The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / The Cycle of Sin

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 26 of 365 THE CYCLE OF SIN Sin is never satisfied - it festers, grows, spreads and destroys all things in its path. The unnamed Levite and the people of Gibeah illustrate the depth of depravity of which humans are capable. There seemed to be no end to the self-centeredness of mankind apart from God's gracious intervention. This reality was compounded in the seasons when the nation was without human leaders; though, even when they had leaders they proved to be incapable of consistent obedience. They needed a deliverer, a Savior, to break the cycle of sin, condemnation and death. Paul declared that Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice breaks the death-grip of sin and sets believers free to live a righteous life (Ro 6:15 - 23). Whereas the just outcome of sin is death, the fruit of Jesus' work is freedom, joy and holiness. Jesus' victory is the only power great enough to break the power of sin within the nation of Israel and all of humanity. Jesus, thank you for rescuing me from sin. Help me to not give sin any kind of foothold, so I can live in your freedom, joy and holiness. Amen. Judges 19:29-30 NASB 29 When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. 30 All who saw it said, "Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!" Romans 6:15-23 NASB 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.