Lesson 19: God’s Power Accomplishes Three Amazing Things – God Redeems Us and Forgives Our Sin
Question 3
Many people do not understand that the depression they are experiencing might be coming from their sin, from having “rebelled against the Words of God” and “spurning the counsel of the Most High”. Of course, this is not the only cause of depression, we’ve already talked about many other causes, and yet it is one cause, and many today are suffering depression for this reason.
Let’s look at three things that all people, by birth, are in captivity to:
The force of sin. All people sin and cannot help but sin. All of us are sold as slaves to sin. We are sin captives from birth. (Romans 3:23; 7:14).
The force of corruption and death. The whole creation is corrupt (Romans 8:21). Everything wastes away; it deteriorates, decays, ages, and eventually dies. We are all captives to corruption and death. (1 Corinthians 15:42, 50; Galatians 6:8; 2 Peter 1:4; 2:12, 19.)
The force of Satan. All unbelievers are under the power and influence of Satan. He has blinded their minds to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). He works in the “children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). They are captivated by him (1 John 5:19).
Aren’t these things thoroughly depressing? Is it any wonder that we can experience severe depression just from living in this world?
The truth is we need to be liberated, delivered and set free. The problem is we are unable to do this for ourselves. Many of us have tried and tried. I tried for years to claw my way out of darkness, to lift myself up by good works, to try to climb out of the slimy pit and miry clay through religion and self-effort. I went to doctors, to psychologists and pastors. Absolutely nothing worked, nothing helped. And isn’t this what those described in Psalm 107:12 experienced? “…they fell down, with none to help.”
Question 3. Can you identify with trying to lift yourself out of this darkness, this captivity and bondage and power of sin, death, and Satan? Or of going to man and finding no real and lasting help? If so, what was it like for you?
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Tori writes, "1000%. Nothing worked, I tried so many things but I still felt the tight grip of sin in my life. Nothing improved, everything was a disaster. And I failed time and time again trying to solve my problem and it only added to me feeling like my sin was stronger. I could not do it."
Harris writes, "Any failed effort did add to a failure mentality that led further in depression."
Carnell writes, "I tried to lift myself out of darkness and I failed which caused deeper feeling of depression."