Mar
01
Q & A: “How do you life a Holy life in a sinful world?“
I recently began an e-mail correspondence with a pastor in the Philippines who discovered our website. He is doing a great ministry in a rural area and has led many to the Lord. Many of his e-mails contain great questions from people in his church. I took some time writing my response. This series of blogs contain those questions and answers.
Question: How to live a Holy life in a sinful world?
Answer: In regards this man’s question about living a holy life in a sinful world, I would direct you to study Romans 7:14-8:26. In these passages Paul expresses the same frustration that the man you are talking with does. Paul doesn’t do what he wants to do and he ends up doing things he doesn’t want to do. Paul says that problem is not the society we live in but it is our sin nature that battles against our desire to follow God. Paul’s conclusion is that we can only overcome our sinful nature if Jesus Christ saves us and the Holy Spirit is given permission to control our life. The man you refer to can’t stop drinking or using drugs on his own. He needs to humble himself and let Jesus save him. And once Jesus has saved him, he then will need to learn how to let the Holy Spirit control his life by surrendering himself daily. That is the only way to be free from such a terrible bondage. Maybe you have heard this before about the salvation that Christ brings but it bears repeating. Jesus came to save us from the PENALTY of sin (Hell). Jesus also came to save us from the POWER of sin (Bondage). And one day Jesus will come to save us from the PRESENCE of sin! Hallelujah!