Q102_062326 Rom. 6:12,13 So Here's How We Deal With Personal SinQ102_062326 Rom. 6:12,13 So Here's How We Deal With Personal Sin
How it Happens with Colin Cook
Colin Cook reflects on Romans 6:12–13 to contrast the “sin kingdom of Adam” with the kingdom of Christ, applying this to addiction and personal failure. The talk stresses identity in Christ over behaviour, offering a way to face temptation and relapse without sinking into shame.
13:02•23 Jun 2026
Sin, Identity and Addiction: Standing in Christ’s Kingdom
Episode Overview
- Sin is described as a kingdom that wants to reign, and faith means seeing yourself as moved from the sin kingdom of Adam into the kingdom of Christ.
- Change is framed as a matter of identity before God, not just improved actions: a person is urged to reckon themselves dead to sin’s rule.
- When temptations come, the suggested response is to affirm by faith, “I’m not in that sin kingdom anymore,” rather than struggle as though still condemned.
- Relapse is addressed by stressing that a person who fails does so within Christ’s kingdom, without losing their core identity or falling back under judgment.
- Presenting oneself to God as a son or daughter, instead of presenting one’s body to sin, is offered as a daily way to face lust, addiction, and fear.
“"This is not a question of action, but identity."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This talk from *How it Happens with Colin Cook* zooms in on one big idea from Romans 6:12–13: you deal with personal sin and addiction by standing in who you are in Christ, not by white‑knuckling better behaviour.
Colin Cook walks through Paul’s picture of two kingdoms: “the sin kingdom of Adam and the righteous kingdom of Christ.” Sin is described as something that wants to “reign” over a person like a ruler in a kingdom, especially through lusts and temptations.
Instead of trying to fight those urges while thinking of yourself as stuck in the old kingdom, Colin says faith means telling God and yourself, “Lord, I’m not in that sin kingdom anymore.” You’ll hear how this shift in identity speaks directly to addiction, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, food, sex, or obsessive worry.
Colin stresses, “This is not a question of action, but identity.” A person is urged to see themselves as a son or daughter of God, “no longer identified as a sinner,” and to present themselves to God rather than to “the kingdom of Satan or the kingdom of Adam and saying, at your service, sir.” Relapse and failure aren’t brushed aside.
Colin talks about slipping back into addiction while still belonging to Christ’s kingdom: “I have slipped back into my addiction, but I praise you that I am not identified by that addiction anymore.” From there, repentance is framed without terror of judgment, aiming to keep people from spiralling deeper into shame and darkness.
Along the way, Colin links personal struggle with the bigger story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, suggesting that current sufferings can be viewed as sharing in Christ’s story by faith. He briefly mentions his book *God’s Unbreakable Oath* as a longer, year‑long study of God’s promises. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re permanently defined by your worst habits, this conversation might nudge you to ask a different question: who do you really belong to?
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