Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:14–16).
The Christian life is not one of defeat. Sin is no longer our master. But our minds can so often focus on our failures that we start believing the lie that we can’t defeat sin, that we’re destined to perpetually succumb to our evil desires until Christ returns. This is a lie from the depths of hell.
There is hope for spiritual progress in this life, and Hope has a name: Jesus. The author of Hebrews tells his readers to look to Christ, our great high priest. Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully man, and perfectly kept God’s law. Where we fall to sin, Jesus remained faithful. Now he is interceding on our behalf before the Father. It is in Jesus, then, that we must look for mercy and grace.
Sure, this entails the mercy and grace that we experience after we sin, but it also includes mercy and grace to keep us from sinning. We confidently draw near to God in prayer, asking him for this life-transforming grace, trusting that the Spirit of Christ will massage his righteousness deep within our lives.
When you hear the voice of the Deceiver in your ear whispering, “You are worthless, and you will always fall prey to that sin,” know that you possess the Spirit of the righteous One, who faced down the schemes of Satan and remained pure and blameless. In Christ, you have the hope of righteousness, not just in the life to come, but in the present world.
You can conquer sin because you are indwelt by the Spirit of the Conqueror. Live victoriously today.
Cody A. Cunningham 