Overcoming the Stronghold of Sin in Christ
The concept of overcoming the stronghold of sin in Christ is rooted in the biblical understanding that Christ's suffering and death have broken the power of sin over believers. According to 1 Peter 4:1, "since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin" [1]. This verse suggests that Christ's suffering has a direct impact on the believer's ability to overcome sin.
The idea is that Christ's suffering and death have freed believers from the dominion of sin. As stated in Romans 5:21, "that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" [2]. This verse highlights the contrast between the reign of sin and the reign of grace, with Christ's work being the turning point.
In the view of Protestant academics, Christ's work on the cross has solved the world's greatest problem, the problem of sin, and has overcome all the powers of evil that oppose human beings [5]. This understanding is rooted in the biblical teaching that Christ's death and resurrection have ended the dominating power of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57) [7].
The Presbyterian tradition interprets 1 John 3:8 as indicating that "He that committeth sin is of the devil" [4]. However, this does not mean that believers are still under the devil's control. Rather, as Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note, "He is a son of the devil... whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [4]. This suggests that believers have the power to resist sin and not be controlled by it.
The process of overcoming sin involves a decisive turning away from the former sinful way of life, as urged in 1 Peter 4:1-6 [8]. This is made possible by Christ's suffering, which has delivered believers from the power of sin. As Tyndale House notes on 1 Peter 4:1, "Our suffering with Christ shows that we have identified with him... Those who identify with Christ experience the victory over the power of sin that he won on the cross" [8].
Furthermore, believers have an advocate in Christ, who represents them before the Father in heaven (1 John 2:1) [6]. This means that believers can confidently approach God, confessing their sins and receiving forgiveness, as stated in 1 John 1:9.
The forgiveness of sin is a key aspect of overcoming the stronghold of sin. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, forgiveness involves God "absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ" [3]. This forgiveness is offered to all in the gospel and is a fundamental aspect of the Christian message.
Sources
- I Peter “I Peter 4:1 (BSB) — Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.”
- Romans “that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. -- Romans 5:21”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 1:25: 1:25 What the unbelieving world considers foolish and weak—Christ and the message of the cross—is in reality wiser and stronger than anything the world has to offer. It solves the world’s greatest problem, the problem of sin, and overcomes all the powers of evil that oppose human beings.”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 2:1: 2:1 In order to live “in the light” (1:5-7), one must confess sin (1:9) and stop sinning. John emphasizes sin in ch 1 in order to make believers despise their sin and avoid it. • if anyone does sin: Believers should repudiate sin, but they should not fear confessing sins to God. • advocate (Greek paraklētos, “one who is called to our side” as comforter or advocate): Christ is our defense attorney, representing us before the Father in heaven (see Rom 8:26-34; cp. John 14:16). • Jesus Christ, the . . . righteous: We, in contrast, are sinful. Because Christ fulfilled ”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:57: 15:57 The death and resurrection of Christ ends the dominating power of sin and death (see Rom 6:14; 8:2; 10:4).”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:1: 4:1-6 Peter urges Christians to decisively turn their backs on the former sinful way of life from which Christ in his suffering delivered us. 4:1 since Christ suffered physical pain: Peter introduced this idea in 3:18; he now indicates its significance in Christian experience. In our own physical sufferings, we are to imitate Christ’s attitude (see 2:21-24). Our suffering with Christ shows that we have identified with him (see Rom 8:17). Those who identify with Christ experience the victory over the power of sin that he won on the cross (Rom 6:1-10).”