Defilement From Sin

Defilement From Sin

The list that proceeds from such examination pins down the areas in our lives that are still governed by the old, sinful nature of flesh (Romans 7:18). These are the deepest corners of the heart that have not been crucified with Jesus yet. These are the practices of the flesh that have not been renounced and hauled to the cross. These are the sinful thoughts, desires, and passions that function as an open door for demonic entities to gain a foothold in the hearts of the believers. These are the strongholds of evil devouring us within our flesh.

Examine yourself to determine what grieves the Spirit of God. Defilement proceeds from the continuous presence of sin in the heart of the believer: The old patterns of behavior, attitudes of heart, and thoughts that have not yet conform with the Kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul identifies the practice of sin as being “at work in the members of my body” (Romans 7:23). He honestly speaks about his struggles:

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is the sin in me that does it. (Romans 7:18-20)

You may identify with Apostle Paul’s struggles, groaning in frustration, losing hope, and plunging in despair over the overwhelming power of sin. Your struggle is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).  This struggle happens daily on the narrow road toward Eternity with God, even with Jesus next to us. This is the ever-present struggle with our thinking structures, distorted emotions, and corrupt habits of our old nature that lead to defilement. The process of spiritual maturity entails this grueling struggle with sin. We have been called to endure it ever since sin afflicted humankind. 

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. (Genesis 4:7b) 

The reward of enduring these struggles is worthy. To those who overcome sin is the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God (Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21). How are we to endure? How are we to overcome?  The Bible tells us that a true believer should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23); not pain, fear, loneliness, desperation, anger, hatred, or despair. The latter are manifestations of the old flesh and they must be put to death on the cross.     

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24) 

Those who belong to Christ have risen to new life (Romans 6:4). As we die with Christ to the pains of the old nature, we also rise with Him to the joy of becoming new creations. When we crucify our old “self” with Christ, it is no longer we who live, but it is Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20); and if Christ lives in us, it is not our righteousness but His righteousness that we have, not our joy but His joy, not our peace but His peace. Thus, the presence of Christ pushes out despair and pain. In Him, we are a new creation; the old has gone, (along with suffering and pain), the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). The more one attains Christ’s nature, the stronger one becomes at resisting and overcoming sin and emotional pain. Through the cross, the pain indeed, is destined to complete annihilation. 

The reality, however, is different. Many of the redeemed people continue to be overwhelmed by unbearable pain. Pain is a consequence of being alienated from God because of: 1) sin or 2) immaturity in growing in the image of Christ and becoming EHAD with Him. The second reason presupposes the first, and the first reason assures that the second happens, e.g., if we are spiritually immature, we are bound to sin, and if we sin, we cannot mature spiritually. The usual culprit of this stagnation in spiritual growth is unredemptive emotional pain.