The “Hanging on Sin” is what is mentioned in Hebrews 12:1. It is that sin that so easily besets us. We all have at least one besetting sin. It is that sin that lurks in the shadows like a roaring lion that Satan uses to pounce on us when we least expect it. It doesn’t take up much space in our lives, but it never seems to completely leave.
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
In Hebrews 12:1 the writer is trying to encourage us and challenge us to move forward in our Christian lives. Our first encouragement comes from the acknowledgment that there are multitudes of Christians who have gone before us and have experienced the same temptations and trials that we have faced. They were successful and are an example that we too can succeed. I am a huge sports fan. I love cheering on my teams and I get excited when they do well. However, seeing a fellow believer grow and overcome the sins that once enslaved them excites me even more. The heartbeat of every Christian should be to please the Savior in all they do, and second to that should be seeing others succeed. We are to encourage them verbally and pray for them privately.
Next, the writer tells us to lay aside those things that hinder our progress. This is where most Christians fail. They do not identify the things that are causing them to fail or slow their progress. It is easy to hang on to something if you enjoy it. It may not be best for you, but it is comforting to you physically, therefore you do not identify it as a sin. An example that I struggle with is overeating or eating the wrong foods. I excuse it because I like to indulge in foods that add more calories than nutritional value to my body. It seems like a harmless thing until my clothes become too tight or I have health issues due to being overweight. At that point, the sin of not taking care of my body becomes a reality I must deal with. In I Corinthians 3:16 Paul teaches us that our bodies are the temple of God. He dwells within us if we are saved. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Like any sin when we make provisions for it, it only grows and gains more ground in our lives.
A besetting sin is a sin that we have a natural disposition toward. It may be a sin that was a natural part of your life before salvation. If you are not careful it will return with power. It may be the sin of pride because of past success. It may be the sin of lying because that was your means of getting ahead in your profession. Whatever your weakness Satan knows it from your past and he will use it to tempt you when you are at your weakest moments.
Rest assured we all have weaknesses in our character and unless we identify them and surrender them to the authority of Christ we will fail. So how do we deal with the sins that keep hanging on? The ones we think are no big deal, the ones we have pushed to the side but have not annihilated. Paul gives us the answer in Romans 13:14. We are to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are to imitate Him as if we were putting on a garment, we are to cover ourselves with His righteousness and allow Him to control us. It is a surrendering of my will to His will. It is loving Him so much that I want to please Him. It is a love that takes action by making no provisions for the flesh. If overeating is my problem, then I remove those things that are not good for me and tempt me to overeat. I do not make provision for the sinful things. I do not depend on my willpower alone. I remove anything that can trip me up when I am weak. I memorize verses that deal with my sin so that I have a weapon when tempted.
Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
As Christians, we need to be wise, identify our weak areas, and do whatever it takes to refrain from sinning. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to help us to overcome sin and we have the Word to guide us. God will provide all we need to overcome temptations, but it is up to us to take advantage of those provisions.
It is check-up time. Have you identified your areas of weakness? If so, what are you doing to guard against the sins that are hanging on and lurking in the shadows? I can assure you that if you do not plan to guard against sin, you will sin. Our natural propensity is to lean toward comfort and self-preservation, which can lead to giving in and making excuses for our actions and attitudes. It is time to be honest with ourselves and seek daily to change to be like Jesus.
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