Based on Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges, this lesson outlines seven general directions for dealing with sin. While specific sins will be addressed in future lessons, these general directions apply to dealing with any and all sin in our lives.

1. Directions for dealing
with sin
Based on Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

2. 1. Always address your sin in the context of the
Gospel.
• We tend to forget that God has already forgiven our sins because of what
Jesus did on the cross as soon as we begin working on an area of sin.
• Colossians 2:13-14
• God has also credited to us the perfect righteousness of Christ.
• In every area of life where we are disobedient, Jesus was perfectly obedient.
• Romans 3:21-22
• Philippians 3:9

3. 2. We must learn to rely on the enabling power
of the Holy Spirit.
• Remember, it is by the Spirit we put to death the sin in our lives.
• Romans 8:13
• We tend to forget this and resort to our own willpower (which never works).
• No matter how much we grow, we never get beyond our constant need of
the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
• We must be continually dependent on the Holy Spirit.

4. 3. While depending on the Holy Spirit, we must also
recognize our responsibility to diligently pursue all practical
steps for dealing with our sin.
• This dovetails with #2. We are both dependent and responsible.
• Our tendency is to emphasize one over the other.
• “Work as if it all depends on you, and yet trust as if you did not work at all.”

5. 4. We must identify specific areas of acceptable
sin.
• This DOES NOT mean to determine which sins are acceptable to continue.
NO sin is acceptable to God.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see if there is a pattern of that particular sin
in your life.
• This requires a humble attitude and a willingness to face that sin.
• You also need to give thought to what situations trigger it. Anticipating
circumstances or events that stimulate the sin can help in putting it to death.

6. 5. We should be able to bring specific, applicable
Scriptures to bear to each of our subtle sins.
• These Scriptures should be memorized, reflected on, and prayed over as we ask
God to use them to enable us to deal with those sins.
• Psalm 119:11
• “Hid” means to lay aside for future use.
• Memorizing Scripture is not a “magic bullet.” They must be applied to our lives.
• If we memorize and pray over Scriptures that address our subtle (or not-so-subtle)
sins, the Holy Spirit will bring them to mind in particular situations to remind us of
the will of God, to warn us, and to guide us in our responses to temptation.

7. 6. We should cultivate the practice of prayer
over the sins we tolerate.
• This is assumed in #2 and #5, but it is important to realize that prayer is one of our
major directions for dealing with sin.
• It is through prayer we consciously acknowledge our need for the Holy Spirit.
• It is through prayer we continually acknowledge the persistent patterns of our lives.
• We should pray over our sins in a planned, consistent manner.
• We should also pray short, spontaneous prayers for the help of the Holy Spirit each
time we encounter situations that might trigger one of our sins.

8. 7. We should involve one or more other believers
with us in our struggle against our subtle sins.
• This should be a mutual relationship as week seek to exhort, encourage, and
pray for one another.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
• We need to be accountable to someone else so they can pray for us and
encourage us if we want to make progress in dealing with sin.

9. Your heart is a battleground between the flesh
and the Spirit.
• Apply the Gospel.
• Depend on the Holy Spirit.
• Recognize your responsibility.
• Identify specific respectable sins.
• Memorize and apply appropriate Scripture.
• Cultivate the Practice of prayer.
• Involve one or a few other believers with you.
• We will look at specific sins, but these seven general directions always apply.