The apostle Paul says, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (See Romans 5:1). How can I have peace with God if I keep sinning day in and day out? Sin interrupts our peace with God. Our conscience is bothered. We feel a distance developing between ourselves and God when we sin. A believer is to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), a life of joy unspeakable and full of glory – not a life of constant defeat and subsequent depression! Paul says that the believer is “made free from sin” (Romans 6:18). The tempter’s power is broken. Finally, I can say “NO!” to the pulls of the flesh.
Paul told the believers at Corinth that the life of Jesus is to be made manifest IN OUR MORTAL FLESH! (See 2 Corinthians 4:11). Satan would have us believe that the flesh is stronger than God’s Holy Spirit and that as long as we are in the flesh we will do the deeds of the flesh. That is a devil’s LIE! “How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). Yes, dead to sin NOW. Paul never even hinted that none of us will be free from sin as long as we live in these physical, fleshly bodies. Those who say such are saying our own death frees us from sin, not Christ’s death. We then become our own savior – not Christ! What a satanic teaching that is!
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). We don’t gain the victory over sin through our own human strength and efforts. GOD gives us the victory via the Holy Spirit. “Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). Don’t look at your weakness. Look at HIS strength. “Look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). “Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves (through HIS strength) from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). God help us all to understand is my hope and prayer.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley