OVERCOMING BESETTING SINS
The Bible tells us that because God has a great love for us (John 3:16), He lets us know that each of us have a sin that “easily beset” or hinder us in relating to Him (Hebrews 12:1). And He also tells us how He can help us overcome our hindering sins, (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
RECOGNIZING YOUR BESETTING SIN
The Bible names many sins which are besetting, which vary from person to person. Some are named in Galatians 5:19-21 as acts of the flesh: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Recognizing your particular besetting sins is important in the process of overcoming it. Yet you may need Gods help in clearly seeing it. Self-righteousness based on “good work” may hinder one from seeing their sin as God sees it. And comparing one’s self to others who one think is more sinful can interfere with recognizing one’s own sins. Such hindrances may be noticed in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). And also may be seen in a situation where Jesus rescued a woman whom Pharisees caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).
CONFESSING YOUR BESETTING SIN
The biblical Word advises us that we not only need to recognize our besetting sins, but need to repentantly confess them to God. For more insight, we may look more closely at the Parable of the Pharisee And The Publican: The Pharisee blindingly focused on and boasted about his good works. The tax collector recognized his sins and asked God to be merciful.
Looking again at the woman caught in adultery, Jesus forgave her because she repentantly recognized and admitted her sin. While Jesus was ministering to the woman, he evidently knelt and wrote down many sins for the Pharisees to see, when he said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” The went away from the Lord without acknowledging or asking for forgiveness for their sins.
The Lord may not expose our sins to others; but the Holy Spirit uses God’s written Word to convicts people of their sins and the need to turn to Jesus for salvation from sin.
SEEKING GOD’S HELP TO OVERCOME YOUR BETTING SINS.
The things in the Bible are written to believers “so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). God gives believers the Holy Spirit to help them continue in overcome their besetting sins after they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord (John 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
The Bible tells us: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:8-9; Romans 6:14).
When we confess our sins, having a heart to do God’s will and pray for his help, He will enable us to overcome our besetting sins (1 John 5:14-15). And we will come to the point of living free from all sin with God in heaven (John 14:2-3).
