Breaking Free from Recurring Sin: Grace Is the Way Out

We’ve made the same promise countless times: Never again. Whether it’s porn, gambling, arguing, addiction, ________ (you fill in the blank), we tell ourself I’ll stop, that this time I really mean it. And yet, before long, we fall right back into the cycle—temptation, sin, guilt, self-loathing, repeat. If you’ve been there, you know the frustration.

Andrew Farley, in Relaxing with God, says many Christians live in this cycle because they’ve misunderstood grace. We think grace is just about forgiveness after sin, but in reality, grace is what sets us free from sin in the first place.

The Law Strengthens Sin, Not You

In The Naked Gospel, Farley explains that trying harder actually makes sin worse (Romans 7:8). The more we tell ourselves, “I won’t do this again,” the more we obsess over it. It’s like dieting—if all you think about is avoiding cake, guess what you crave?

The solution isn’t stricter rules or more willpower—it’s realizing we’re already dead to sin (Romans 6:11). We don’t need to fight our way to victory; we fight from victory.

You Are Not Your Struggles

Farley’s Twisted Scripture challenges the belief that Christians have a sinful nature. He points out that in Christ, we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). So when temptation comes, instead of thinking, “I have to resist this,” we can say, “That’s not me anymore.”

Sin has power only when we believe it does. We don’t have to obey dead habits. We are free, even when we don’t feel like it.

Living by Grace, Not Guilt

Titus 2:11-12 says, “The grace of God… teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness.” This is one of the most important verses in the New Testament. Grace doesn’t just forgive; it empowers. Instead of wallowing in guilt after failing, we can say, “Thank you, Jesus, that I’m already clean.” That’s not making excuses—it’s rejecting shame and letting grace do what rules never could.

Final Thought

Farley reminds us in Relaxing with God that real change doesn’t come from sin management but from knowing who we are in Christ. If you’re tired of fighting and failing, maybe it’s time to stop trying and start trusting.

You are already free—now live like it.

Twisted Scripture
Farley, A. (2019). Twisted Scripture: Untangling 45 Lies Christians Have Been Told. Salem Books (an imprint of Regnery Publishing).

The Naked Gospel
Farley, A. (2009). The Naked Gospel: The Truth You May Never Hear in Church. Zondervan.

Relaxing with God
Farley, A. (2014). Relaxing with God. Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.