Dealing Radically with Sin
February 22
Matthew 18 begins with Jesus teaching His disciples from the viewpoint of children. He says that we must all become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, meaning we must come to Him on His terms, submitting to His kingship over us and His domain, and trusting Him like a child trusts His parents.
Next, He turns to the seriousness of sin, first as it relates to our behavior contributing to others falling into sin. Then, He pivots to dealing with our own. Throughout the Bible, sin is universally condemned. Everyone is strongly warned to avoid it whenever possible and flee from it when we encounter. Notice the urgency here: Not walk away from it; FLEE from it. We walk away from a bad deal at a car dealership; we flee from a burning building!
The apostle James explains the process of sin from an initial desire for it to total engagement with it in James 1:15, along with the destruction that comes in its wake. In Romans 1:18–32, Paul explains in detail how sin grows within a culture, beginning with men and women rejecting God as Creator. We’ll discuss Paul’s treatment further on the development of sin on August 17.
Pastor, Dean of Christ Church, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Reformer John Owen said, “Kill sin or it will be killing you.” In his sermons and books, Owen urged his audience to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness. This is a completely different approach than simply trying to exert our own will, strength, discipline, or self-control to overcome sin’s power in our lives. Sin is not something to be managed; it is something that must be put to death.
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus told His disciples to radically deal with sin in their lives. He says it would be far better for someone to reach heaven maimed, lame, and blind than arrive in hell—all in one piece. Again, that is urgent!
Application
Killing sin is not difficult. It is impossible apart from God’s Spirit, and Paul said so in Romans 8:13, writing, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Paul also urged the Galatian believers to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, meaning to be active daily in their personal relationship with God. (Galatians 5:25) A few verses earlier, he said that if we walk according to the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. So, if we grow in relationship with God, then we will grow in spiritual victory, becoming more and more sensitive to sin’s presence and influence in our lives and desiring to do what pleases God.
Now, does this mean that we will reach a place of sinless perfection this side of glory? Oh, don’t we wish! It does mean, though, that we can progress. We can grow day-by-day and become more and more like Jesus.
© Copyright 2026 Craig Beaman