Why Does Sin Easily Entangles Us?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV).

Many Christians think that because we are born again, sin will be long gone from our presence. I really wish that was the case, but it is not. The Bible says that we are to throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that easily entangles us. The ESV has it translated as "sin which clings so closely."

Why does sin easily entangle us as we walk with Jesus? First, we are at war with the flesh. Like it or not, we are still in our earthly bodies which is corrupted by sin. The Apostle Paul told the Galatian church, "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do" (Galatians 5:17). Our fallen nature will always want us to turn away from the Lord and appease our fleshly desires. I am not just talking lust or any other sexual sin, I am also talking about gluttony, gossip, and fits of rage.

Second, we allow it to happen. Yes, we deliberately sin. Sin can look good, taste good, smell good, and feel good, but it will result in rebellion against God. When that temptation comes, we think it must be a gift of God which goes against what scripture teaches. James tells us, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:13-15).

Finally, we question what God says. What? I am Christian committed to Biblical truth, why should I question what God says? When you allow sin to come in, do you ask did God really mean...? You know what He said, do you know what He meant by it. If you are a parent, I am sure you have told your kids "no means no" right. When God commands us in scripture to walk away or run from, He is did not stutter or second guess Himself. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). When the serpent tempted Eve by questioning what God said, it lead to destruction and the sin that has been passed down from every generation since then.

There is good news. We can fight the sin that easily entangles us. One way is to kill it. The Bible says, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry...you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Colossians 3:5, 8-10). John Owen once said, "Be killing sin, or sin be killing you." We are to kill the sin that easily entangles us. Paul wrote that "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24).

Next, set our minds on the Spirit, not the flesh. Romans tells us, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:5-8). The Spirit will also lead us to holiness in obedience to the Word of God, never away from it.

Finally, remember the gospel. The gospel tells us that Jesus died for sins once for all. Even though sin clings to us so closely, we have a Savior that clings even closer. He will never cast us out because we sin intentional or not. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9), and "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). We are free from the penalty sin. We are being set from the power of sin. One day, we will be set free from the presence of sin. That is our gospel hope.