And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (Hebrews 10:11)

Killing and Then Removing Sin

The new covenant attacks sin in three ways: by forgiving it, by killing it and finally by removing it. The removing of sin from the creation is one of the ultimate goals of the Christian redemption.

The grace of God in forgiving sin is so well understood there is no need to discuss it further. The forgiveness of sin is not the unique benefit of the new covenant because sin was already forgiven by the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats under the Law of Moses.

And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. (Leviticus 4:20)

First let us discuss what we mean by killing sin.

Killing sin: In several passages of the New Testament we are commanded to stop sinning.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (I Corinthians 15:34)

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 5:24)

(One wonders what the antinomians and dispensationalists do with such verses!)

Under the present covenant we are able to kill the vitality of the sin that dwells in us.

There are three basic forms of sin: worldliness, the lusts of the flesh, and self-will.

We put worldliness to death by praying to God to help us turn away from the things of this world. We present our body a living sacrifice. We refuse to be conformed to this present world. We are transformed by the renewing of our mind as we pray, study the Scriptures, and meet together with fervent Christians.

We put the lusts of the flesh to death by confessing them to God and asking His help in forgiving us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

First we must ask the Lord to give us the determination to say no to the particular sin that is troubling us. As soon as we gain the determination we confess the sin to God and allow Him to put it to death in us. We draw from the Lord the steel so we never again yield to this temptation. When we make up our mind to get rid of a behavior and go to the Lord about it in a determined manner, it will not be long before the behavior loses its power over us. Try it and see for yourself.

The battle against sin never ceases. As long as we walk in open confession of sin and an attitude of repentance, the blood of Jesus continues to keep us without condemnation. When we cease confessing and repenting of our sins and begin to go back into the world, we come under condemnation.

Then we are chastened of the Lord.

To be continued.