Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity (Heb. 6:1a; NASB)

Are you still battling with sin? Well, I have good news for you, you’re not alone. The fact that you are battling with sin shows that you are convicted of it, which is evidence of the Holy Spirit functioning within you. Before salvation, the sin in our life doesn’t really bother us. In fact, there are some sinful acts in life that appear enjoyable at first but lead to disaster. Sex before marriage and revenge are two examples of this. They both can seem enjoyable and justified at the moment of the acts but can lead to unpleasant results.

The “elementary teaching” this verse refers to is that Christ died once for all (Heb. 10:10). It is essential to understand that “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17) Paul tells us of his own battle with sin in Romans chapter 7. He gives us the final conclusion to that battle in Rom. 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have been forgiven of your past sins. Not only that, your sinfulness, which is in all of us, is covered by the Blood of Christ. Your sins are no longer counted against you!

This does not mean you can continue to think the way you used to without consequences. On the contrary, if you have been saved, those thoughts will not be comfortable anymore. Being saved doesn’t mean you stop sinning, it means you stop enjoying it. The conviction of the Holy Spirit will have you dreading those sinful thoughts. Just thinking about doing the wrong things will make you want to pray for forgiveness. Hebrews goes on to tell us: “by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:14) When you accepted Christ you were sanctified, meaning you were set apart as His for eternity. The battle in your mind over whether God will forgive you should be over. You should not be carrying grudges, offenses, or any other ill feelings about what has happened in the past. Nor should you be beating yourself up for making mistakes. Your entire life is covered by the Blood of Christ.

Growing up in the faith is our responsibility. We cannot expect to experience the fullness of Jesus Christ in us if we continue to allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity or self-condemnation. Jesus died so we can be free from our sins. Set your mind on the things of God and it will change your view of yourself, of your neighbor, and of everything that goes on in this world. It takes time to mature in the faith, but the rewards are more than worth it. Daily prayer and reading of scripture gives us the roadmap. Living in faithful obedience according to that map will bring growth and heavenly rewards.

Have a great week and God bless.