CHRISTIAN LIFE

Some Specifics on Sin

What is the role of Satan in sin? What's the difference between a carnal Christian and one that is backsliding? Are spiritual strongholds real? Some specifics on sin.

Day One: The Devil and our Sin
The first instance of "the devil made me do it" used as an excuse was in the Garden of Eden. Eve says, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate" (Genesis 3:13). Her excuse did not get her off the hook (verse 16), and it won't help us much, either...
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For more, see: "Did the devil make you do it? Possession vs. Oppression"

Day Two: The Carnal Christian
Can a true Christian be carnal? In answering this question, let's first define the term "carnal." The word "carnal" is translated from the Greek word sarkikos, which literally means "fleshly."...
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For more, see: "Is carnal Christianity a deception?"

Day Three: Backsliding
The word backslide, in a Christian context, implies movement away from Christ rather than toward Him. A backslider is someone who is going the wrong way, spiritually. He is regressing rather than progressing. The backslider had at one time demonstrated a commitment to Christ or maintained a certain standard of behavior, but he has since reverted to old ways...
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Day Four: Mortification of the Flesh
Mortification has several meanings in English. One is "a feeling of shame or embarrassment." Another meaning has to do with death. The word mortify means "to kill or subdue." In a biblical context, to mortify is to subdue the body (or its needs and desires) through self-denial and discipline...
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Day Five: Spiritual Strongholds
The word strongholds is found once in the New Testament, used metaphorically by Paul in a description of the Christian's spiritual battle: "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses [strongholds]" ...
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For more, see: "The Bible vs. Temptation"

Day Six: Freedom from Sin
Proverbs 20:9 asks the question "Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin'?" (NLT). We can all identify with that. If we are honest with ourselves, we know we still sin. So why does Romans 6:18 say, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness"? ...
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Image Credit: fortherock "Backpacking Incan Trail - Machu Picchu Peru"; Creative Commons