How can I overcome a habitual sin?

How do I overcome a habitual sin? We're going to answer that question.

The first thing to consider in how to overcome a habitual sin is to note the change that takes place when a person is saved.

The Bible describes the natural man as dead in sin and trespasses. As a result of Adam's fall into sin, man is born spiritually dead.

In this state, man is unable and unwilling to obey God, and habitual sin follows naturally.

When a person is saved, a transformation takes place. Paul refers to this as the new creation.

From the moment we place our faith in Christ, we are in the process of sanctification.

Sanctification is the process in which those who are saved are conformed by the

Holy Spirit into the image of Christ. Sanctification in this life will never be fully complete, meaning that believers will always struggle with sin.

Paul describes this battle with sin in Romans 7, 15 -25. He does the evil he doesn't want to do and fails to do the good that he wants to do.

Here, he is describing every Christian's struggle with sin. James says we all sin in many ways.

Experience tells us that we all struggle with sin differently, perhaps one sin being more of a tripping point for one believer than another.

We refer to a sin that is particularly difficult for us to overcome as a habitual sin.

These besetting sins are often, but not exclusively, habits that we developed during our lives as unbelievers and require more grace and discipline to overcome.

Part of the process of overcoming these habitual sins is recognizing the transformation that has taken place within the believer.

Paul writes, So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ.

Paul is telling us to remember that, in coming to Christ, the power of sin has been broken in our lives.

As Christians, we are set free from sin's mastery over us. Therefore, when a Christian sins, it is no longer out of the necessity of his nature, but because he has willfully submitted himself to sin.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

The Christian struggle against sin is one in which our ability does not match our desire.

That is why we need the power of the Holy Spirit who works sanctification in the people of God.

Habitual sin is overcome as we submit to God and refuse the temptations of the flesh.

Another part of the process of overcoming habitual sin is to change the habits that facilitate it.

A relevant story is that of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. We must take every effort to run from the things that tempt us to sin.

This means removing the things that tempt us even when we enjoy them. In short, we have to change the habits that lead to habitual sin.

Finally, we need to immerse ourselves in the truth of the gospel. The gospel is not just the means of salvation, but also the means by which we are sanctified.

If we think we are saved by grace, but sanctified by our own efforts, we fall into error.

Sanctification is as much a work of God as justification. The promise we have from scripture is that he who began a good work in us will complete it on the last day.

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