By “If Jesus died to defeat sin, why does it still feel so present and powerful?”
It’s a question many wrestle with. But the answer lies in understanding what Jesus actually did on the cross.
As I’ve been exploring recently, according to Romans 6:10, “Jesus died once to break the power of sin.” Not necessarily its presence.
That’s a game-changer.
Before the law of Moses, sin existed but wasn’t counted against people.
Adam and Eve sinned, Cain sinned, Noah sinned, but God didn’t demand sacrifices or punishments.
Why?
Because there was no law to break. Sin wasn’t charged.
That changed with the law. Suddenly, sin was defined in 613 ways, and every violation had consequences.
But here’s the good news: Jesus fulfilled that law. He became the final sacrifice. And now, just like before the law, sin is no longer being counted against us.
Paul says it plainly in 2 Corinthians 5:19: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.”
This doesn’t mean God likes sin. It means the debt has been paid.
The power of sin—the pressure, the condemnation, the guilt—is broken. You’re not under the law anymore. You’re under grace.
So what’s the issue now? It’s not sin. It’s life versus death. When you trust in Jesus, you’re not just forgiven. You’re made alive. Filled with His Spirit. Empowered to live out the law of love written on your heart.
That’s the real victory of the cross.
Not just a covering, but a cleansing.
Not just forgiveness, but resurrection.
The defeat of the sin’s power is just one of the ways the cross changed everything. Want to know the others? I unpack them all in my series, The Turning Point: 4 Ways Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Changed Everything. Get all 5 MP3s today for your donation of any amount.