Stop Sinning
“Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” 1 Corinthians 15:34 NASBS
Beloved of God, let us consider the cost before we identify ourselves as Christians. Claiming to be servants of the living God comes with the highest responsibility regarding how we conduct our lives. Jesus said, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” The reality is that we are called to live sacrificially, setting aside our desires and passions to honor the great King of heaven, Jesus Christ, Who died for us. Our lives are not our own; we have been purchased at a great price—the blood of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, let us embrace Paul’s exhortation to the Romans: “I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth, admonished them for their outward behavior. They were caught up in arguments, neglecting the purity of the church and allowing pride to inflate their egos, as if their achievements were due to their own efforts and gifts. Instead of disciplining themselves toward godliness, they engaged in worldly affairs, becoming stumbling blocks to those observing them. How treacherous it is for God’s children to bring reproach upon His name through their sinful behavior.
Though some in the church had openly professed faith in Jesus Christ, yet rather than putting to death their fleshly desires, they continued to push boundaries that fueled lustful thoughts.
Just as a coal that has been removed from the fire reignites when placed back, so too were these Christians indulging in forbidden passions in their hearts. Therefore, Paul commands them, “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
The truth is that those of us touched by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who have been given a new heart that desires holiness, bear a great responsibility. The “natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” However, through the Holy Spirit, we possess the mind of Christ and the understanding of God revealed in His word. So, when we sin, we sin against love rather than against the law, for “to whom much is given, much will be required; and from whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”
With that being said, let our behavior be consistent with a new heart that God has given us, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Let us dedicate ourselves to being living sacrifices, wholeheartedly devoted to serving not only within the walls of our church, but also in our communities, workplaces, or wherever else the Lord may guide us.
May we continually seek to renew our minds through the power of prayer, the study of scripture, and the richness of fellowship, allowing God to shape us into individuals who want to bring glory to God and see people saved from eternal darkness. We must always realize that God has called us to holiness and consecrated us for His service. Not only that, but He has empowered us by the Holy Spirit to carry out the magnificent work that He has begun within us.
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession,” and bring honor to him through living an exemplary life of holiness.
Since, “Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions, but for the will of God.” “For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles do”—indulging in worldly affairs such as “unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.” “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”