Sin puts us in bondage and makes us miserable, yet most people have no idea to how to escape its devastating effects on their lives. Intellectually, we know sin is wrong, but the mindset religion teaches us causes us to constantly be aware of sin and agonize over it. This isn’t God’s will for us. However, when we change our focus from sin to Jesus Christ, the guilt and shame that sin-consciousness causes begins to melt away.

Jesus delivered us from sin when He went on the cross to be the final sacrifice for our sins. God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. God has said, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”  When sin has been forgiven, there’s no need to offer any more sacrifices.

Focusing on Jesus and what He did instead of on sin and what we do changes our entire outlook. Most people have been taught to think according to the Law of Moses, which was given to disclose to men their guilt and make them more aware of the sinfulness of sin. However, it was only intended to be in effect until Christ came; now that He has come, He has replaced the law with grace. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

If we’ve been born again, we’ve been freed from living by the law. We’re no longer sinners according to the law, but saints who have been made righteous by faith in Jesus. Sin doesn’t have dominion over us, because we’re not under the law, but under grace. Sin isn’t imputed when there is no law.

There’s no need to be in bondage to the stress and self-condemnation sin-awareness causes. Being aware of what Christ has done for us breaks those emotional chains. If the Son therefore makes us free, we’re free indeed.

Prayer:

Lord, You gave us an alternative to focusing on sin by giving us Your Son to focus on instead. Thinking about the sacrifice He made to permanently take away our sins frees us from the negative emotions that sin-consciousness causes. Thank You for what You did. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:   

Hebrews 10:10, 17, 18, NLT

Galatians 3:19, AMPC

John 1:17

Romans 6:14

Romans 5:13

John 8:36