fight against sin with faith in Christ's victory and rely on God's promises for strength.
Is it normal to experience setbacks in this battle?
Yes, the battle against sin involves ups and downs, and setbacks are part of the process, but perseverance is key.
What Scriptures are helpful in battling besetting sin?
Romans 6 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 are especially encouraging as they remind believers of victory over sin and God's faithfulness.
Does God allow temptations that are too hard to bear?
No, God promises that He will not allow temptations beyond what we can bear and will provide a way of escape.