In Sin’s Grip No Longer

I heard about an old farmer, his wife, and their son who had never been to the big city. So they got into their old pickup truck, drove to the city, and found a place to park. The farmer’s wife decided to wait in the truck while her husband and son walked to a gleaming skyscraper to take a closer look.

As they entered the massive lobby, they watched as a set of mysterious doors opened and an elderly woman stepped inside. Then the doors closed. After a few moments passed, the doors opened again, and a beautiful young woman walked out.

The old farmer turned to his son and said, “Quick! Go get Mama!”

Wouldn’t it be great if we could walk into church as one person and leave as another? The Bible tells us that when we become Christians, we turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (see Acts 26:18). But that is not an instantaneous process.

Conversion happens in a moment, but the Christian life is one of growth and consistency. Salvation, or regeneration, is coming to Christ. Sanctification is growing in Christ. And that takes a lifetime.

The way you do that, according to Jesus, is to abide in Him and have His Word abiding in you (see John 15:4–7). It’s consistently walking with Jesus Christ each and every day.

We all struggle with certain sins. But the Bible tells us, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6 NLT). Sin no longer holds us in its grip. We can overcome it.

Jesus has broken the power of sin that used to control your life. You’re a new person in Christ.