Chapter 19: Myth—Sexuality Doesn’t Matter

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“You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But

if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it.” Genesis 4:7 NLT

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7 NRSV

“If you do well, you hold your head up; if not, sin is a

demon crouching at the door; it will desire you, and you will be mastered by it.” Genesis 4:7 REB

“If you are doing right, surely you ought to hold your head

high! But if you are not doing right, sin is crouching at the door hungry to get you. You can still master him.” Genesis 4:7 NJB

Is there a demon called sin crouching at the door of your heart seeking to master you and make you a slave to do its bidding? God’s Word makes it clear that it is up to you to exercise control and “rule over that sin demon.” The Revised English Bible says that the “demon” called sin seeks to master

you. However, the New Jerusalem Bible says, “You can master [the demon] sin!” Consider the instructions from God to rule over and master your sin.

1. Sin desires to rule over you.

2. You must subdue sin. 3. You must master sin. 4. If you don’t master sin, it will master you. 5. Sin is a demon crouched at your door and its desire is for you.

6. Even though sin is hungry to get you — you can still master sin!

The spiritual irony is that you cannot control sin when you don’t even know what sin is. You can’t know sin unless you know God and submit or

surrender to His will. I was thinking about this issue and how difficult and complicated it can be to just change a bad habit. Control over sin?