A growing collection of thoughts on the daily fight against sin — no days off, no truce, only grace to keep standing.
Today’s Notes
Justification Done, Sanctification Ongoing
God saves us in two big ways. One is finished forever. The other goes on every day.
Think of a prisoner set free from death row. The judge paid the full price—nothing left to owe. That’s justification: Christ paid for all our sins on the cross. We add nothing. It’s done.
But the prisoner still has old habits from jail. He must learn to live free—say no to old ways, choose new ones. That’s sanctification: the daily fight against sin, helped by the Holy Spirit.
Some people say, “Since Christ paid everything, we don’t need to fight sin anymore.” That’s wrong and dangerous. It twists grace into an excuse for lazy living.
Scripture says the opposite. Christ died to free us from sin’s power so we can fight it—not to let it rule us.
Like a soldier whose general already won the war, but the battles still come. We fight because victory is sure, not to win it.
The real mark of true faith is that inner pull: hating sin more each day, feeling the tug between old ways and new life in Christ.
Christ paid the full price for sin. Nothing remains unpaid. Believers add nothing to this gift.
“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Galatians 2:21)
“And you… God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us.” (Colossians 2:13-14)
Some claim Christ’s payment means no more need to fight sin. This error says grace lets us live any way. Scripture calls this deadly wrong.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Romans 6:1)
Christ redeemed us from lawless living—to make us eager for good works.
“[He] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)
God commands believers to put sin to death daily, flee evil, and take up the cross.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” (Colossians 3:5)
“Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily.” (Luke 9:23)
We fight because Christ already broke sin’s grip—not to earn freedom.
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” (Romans 6:12-13)
That daily struggle inside—the pull against sin—is the sign of new life. Anyone who claims no fight at all needs to test their heart by God’s Word.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
Key Points – Remember
- Justification is 100% Christ’s work alone. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)
- Sanctification is our daily duty, powered by the Spirit, because sin’s power is broken. “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
- Believers fight sin because they are already free—not to become free. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” (Galatians 5:13)
- Measure faith by Scripture’s commands, not by what others claim. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Christ alone paid the price for our souls. Now we belong to Him—and must glorify God in body and spirit.
“You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Final Note: The Error of Antinomianism – The lie that grace means no rules. That since Christ paid, we can slack off. Scripture burns it down: By no means! We fight sin because we’re free, not to get free.
Today’s Notes
Sin loves to whisper, “Just one day off. One little truce. You’ve been good lately—take a break.” No one ever steps forward to accept it. We know better. That “truce” is just sin reloading while we look away.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
The offer always sounds kind. It never is.
Real believers have tasted sin’s tricks too many times. We know the “one-day truce” always turns into a lifetime sentence. When the offer comes, something in us — the Spirit, mostly — says, “Not today.”
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15)
That hatred of sin is God’s gift. It’s why no one steps forward when sin calls for a ceasefire. We’re ruined for its lies.
There’s a constant rebellion inside every believer. Even our best moments carry a shadow; sin sneaks in and taints what we offer God. No one can say their good deeds stay completely pure this side of heaven.
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.” (Romans 7:18)
Zero safety without constant watch. Grace doesn’t remove the enemy; it gives strength to keep fighting.
Paul said it plain: “I beat my body and make it my slave” (1 Corinthians 9:27). There are no holidays in this war. Sin never takes a day off; it only pretends while reloading.
Fight it daily, or it wins by default. Standing still while an enemy keeps punching is certain defeat.
Every single day sin either wins ground or loses ground. It is clever, watchful, strong, and out to destroy our souls. If we grow lazy, careless, or half-hearted, victory slips away.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Grace keeps us standing, but only as we keep resisting. Sword stays drawn until heaven.
Key Point – No Day Off.
Every single day sin either wins ground or loses ground. It is clever, watchful, strong, and out to destroy our souls. If we grow lazy, careless, or half-hearted, victory slips away.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Grace keeps us standing, but only as we keep resisting. Sword stays drawn until heaven.
Today’s Notes
Sin never settles for “just a little.” Every small spark of anger, left alone, races toward the extreme. One irritated thought reaches for bitterness. One sharp word hungers for hatred. One grudge quietly aims at revenge—or even murder.
Even when the outburst cools, the quiet resentment is still marching toward the same dark end. Anger is never satisfied; like the grave it cries, “More, more.”
The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give… the grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. (Proverbs 30:15-16)
Key Point – Catch anger early.
Left alone it only grows hotter.
That’s why James warns, “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20), and Jesus said anger in the heart is already murder on its way (Matthew 5:22). Grace teaches us to starve the spark before it becomes a fire.