Are Christians sinless? Of course not! But we do sin less. Sin less than who? Sin less than the unbelieving world? Most certainly, but we ought not compare ourselves to those who are blind and live in darkness. So who then shall we compare ourselves? Let’s look to Scripture to find the answer:
“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”
~Galatians 6:3-5, ESV
The Lord God spoke through the Apostle Paul and said that when any of us thinks more of ourselves than we ought, we are only deceiving ourselves. This is true. We’re not really fooling anyone else, just ourselves. Seems kind of silly doesn’t it? I mean, who wants to keep lying to...himself?
The Lord goes on to reveal to us that people shouldn’t compare themselves to other people (even other Christians [2 Cor 10:12]), but should test their own actions, but against what? Against the Holy Scriptures of course, after all, only our Creator knows what’s best for us and He has already set the perfect standard in which we all must live.God wrote this standard on the hearts and minds of every man, the Ten Commandments (Romans 2:15).
God also graciously gave us the Holy Scriptures so that we can easily read and understand His word by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10-13) so that we might know how to live holy lives; dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus alone.This was done so that all who believe and trust in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, might sin less and less and less as we daily participate in the work of the Holy Spirit by crucifying our flesh and it’s wicked desires as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is faithful to complete the work He started from the day of salvation to the day of our Homegoing. But are you Christian, faithful to complete your part? Are you daily carrying your cross to crucify your flesh and its sinful nature? Be holy as our Father God is holy. Be faithful as He is faithful. Not because it is your duty, but because you are overwhelmed with gratitude for Who God is, and for what He has done.
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."
~2 Peter 1:3-9, ESV
Don't be blind.
Don't forget what you've been saved from.
Live as if you've received the grace of God through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because you have.
And now, you are free.
Therefore live as if you are.
"We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life...We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin...For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
~Romans 6:4; 6-7; 14, ESV
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