The Secret to Killing Sin: It’s Not Willpower—It’s Union with Christ
By Eric Mattie
“Killing Sin is not a book to read; it is a life to live.” -Karl Clauson from Kill Sin: Conquering the One Thing That is Defeating You
The Lord does not call us to a life of reading, but to a life of applying what we read. The father in Proverbs urges his son to apply wisdom in living. Jesus paints a picture at the end of his teaching of the Sermon on the Mount. He says those who apply His teaching will be like someone who builds their house on a firm foundation instead of a sandy ground that crumbles in storms.
But how does this work? We know that the Christian life is not simply a set of principles to make us better. It is a reconciling relationship that makes us new creations in Christ!
This “works” only by the power of the Gospel.
The killing of a sinful lifestyle starts with receiving, by grace (Ephesians 2:8), the forgiveness and pardon through Christ (see 1 John 1:9). But through that same amazing grace, we receive the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit through Christ (see Titus 2:12).
The Bible says that those who believe by faith alone experience a great exchange. When we become united with Christ in His death and resurrection, our sins are exchanged for Jesus’ righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
This means our life with its sin, deadness, and wicked passions has died in Christ. Now raised in new life through Christ, we live with new power and identity rooted in Christ. As new creations, we have new lifestyles and loves that flow from that identity.
In Christ, we live with an empowered grace and filling of the Spirit’s presence every day.
Read: Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 5:18-19
Reflect: Since He is personally ever-present because He indwells you through the Holy Spirit, how do you pause to express your trust in his strength? A quick prayer? A lifting of your hands in a sign of surrender? Something else? Perhaps share your practice in the comments below.
Respond: With daily intention, set a reminder on your phone to surrender and acknowledge the Lord’s strengthening you for the task in the next couple of hours in your daily responsibilities.
Eric preaches, teaches, and serves as a lay elder in his local church and writes regularly at For1Glory.com. He and his wife, Melanie, live in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and have three adult children.