Sin is what separates us from God (Romans 3:23). When it comes to sin and breaking free from it, it is more than just saying”no.” It requires behavioral changes. It requires help from Christ. This article is about the Christian Identity and how it is essential for overcoming not just bad habits, but how to break a sinful habit.
What Is the Difference a Good, Bad, and Sinful Habit?
A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic
There are three types of habits: the good, the bad, and the sinful. Here are their distinguishing characteristics:
- Good habits are self-maintaining and even self-enhancing, like if you make a habit of being industrious, of exercising, or of planning ahead, that builds on itself in so many other areas of life.
- Bad habits are self-defeating and even self-destructive, like maybe you have a habit of quitting too soon, of hitting the snooze too many times and being late often, procrastinating on assignments, maybe chewing on your nails when you are nervous, even smoking and vaping.
- Sinful habits are not just self-defeating and self-destructive, but they harm your relationship with God and even others. They offend God because they are opposite of who He created us to be; and they go against His law (Read Galatians 5:16-23 for examples).
At best, habits provide efficient routines, systems for organization, and self-disciplines that allows you to lead a life that works out well. But at worst, habits contribute to compulsions, obsessions, and addictions that can cause you to follow a course of, not just increasing unhappiness with yourself and in life, but increasing friction amongst relationships that you have with others and really with God.
Why is that?
The Bible describes the natural man as being “dead in sin and trespasses” (Ephesians 2:1-3). As a result of Adam’s fall into sin, man is born spiritually dead. In this state of spiritual death, man is unable and unwilling to follow and obey God and habitual sin naturally follows. Natural man sees the things of God as foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14); and is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7). ‘Good’ is no longer the first thing we think of, but whatever satisfies our desires (Psalm 14)…and we all have our own devils to deal with.
James 1:13-15 says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted by his own evil desires. He is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Related Article: “7 Habits of Highly Effective Christians“
There Is Hope for those Trapped in a Sinful Habit
For Christians, our identity is found in Christ. He makes us whole, the way we were created to be. We have peace with God and one another. We have forgiveness from our sins and can enjoy a clear conscience. We have a compass, the Bible, to guide us on how to live our lives, and the Holy Spirit who actively works in our lives to convict us of our sins and remind us of truth. The truth that you are a child of God and no longer have to be slaves to your sinful habits. It is His divine power that gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Remember, changing your identity is essential to begin the change from death to life, from slavery to freedom. The only way to break free from sinful habits, is to be free from the old, sinful self. To change you mind about who you WERE and focus on who you ARE, now.
The closer we come to Christ, the closer we become like Christ, and less like our sinful flesh. It should be, after all, dead to us.
Christ’s divine power gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). When a person is saved, they are transformed into what the apostle Paul refers to as the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The believer then begins the process of sanctification.
What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ, by purifying our hearts and minds, through repentance, prayer, and spiritual practices.
First, Colossians 3:1-18 is essential reading to make sure you fully understand your new identity and to change your mindset away from your sinful ways.
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11a renewalin which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms andhymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
How to Break a Sinful Habit
Now that we understand the internal means by which we can overcome sinful habits—a.k.a. through Christ alone and His power—now we will look at some practical ways to break the habit of sinful living and replace it with something good and godly.
1. Make No Provision for Sinful Desires
Galatians 5:16-17 says to walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the deeds of the flesh. That of course requires desiring the things of God first, and then not focusing on the things of the flesh.
One of the simplest and yet under-utilized methods to overcoming any habit, is to remove the obstacle from your daily dwelling (Deuteronomy 19:13-20; 1 Corinthians 5:13). Cleanse your life and your surroundings of anything that would contribute to your defeat. This includes, but certainly is not limited to, sensual books and magazines, immodest clothing that defraud others, items associated with occult practices, and even friends who influence you to ignore or reject God’s Law.
2. Find Accountability for Your Habits
This is something that we are ashamed to do as human beings, regardless of who you are. We are afraid to admit we are human and have struggles that we cannot handle on our own.
Do you find that to be true?
But as Christians, that’s the whole point of the Body of Christ (Hebrew 10:25). We are to have a trusting and loving community who wants our good and will steer us away from evil. And so, if you find yourself struggling with a sinful habit, today, find someone in your social group, at church, or a family member who can come alongside you and keep you accountable to your plan to break free from a bad or sinful habit.
Self-Reflection: Take a moment and think of 1-2 people whom you can trust to share that number one struggle you have and want to break free from. Ask that person this week to pray with you and to keep you accountable in not doing that bad or sinful habit.
3. Read the Word of God Daily
Where else will you find both a sword and a shield to overcome sin, then the Word of God? If you are constantly consuming from the Words of Life, the Bible, you will be too full to want to ingest anything else. You will also be reminded of the correct path to go down and the Holy Spirit will have more passages of Scripture to remind you of Truth.
Make a daily reading plan or follow one already created. Here is a suggestion from the Bible Project to read the whole Bible in a year. Download the reading plan, here.
“I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
4. Pray Continually
One of the fascinating things about prayer is that, when you talk to God on others behalf, you are thinking less of yourself and are growing closer to God’s heart. It is in these moments of prayer that we can receive help in our moments of frustration and struggles, as well as clarification on the direction for our lives. The more we pray and thank God for what He does for us, the more we see His goodness in the world, and can become that light which encourages other to leave the darkness.
I hope you have found this guide to helpful, and remember that, “with God, all things are possible” (Luke 1:37). You can overcome your sinful habit with His help and His resources for you: His Word (the Bible), Prayer, and His body (the Church).
Make today be the day you begin to break free from your sinful habit!
There are many sins which we deem as being alright, or we downplay their level of evil to the point that it becomes acceptable for us to do. Jerry Bridges authors the book “Respectable Sins” and takes you into a deep look at the corrosive patterns of behavior that we often accept as normal. I recommend you give this book a read if you haven’t yet. Check it out on Amazon, here.
I also wrote an article about changing your identity, or the way you see yourself, in order to make new habits last and bad habits deteriorate on a practical level. You can read that, here.
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