How Consciousness of Christ Leads to Victory Over Sin
Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
     What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Romans 6:15 (NLT)
Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

"I am convinced that the basic cause of some of the most disturbing emotional/spiritual problems which trouble evangelical Christians is the failure to receive and live out God's unconditional grace, and the corresponding failure to offer that grace to others."

From a biblical view, “Christians who hang on to guilt, condemnation, and self-belittling worthlessness are living under the curse….the power of the law….The idea that fear and guilt and self-condemnation will keep us from sinning and therefore give us inner peace and joy is completely contrary to experience. Those who live that way are filled with inner turmoil and driven by strong….compulsion toward the very sins they try hardest to avoid. Why? Because guilt and self-condemnation were never meant to be the motivating force of Christian living…

1. The Gospel of Grace is that we are not saved by moral living, rather we are saved for it!

Titus 2:11-15 (NIV)
     For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach…

Grace leads us to moral living    

Grace is the teacher that shows us how to overcome sin

Grace is Christ Himself doing the changing within our lives

Grace focuses on Christ, rather than on our failure to overcome sin

John 16:8-11 (NIV)
    When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

1 Corinthians 15:34 (NKJV)
   Awake to righteousness, and do not sin…

2. When you have failed, the Holy Spirit convicts you of righteousness and approval, not your sin
When you fail, condemnation and guilt will cause you to run from God's presence but it is encountering the reality of God’s love that draws us back to Him

John 8:10-11 (NIV)
  Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?  "No one, sir," she said.  "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

3. We are first given the gift of “no more condemnation” before we receive the strength to “go and sin not more”