In order to succeed at being a Christian, it is necessary to quit some things that we used to do. Specifically, in order to be a Christian, it is necessary to quit sinful habits. Let me, point blank, tell any young Christian, it ain’t always easy to quit old sinful habits. The Bible often calls quitting “repentance.”

Being a Christian starts with repentance. When Jesus told Nicodemus “You must be born again,” it wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command. Being born again is Jesus’s metaphorical way of saying: Start over, quit your old ways and relearn everything about how to live life. In John 15, Jesus told his disciples “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Left to our own devices it is not easy at all to quit sin. As a matter of fact, it is impossible for us to quit sin, if we walk in the flesh. The O.T. Law is the way of the flesh and no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law. However, Christians don’t live in the flesh, but rather follow Christ after the Spirit. John the Apostle said we “have an unction from the Holy One.” The word unction means an anointing by a priest. Jesus told his followers before his crucifixion that he was going away, but he would not leave them comfortless. Jesus said he would send another Comforter, called the Spirit of Truth. This Holy Spirit would lead Jesus’ followers and guide us in all truth. Jesus our High Priest has anointed Christians with his own blood and water. He is sitting on the right hand of the throne of God making intercession, literally relaying our prayers for righteousness to the Heavenly Father. Our prayers for victory over our sinful nature are realized and empowered by the Spirt.

The Apostle Paul said this about quitting sin: Romans 7:24-25 ― “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

If we have been born again, our desires are changed from within. God explained it to the O.T. Prophet Ezekiel this way: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

David was called a man after God’s own heart, because he repented of his sin. David made an about face, quit his selfish evil ways and started doing things Gods way. Job was called a perfect and upright man, because Job quit trying to tell God what to do. Abraham was called a friend of God, because he left behind everything he had and believed God. Paul, who first did harm to Christ’s church, after his encounter with Jesus was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles. Peter, the poster boy for failure, was told by Jesus to strengthen his brethren after his conversion.

Paul goes into great detail on how to overcome sin in his letter to the Romans. Specifically read Romans 7.
Peter described the process of quitting or getting victory over sin this way: 2 Peter 3:15-18 KJV ― And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

One final thought about quitting sin:
One of my favorite sayings is “Never give up!”
I especially love the drawing of a blue heron bird trying to eat a bullfrog. In the drawing the frog has its hands around the heron’s neck, chocking the bird to prevent being eaten. The caption on the drawing says “Never Give Up!”