1 John 3:4, Sin is the transgression of the Torah.

Why must we overcome sin? The Scriptures teach us to be overcomers (Rom 12:21; 1 John 2:13–14; 5:4). We must overcome the world, the flesh and the devil (Jas 3:15). Yeshua admonished each of the seven Messianic assemblies to be overcomers (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; see also Matt 24:13). For those who overcome, there will be great rewards—a spiritual inheritance; they will be sons of Elohim (Rev 21:7).

The Greek word for overcome is nikao (Strong’s G3528) meaning “to conquer, to get the victory, prevail.” Nikao is where the word nike comes from.

What is Sin?

• Sin is the anything that violates the Torah-instructions or laws of Elohim (1 John 3:4).
• Sin is unrighteousness (1 John 5:17; YHVH’s Torah commands define what righteousness is, Ps 119:172).
• Sin is not believing in Yeshua, who is the Torah-Word of Elohim incarnate (John 3:18; 16:9).
• Sin is failing to do (or not to do) that we which we should be do (or not do)—i.e. a sin of omission (Jas 4:17).
• Sin is putting me-first (my desires, impulses), not YHVH first (his will) in our lives. It is humanism. It is following the lie of the devil: man can have it his way regardless of what YHVH’s Word says, and not suffer any consequences for it. This is the big lie from the serpent in the Garden.
• Sin is a direct challenge to YHVH’s authority in our lives. It is arrogance and self exaltation against YHVH’s will. It involves lack of belief in his Word. It is putting his will above his Word.

Dealing With the “Leavening” in Our Lives

Overcoming Sin!

Throughout Scripture, leavening is a spiritual metaphor for sin, pride, hypocrisy, malice, bitterness and false religious doctrine (Pss 71:4; 73:21; Hos 7:4; Matt 16:6; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; 1 Cor 5:8–6; Gal 5:9). Even as a small amount of leavening agents in bread (e.g. yeast and various chemical agents) will quickly permeate bread dough causing it to rise, so a little sin can rapidly infect our lives (or like a quick spreading cancer disease) and take us away from Elohim’s path of righteous-living. 

The Scripture teaches us to be overcomers (Rom 12:21; 1 John 2:13–14; 5:4) eradicating the leavening of sin from our lives. We must overcome the world, the flesh and the devil (Jas 3:15). Yeshua admonished each of the seven Messianic assemblies to be overcomers (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; see also Matt 24:13). For those who overcome, there will be great rewards—a spiritual inheritance; they will become sons of Elohim (Rev 21:7).

The Greek word for overcome is nikao (Strong’s G3528) meaning “to conquer, to get the victory, prevail” and is where the word nike comes from.

What Is Sin?

• Sin is the anything that violates the Torah-instructions/laws of Elohim (1 John 3:4).
• Sin is unrighteousness (1 John 5:17; YHVH’s Torah commands define what righteousness is, Ps 119:172).
• Sin is not believing in Yeshua, who is the Torah-Word of Elohim incarnate (John 3:18; 16:9).
• Sin is failing to do (or not to do) that we which we should be do (or not do) — i.e., the sin of omission (Jas 4:17).
• Sin is putting me-first (my desires, impulses), not YHVH first (his will) in our lives. It is humanism, which is self-rule and self-worship. It is following the lie of the devil: man can have it his way regardless of what YHVH’s Word says, and not suffer any consequences for it. This is the big lie from the serpent in the Garden.
• Sin is a direct challenge to YHVH’s authority in our lives. It is arrogance and self exaltation against YHVH’s will. It involves lack of belief in his Word. It is putting my will above his Word.

Practical Steps to Overcoming Sin

To be victorious over sin, the saint must actively pursue two courses of action at the same time. He must “feed” or build up his personal spirit man and also starve his sin nature. Here are some practical steps to empowering your spirit man, so you can effectively defeat sin.

Building Yourself Up Spiritually

• Know the biblical definition of sin, so you know what sin is. Some things men think are sin are not sin and vice versa. 
• You must be born again or spiritually regenerated in your spirit man (John 3:5).
• Call upon the Set-Apart Spirit of Elohim for help and recognize the Spirit’s power in your life. Learn to walk in the Spirit. The Set-Apart Spirit will convict us of sin (John 16:8, 13), and empower us to live a righteous or sin-free life in accordance with YHVH’s commandments.
• Brainwash your mind with the Word of Elohim (Eph 5:26). This is how we transform our thinking from being conformed to the world, the flesh and the devil into the mind and character of Yeshua (Rom 12:2). Study the Scripture. Feed the spirit man inside of you. Hide YHVH’s Word in your heart (Ps 119:11; Jas 1:21; Prov 6:20–22). 
• Know and use the power of prayer and spiritual warfare, so you can defeat the enemy as he endeavors to tempt you to sin (2 Cor 10:3–6; Eph 6:10–18; Luke 9:1; 10:19).
• When tempted to sin, redirect your attention off the sin and onto prayer to YHVH. Know the Scriptures, so you can quote specific Bible verses to combat specific temptations to sin as Yeshua did when confronting the devil in the wilderness (Matt 4:4–11).
• Know the power of being with other overcoming believers on a regular basis who will reinforce good habits, and hold each other accountable, and who will challenge you to keep overcoming and reaching for higher standards.
• Make no provision for the flesh (Rom 13:14). Get away from corrupting influences including people.
• Be accountable to trusted and mature spiritual authority.
• Don’t replay old tapes of you or others sinning for your vicarious gratification (Prov 23:7). 
• Stay in constant communication with YHVH through prayer.
• Get the Word of Elohim into your heart and mind by meditating or ruminating on YHVH’s Word (Pss 63:6; 119:15, 48, 78, 148).
• Learn to love righteousness—the things of YHVH (Phil 4:8).
• Learn the fear of YHVH, which is to hate evil (Prov 8:13). Ask YHVH to give you his fear.
• Replace bad habits or sinful patterns with good habits or righteous patterns. Replace what not to do with what to do (Gal 5:16; Eph 4:22–24).
• Recount your testimony to yourself and to others of past victories over sin (Rev 12:11). This not only strengthens you spiritually to be able to resist sin, but it helps keep you spiritually accountable to others.
• Bring power of your will to bear on sin. Will not to sin, but to obey Elohim. “Let not” in Romans 6:12–13 directly relates to the volitional or choice-making capacity of the human soul. Furthermore, the will relates to the other points listed in this study in that it can impose the realities of them into the other areas of our soul (i.e. the mind or intellect and emotion) and into our body with its weakness and penchants toward sin. “Yielding your members” (Rom 6:13, 16, 19) is another expression relating to the will of man in this regard. Use your mind to establish scripturally-based spiritual boundaries for yourself, and then use our will to enforce those boundaries. Ask YHVH to give you a heart to love those boundaries, since they’re there for your own good.

How to Starving the Sin Nature in Us

• Exercise self control; learn to control the impulses to sin. Elohim gave you a will, so use that will to determine not to sin. Set spiritual boundaries for yourself based on the Word of Elohim, and determine not to cross those boundaries.
• Take every thought captive to the mind, spirit, Word of YHVH-Yeshua (2 Cor 10:5).
• Flee temptation (2 Tim 2:22; Prov 4:14–15).
• Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof (Rom 13:14). Remove yourself from tempting or compromising situations and circumstances.
• Do not love the things of this world (1 John 2:15).
• Learn what sin is and then learn to hate sin or evil. Ask YHVH to give you a heart to love the things he loves and to hate the things that he hates.
• Remember what the consequences for sinning is. Sin leads to guilt, shame, misery and sorrow. Ultimately, the wages of sin eternal death (Rom 6:23; Ezek 18:4) in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14–15).

Power to Overcome Sin

An important aspect to overcoming sin is to have the right perspective. We must view ourselves from a biblical perspective—as YHVH Elohim views us through our relationship with Yeshua. Here are some truths to keep in mind in this regard:

Reckoning — To help in overcoming sin, we must reckon ourselves dead to sin, and alive to Yeshua as a new creation of his spirit. (Read Rom 6 and 8; 6:7,11; Eph 4:24.) This reality must be our mindset, our spiritual identity. That identity must permeate everything we do in life.

Identification ­— We must reprogram our minds to think of ourselves no longer as sinners, but as righteous saints. We must accept the fact that we are new creation in Yeshua, and accept our new identity by faith based on what the Word of Elohim says of us (Rom 6:2,11; Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 5:17). Sure, we will still sin from time to time (1 John 1:9), but sin is neither our habitual lifestyle nor what defines who we are spiritually. We’re overcomers who are predisposed to walking as saints, not as sinners. This is our true identity before YHVH and how he views us.

Love — An abiding and dynamic love for Elohim and his commands constrains us to not violate his law of love by sinning either against him or man. The overcomer must cultivate a desire to please Elohim (Rom 8:8), which involves hating sin and loving righteousness. We must learn to obey Elohim out of love, not fear (2 Tim 1:7; Rom 8:15).

Revelation — Obey Elohim and don’t yield to sin. Be empowered and motivated by the revelation and reality of the fact that our sin body is dead in Messiah and that we’re a new creation in Him (Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 5:17). We’re born of the Spirit and alive to righteousness and are no longer under the power of sin because Yeshua’s victory over sin and death, and because the life of Messiah is working in us through the Set-Apart Spirit (Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 6:1–22).

Quickening — Our mortal (sin-bent) bodies are quickened (made alive) by the Set-Apart Spirit dwelling in us—that is, by the direct power of Elohim’s Spirit in us motivates, energizes and strengthens us to overcome sin and to live righteously according to the Spirit, heart and will of Elohim (Rom 8:11, 26; Eph 2:1–5; Col 2:13). Another way to state this is that Elohim has given us his grace or divine enabling to overcome sin (Rom 6:14).

Hope of Eternal Rewards — The hope of eternal rewards as heirs of Elohim and joint-heirs with Messiah will also motivate us not to sin. The more faithful and obedient to him we are the greater will be our reward in the kingdom of Elohim. This should be a strong motivation for us to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh (Rom 8:16–17, 20, 23–25). The hope or earnest expectation (Rom 8:19, 20, 24) of being joint-heirs with Messiah and the glorification of our bodies (Rom 8:17) gives us the impetus to overcome the present struggles of this life.

Be an Overcomer!

The Word of YHVH Elohim declares,

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim. (Rev 2:7)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Rev 2:17)

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev 3:21)

The Destructive Nature of Sin

There are many ways in which sin is destructive and destroys. Here are a few examples.

Sin is DESTRUCTIVE in that it causes separation (Isa 59:2). Sin leads a person away from Elohim who is sinless, perfect and holy. It caused Adam and Eve to be kicked out the Garden and to be separated from Elohim. It also destroys human relationships.

But your iniquities have separated between you and your Elohim, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isa 59:2)

Sin is DESTRUCTIVE and DISSIPATING to yourself and to others.

In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation [or profligacy, prodigality], speaking evil of you. 1 Pet 4:4

Sin DESTROYS the effectiveness of our prayers (Isa 59:1–2; 1 Pet 3:7; Matt 5:23–24).

Sin DESTROYS your emotional stability. (Pss 51:7–12; 32:1–4).

Sin and profligate living DESTROYS one’s finances. Through profligate living, the prodigal son lost all his inheritance and ended up DESTITUTE (Luke 15:11–16).

Sin causes DISOBEDIENCE and is DISOBEDIENCE to YHVH and his Word. Disobedience is one of sin’s definitions (i.e., sin the violation of the Torah-word or instructions of Elohim, 1 John 3:4). 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)

Sin is DEFILINGand DEGENERATING in that it pollutes, corrupts and eventually destroys little-by-little by corrupting everything it touches. It corrupts a person’s body, soul and spirit. The Bible likens sin to leavening in bread in that it puffs a person up (in pride) and causes them to become bitter. A little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Cor 5:6–7; Gal 5:9).

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor 5:6–7, see also Gal 5:9))

Sin is also DESTRUCTIVE and DEVASTATING to our bodies. When the temple of our bodies are violated by sinful habits the results may be immediate or long term. Examples include (to name only a few)

• overeating—gluttony
• sexual promiscuity leads to sexually transmitted diseases
• over consumption of alcohol
• drugs
• eating the wrong types of foods leads to poor health
• ingesting poisonous chemical food additives leads to poor health
• not following the biblical dietary laws leads to poor health
• many sicknesses are caused by sinful behaviors

Sin is DECEPTIVE. It over-promises and under-delivers. It promises great rewards and, at the moment, it seems so good and pleasurable (Heb 11:25), but it leads to depression, death, destruction and ultimately to temporal and eternal damnation.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov 14:12)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)

…to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season… (Heb 11:25)

Sin is DEGRADING and DEBASING in that it brings fear, shame, humiliation and guilt upon the sinner. Initially sin brings a momentary, fleeting pleasurable thrill (Heb 11:25), but then it sucks the joy out of a person like a vacuum (Gen 3:6 cp. v. 10). This leads to DEPRESSION. What is a depression? It is a low point—in this case, an emotional low point, valley or pit in a person’s life.

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. (Prov 3:5)

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.… And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (Gen 3:6, 10)

Sin is DEBILITATING and DEVITALIZING. It weakens and sucks the life out of a person and leads to DESTRUCTION. Sin does not and cannot make anything or anyone righteous, better or stronger. Sin can only strengthen other sins, but it can’t strengthen Elohimliness, holiness or righteousness.

Sin is DEADENING. It DUMBS DOWN one’s intellect, corrupts good morals and then it numbs the conscience and eventually it kills the person emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. It causes our conscience to become hardened and seared to sin. Eventually one’s heart becomes hardened to sin and one becomes reprobate (unprincipled and disapproved). At that point, one loses one’s moral compass and spiritual direction in life altogether.

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Tim 4:2)

They profess that they know Elohim; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Tit 1:16)

Be not deceived: evil companionship corrupts good morals. (1 Cor 15:33)

Sin is DISGUSTING. Think of the most disgusting sins you can imagine. Now ask yourself this. How did a person get to that point? Overnight or little-by-little? Usually the latter. Beware of sin! It slowly creeps up on a person and overtakes them. Moreover, one sin is a catalyst for more sin and inevitably leads to another sin and so on.

Sin is DEVALUING. It brings a person from a higher state to a lower state spiritually, morally, emotionally and physically.

Sin is DECAYING in that it eats away at the sinner like a cancer, and it eats away at those around the sinner.

Sin is DEFAMING and DISREPUTABLE in that it destroys a person’s good name and reputation. Think of all the people in our day whose reputations have been destroyed when their sins were publicized by the media.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (Prov 22:1)

Sin is DISSATISFYING. Like an addiction (drugs, alcohol, pornography, sex, power, etc.), a little sin isn’t enough. The sinner needs to sin more and more to satisfy his urges and need for fulfillment. It’s a downward spiral into a black hole.

Sin is DISTRACTING. It takes our attention off Elohim and puts it onto ourselves or some idolatrous and sinful practice. Sin DIVERTS our attention from the path of righteousness and onto to the path of wickedness.

Ultimately, sin is DAMNING. Sin incurs a costly price. The worst result of sin is eternal death and separation from Elohim (Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23). It brings the wrathful judgment of Elohim against sinners.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:6–8)

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not Elohim, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of YHVH, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thess 1:8–9)

For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness… [list of sins] Who knowing the judgment of Elohim, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Rom 1:18, 32)

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of Elohim; Who will render to every man according to his deeds (Rom 2:5–6). 

Because of all these things, sin is extremely DANGEROUS. It is dangerous to the sinner and it is dangerous to those who stand close by.

Reasons to Hate Sin

• Elohim hates sin, and sometimes even the sinner.
• For thou art not a Elohim that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: YHVH will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (Ps 5:4–6)
• Sin opposes Elohim’s word.
• Sin is destructive and damning.
• Sin caused the death of Yeshua.

A Call to Action

NOW is the time to repent of or turn away from sin and with your whole heart and mind to believe in and to accept Yeshua’s death on the cross in payment for your sin and to love and obey him (i.e. to walk in sinlessness) for the rest of your life. 

If you, at some time in the past, have repented of your sin but have fallen away (called backsliding) or have grown lukewarm or cold in your relationship with Yeshua, now is also the time to wake up from your spiritual slumber, to repent and to come back to Yeshua.

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)

And the times of this ignorance Elohim winked at [or overlooked sin]; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30)

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of YHVH. (Acts 3:19)

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:5)

YHVH is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9 )

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8–10)