The Grip of Our Sin

St. Augustine became one of the most important leaders in early Christian history, writing two of our most important books, Confessions and The City of God. Ultimately, it was this passage from Romans 13 that revolutionized his life.

Born in 354 AD in northern Africa, Augustine learned about Christianity from his mother. However, in his youth, he decided to pursue philosophy and other religions. Eventually, he returned to Christianity, though he continued to accept the world’s standards, even living with a common-law wife for many years.

Yet Augustine increasingly became concerned about sin. He was lead to Romans 13 and later confessed that through these verses, “I probed the hidden depths of my soul.” He realized that he was “still enslaved by my sins.” Convicted, he asked God to change his life, and “a great storm broke within me, bringing with it a great deluge of tears.”

God answered his prayers: “In an instant, it was as though the light of faith flooded into my heart and all the darkness of doubt was dispelled.” He found forgiveness, freedom, and cleansing, and devoted the rest of his life to serving God.

Augustine learned that sin can grip our lives, even if we are Christians. The pleasures and attractions of sin can seem overwhelming, but they have a price. We cannot know the freedom of Christ while we are ruled by sin.

Today, realize that sin in any form will enslave you. Ask God to reveal sin in your life, whether it’s obvious or subtle, open or hidden. Ask Him to help you “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.”