Why can ’ t I stop sinning ?
Every believer has , at one time or another , lamented his or her inability to stop sinning . While we tend to think the problem stems from weakness in ourselves , the inability to stop sinning usually indicates a deficiency in our understanding of God ’ s strength . When we do not understand His power to save , forgive , and cleanse us from all unrighteousness ( 1 John 1:9 ), we can get caught in a destructive cycle of sin , guilt , and fear , which leads to a lack of joy in our salvation , which leads to more sin .
In Psalm 51:12 , David pleads with God , “ Restore to me the joy of my salvation , and uphold me with a willing spirit .” He wrote this after he had fallen into the grievous sins of adultery and murder . It is interesting to notice that he asks God for a return of the joy of his salvation . Joy is key in our victory over sin . It is also important that we understand that God sustains us “ with a willing spirit .” God takes joy in saving us , and we take joy in being saved .
God has saved us willingly , to display His grace , love , and strength . Our salvation does not depend on how much or how little we sin , how much or how little we evangelize or repent or do good works , how loving or unloving we are , or anything else about us . Our salvation is entirely a product of God ’ s grace , love , and purpose ( Ephesians 2:8 – 9 ). This is important to understand , because ( ironically ) believing that we are responsible to keep the law leads inevitably to the inability to stop sinning .
Paul explains this in Romans 7:7 – 10 . When we understand a law , like “ do not covet ,” our sin nature inevitably rebels against that law , and we covet . This is the plight of man — it is simply how we are . The law aggravates our sin nature . John Bunyan illustrates this truth in The Pilgrim ’ s Progress . In the Interpreter ’ s House , Christian sees a very dusty room that had never been swept . First , a man with a broom tries to clean the floor , but the broom ’ s only effect is to raise choking clouds of dust . The more he sweeps , the more the dust is stirred up ; this is a picture of the law , Bunyan says , which cannot clean a sinful heart but only stirs up the sin . However , Christian watches as the broom is set aside and a young girl sprinkles the whole room with water . After that , the room is quickly cleaned ; this is a picture of the gospel of grace and its ability to purify the heart . The grace of God can do what the law could never do : cleanse us from sin .
So , the way to stop sinning is not to add more rules . God knew this . In fact , He gave us the law so that we would be aware of our sin and turn to Him ( Romans 3:19- 20 ; Galatians 3:23-26 ). The law is good . It is a reflection of God ’ s nature and His perfection . But it was not given to us for
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