“But it was understood that if an emergency or positive commandment called for some physical act even on the Sabbath day, then the regular law as to its observance did not apply or bind the parties to its usual observance... Lord of the Sabbath does not imply that he would belittle the law of the holy days. He was with his Father in all of the works of creation, also in the issuing of laws and dispensations for the conduct of human beings. Any lawmaking power has the right to alter its own edicts if and when it sees fit to meet an emergency, hence Jesus was within his rights in the above conduct.” (Bible Commentary, E. M. Zerr, pp.41-42)  

Question: As a Christian, how do I deal with sins of the mind? This is a real problem for me. Does the Bible deal with this issue?  

ANSWER: It is interesting to note that most people when they think of sin automatically think of some action that is sinful. For example Paul in Galatians 5 outlines for us the sins of the flesh as he exhorts us to walk in the Spirit. He writes:  

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like…”  

Note that he mentions the sins of adultery, murder, being drunk, and other sins that manifest conduct or actions that are unbecoming that of God’s people. Because of the visibility of these sins in a person’s life many have reached the conclusion that if these actions are absent then they are not sinning in this area. While it is true that sin does manifest itself in inappropriate behavior we must not forget from whence those actions arise. They come from a heart that is sinful. Jesus said,  

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matt. 15:19)  

Here we find that Jesus targets sin from where it originates. It is from within in our minds that sin is found. Many times we have sinned long before we have actually committed the act! This was the problem with the Pharisees of Jesus time. They went to great length to clean the outside (control their behavior) but inwardly (that is in their heart) they were full of sin.  

This was the central theme of Jesus’ teaching in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5. He began His discourse by pointing out that in His kingdom one must have a degree of righteousness that exceeded that of the Scribes and Pharisees.  

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:20)  

He then proceeds to give examples of what He meant. He shows in verses 21-26, that murder is a sin of the heart. When we hate and despise others in our minds then we are guilty of murder before our holy God. He also illustrates the same when he touches on adultery. He tells us that to lust after another is to commit adultery in our hearts.  

Perhaps it would be beneficial to discuss what we mean when we use the word heart as it is employed in this context. The heart is the inner man. It is composed of our mind (thought center), emotions, and feelings. It is our mind that impacts our emotions and feelings and ultimately our actions. Simply put, what we think determines what we feel and what we do! This is the reason that Jesus tells us that sin is a heart issue and not limited to behavior only. In addition to the teachings of Jesus we add the Wisdom of Solomon.

“Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Pro. 4:23)

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Pro. 23:7)

From these passages we learn that in order to be as God would have us to be we must learn to overcome sinful thought patterns. Understand that when we employ the term ‘overcome’ we do not mean sinless perfection, for this we will not have in the flesh. Rather we mean living a life of victory over sin.

One might ask at this point “if we are converted why do we still struggle?” While beyond the scope of this present article this is a question that deserves an answer, and we hope in the future to supply one. But for the time being, let it suffice to say that we do struggle, and it is due to the sin that remains in our humanness. We through Christ are saved from the penalty of sin, its dominating power and mastery. But we have not been delivered from its presence at all times and in all ways. One day we will be but not yet.

This is the reason that we are admonished to keep our hearts and to renew our minds. This is where the real fight is. The battle is between our remaining sin and us. We are new creatures who still are in our flesh in a fallen world. Here is the struggle and the battle rages in our minds.

Because of the above we have been told to be constantly putting to death the sin that is in our members.  Note the following two passages.  

“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.” (Rom. 8:13)  

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth…” (Col. 3:5)  

The Christian life involves mortifying sin by cultivating new habits of godliness. It also involves the elimination of the old sinful habits of the flesh. It is an ongoing process.  

This is done as we renew our minds. The Bible teaches us that God has given His word so that we might do that very thing.  

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed to your word.” (Psa. 119:9)

Note the function of the word in Ephesians 5:25.  

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”  

Did you catch it? Paul tells us that the process of sanctification (growing in Christ-likeness) is accomplished through being cleansed by the word. As we read the word and apply it to our life it washes our minds of the dirt and filth of the sin that is there.  

This is paramount to winning the battle of sin in the mind. We must constantly study the word. We need to be in the word and to meditate upon it day and night. The more study you engage in the less impure and sinful thoughts you will have.  

In addition to feeding on the word, one must also avoid the three ways that the mind engages in sin. While space does not allow for a thorough discussion of each point, noting them will be enough to help us get a grip on our thoughts.

The first way we sin with the mind is the sin of remembering the sins of the past in a fond way. Many times we find ourselves thinking upon some sinful pleasure of days gone by and thus we begin to cherish it in our heart. This cannot be done.  

The second way is the sin of scheming. This is where we allow our lust to lead us into a fantasy world where plotting, planning for evil, premeditative acts and presumptuous sins occur.  

The third way we sin with the mind is in our imagination. We often imagine vain and sinful things. We cannot dwell upon evil and entertain our minds with evil imaginations.  

We hope that we have provided enough information to assist in getting a grip on our thought process. To properly deal with sins of the mind we must confess them by identifying them and forsake each. We must also feed on the Word which will prevent sin from taking root in our mind.

SAM DICK

Cave City , KY  

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES 

1.              What did the Lord tell Moses the punishment was for working on the Sabbath?

2.              What did Saul want to do with his son Jonathan, who had unknowingly violated Saul’s order?

3.              What was Nehemiah’s job as a worker in the Persian palace?

4.              Where did Philip begin a successful ministry, doing many miracles, and converting a former sorcerer named Simon?

5.              What two people did Paul say he “delivered to Satan?”  

ANSWERS NEXT MONTH . . .

and remember last month’s questions?  

1.              What city was built by Omri, when he was king of Israel ?    SAMARIA (1 Kings 16:24)

2.              What did the prophet Hosea say that the people asked counsel from?   THEIR WOODEN IDOLS (Hosea 4:12)

3.              According to Mark’s account, what did the disciples do on the Sabbath that the Pharisees said was unlawful?   PLUCKED GRAIN IN THE FIELDS (Mark 2:23-28)  

4.              In Romans, Paul said he was from what tribe?   THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN (Romans 11:1)  

5.              What did James describe as “a fire, a world of iniquity?”   THE TONGUE (James 3:6)