Page 114 - Overcoming Addiction

Exodus 14:28
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even
Pharaoh's entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one
of them remained.

The testimony of Scripture is that the substance of our salvation in Christ is
just as complete as the shadow seen in the Israelites’ salvation from Egypt. There
was no reason for any who came out of Egypt to ever return to bondage there. The
Israelites’ freedom was complete. Their freedom was as certain as if they had
passed from one life, through death, and into another existence. This too is the
experience of all those who have been united with Christ through baptism. We
have been buried with Him, and we have been resurrected to a new life of
freedom.

Colossians 3:3
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Crossing the Red Sea symbolizes how completely the Christian has been
severed from the old slavery to sin that formerly held them bound. Crossing the
Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua signifies the power we have to
conquer all enemies in our flesh.

Deuteronomy 11:24-25
“Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours... No man
will be able to stand before you...”

Notice the scope of the words in these verses, and consider what they
portend for the Christian today. “EVERY” place the Christian sets his foot will be
theirs to possess. “NO” enemy will be able to stand before the one who has faith.
Even as our deliverance from bondage is a full deliverance, so too our victory over
every sin and enemy of God is boundless.
Christ has not merely given you and I victory over addiction, He has given us
an entirely new life. We are new creatures with new appetites, and new minds. The
extent to which you and I walk as these new creatures is limited only by our own
desire and belief. As the apostle Paul declared to the church in Corinth:

II Corinthians 6:12
You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.

Christ has set the captives free, but the degree to which you or I live in
freedom is determined by us. You can choose to live the rest of your life for the
pleasure of God. You can give yourself fully over to Christ that He might manifest
Himself in you, bringing all your thoughts, words, and actions under His control.

II Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for
all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no