There is a common but dangerous error in the Christian life: we run to Christ for forgiveness, and then turn to the law or self-effort for strength to fight sin. This was the very issue Paul addressed with sharp concern to the Galatians:
“Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?”
— Galatians 3:3 (BSB)
We can be quick to receive salvation by grace through faith, but when it comes to sanctification, we often slip into performance, discipline alone, or moral willpower—as if the flesh could tame the flesh. But it never can.
The truth is: the only power to fight sin is found in the cross of Christ.
The Cross: The Only Death-Blow to Sin
Do you want to overcome anger? Pride? Lust? Covetousness? You won’t conquer these enemies through sheer grit or endless spiritual routines alone. Victory doesn’t come by beating yourself into submission—it comes by taking every sin to Jesus and saying, “Lord, I trust You to deliver me from this.”
This is not passivity; it is faith in action. It is doing battle the way Scripture teaches: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24, BSB)
The old man can only be crucified at the cross. The blood of Jesus is not just our pardon—it is our power. The only spear that kills sin is the one that pierced His side.
Come to Jesus the Same Way—Every Time
Think about it. How did you first receive salvation? You came to Jesus just as you were. You believed He could save you. In the very same way, we must bring our sinful habits and struggles to Him—not trying to fix them on our own first—but confessing, “Lord, this is one of my sins; save me from it.”
Whether you wrestle with greed, envy, addiction, or fear, the invitation remains the same: Come to Jesus. Lay it all at His feet. Trust that His love, proven on the cross, is not only able to forgive—but also able to free.
Ordinances, disciplines, prayers, and tears—without Christ—are powerless. They are not the source of strength; they are only channels through which grace may flow if Christ is central.
As the old hymn rightly says:
“None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good”—or helpless saints either.
Conquerors Through Christ Alone
The promise of Romans 8:37 is not that we are conquerors in ourselves, but that “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The phrase “more than conquerors” (Greek: hypernikaō) points to overwhelming, complete, and victorious triumph—not through effort, but through relationship.
Our victory springs from His love. Our battle is won not by clenching our fists, but by clinging to His cross.
Our “laurels,” our crowns of spiritual victory, do not grow from the soil of our own striving—but among the olives of Gethsemane, where Jesus sweat blood and gave Himself up in love.
Hints for Preachers and Teachers
- Draw the contrast: Salvation by grace, sanctification by grace—not by self-effort.
- Use vivid illustrations: The spear that pierced Christ is the only weapon that mortifies sin.
- Return to the gospel: Teach that grace is not just the entry point of the Christian life but the entire path.
- Challenge legalism: Many believers need to be gently corrected from performance-based sanctification.
- Point to intimacy with Christ: Help people see victory as rooted in relationship, not routine.
Conclusion
You cannot conquer sin by trying harder. You can only conquer sin by trusting deeper. Go to Jesus, again and again, with every struggle. Take your sin to the cross and trust Him to deal the death-blow.
Victory is not earned—it is received. We are not called to be conquerors by our will, but more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Let your hope, your fight, and your freedom always begin and end with Jesus.
A Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, we come to You not only for forgiveness, but also for freedom. We confess that we often try to fight sin in our own strength. Teach us to run to the cross daily and trust You to give us victory. Thank You that through Your love, we are more than conquerors. Help us live in the power of Your Spirit, resting in Your finished work, and walking in Your triumph. Amen.
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