Victory Over Sin; I found the way to how it really works.

VICTORY OVER SIN

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Many believers have come to salvation with surrender to Jesus; yet leading a triumphant life evades them. The triumph seems elusive at best and impossible to walk in as a lifestyle. God’s purpose is for each believer to know the triumph and live in it. Jesus Himself declared He came that we might have life and life more abundantly.

John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has

everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Where the life of condemnation stops and the eternal everlasting life begins is at faith in Jesus. Jesus identified when one passed from spiritual death unto spiritual life. To know that God the Father sent Jesus and to place the object of your faith in Jesus Christ is when you pass from death unto life.

Romans 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul wrote it well. “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Anyone who leads you away from the exclusive path to salvation is leading you into destruction. Whoever believes on Jesus will not be put to shame. Jesus is the way to salvation and Jesus is the way to maintain the salvation.

Many agree Jesus Is the way to salvation yet prescribe another way to walk in victory. Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the only prescribed way of victory in the new covenant. It is faith in Jesus that brings salvation; and it is faith in Jesus that will keep us. It is faith in Jesus that will allow us to finish this race in victory. What you think of Jesus will determine your destiny in this life and in the life to come.

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

God’s prescribed order of victory is always with the object of our faith centered in Jesus Christ. With this truth in mind, we are called to the instructions of this new covenant for living in victory over every sinful habit, destructive behavior, and bondage we might find ourselves in.

Faith in Jesus Christ brings us freedom from sin not to sin. So, what about the believer’s finding themselves caught in what Jesus has set them free from? John said it very well, here in 1 John, if we sin we are to confess our sins, and Jesus is just faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the beginning of the instruction but not the end. Many believers are in a sin, repent, confess your sin cycle and the victory over sin is elusive for them. Again 1 John is good instruction but not complete instruction.

Sin, repent, confess the sin, and a promise to do better can become an endless cycle that produces discouragement and disillusionment.

Chapter heading and verse are convenient for us to identify how to find verses. However, in this case John had just begin to teach on how the believer should handle sin in their life after conversion. The beginning of chapter 2 continues the conversation and many times has been lost by concluding chapter one as the completion of the topic.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The first 2 verses of this second chapter bring the believer back to the original intent, faith in Jesus Christ for complete victory. Confession of sin and repentance is correct but we must close the gap. If we sin we must take advantage of our Advocate with the Father. Jesus the righteous One is our Advocate before the Father. He alone is the propitiation for our sins. His one-time sacrifice for sin is the healing ointment to our reconciliation with God the Father. When you have sinned, come to the Father with your Advocate Jesus. You will find Jesus, as advocate, operates as your Mediator, High Priest, and Intercessor before the Father.

When you understand Jesus is your High Priest before God the Father you can come with boldness in the strength of your Advocate. The power of the cross is where strength for victory over sin is derived.

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Under this covenant of grace, we can and must depend completely and totally upon Jesus our High Priest. His position as our Advocate puts us in a position of favor with God the Father. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses; praise the Lord what a Savior. The KJV says Jesus is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Who is this One who is paying such great attention to us?

Jesus being our High Priest gives us access to God the Father. In fact, we can come boldly into his throne of grace at the very hour we need grace and mercy the most. This is different than many religious traditions have taught us how to approach God when we have blown it. Because we have not come with God’s prescribed order for victory many have remained in their defeat and unable to overcome in certain areas of their lives.

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

At salvation, we have died to sin. We have immersed ourselves into the truth that Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice to atone for our sin. Jesus is the only one who can set a man free from sin and there is no other source of freedom. If our heart has not been baptized into this truth an outward baptism will not suffice. If we have been baptized into Christ through faith in Jesus, we should by all means be baptized into water; identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

At our surrender to Jesus we are united to together with Him in His death and also in His resurrection. At our salvation, the old man that was alive to the sin nature was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves off sin. Religious traditions have taught the believers are still alive to sin and has brought much confusion and turmoil to the believer’s life. In fact, he who has died has been freed from sin. Lay hold of the truth, every believer has been freed from sin. Not by the believer’s performance but the believer’s Savior’s performance.

Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If we died with Christ we shall also live with Him. Jesus being raised from the dead, dies no more! Death no longer has dominion over Him. Jesus died to sin once and there will never be another need for Him to die to sin again. The life that He lives, He lives to God. The next word in the next verse is imperative, “Likewise”! When you came to Jesus you died to sin; from that day forward you reckon yourself to be dead indeed to sin and alive unto God. Faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ brought a supernatural exchange. The old man died and we have become a new creation in Christ Jesus. God has called us to live as the newly created being we are.

Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Sin shall not have dominion over you! You are not under law where sins desires are stirred; you are under the divine influence of God where the sin nature is gone and you have a newly created being which lives in the new and living way. So, do not present yourselves as sinners; present yourselves as righteous and alive unto God. Let divine influence reign.

Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Shall we go on sinning because we are not under the dominion of law? No way! When we had the sin nature ruling we were its slave. Now that we are new creations we are slaves of righteousness. The sinner sins and is a slave to sin because that is what is in that nature. A righteous man walks in righteousness because that is what is in the nature of the newly created man; yes, a slave of righteousness.

Does that mean a sinner cannot do a righteous act? No, but him doing a righteous act does not make him righteous because the righteous nature does not abide in him. Likewise, can the one who has the righteous nature commit a sin? Yes, but that is not what makes him a sinner. The man with the righteous nature will turn to his Advocate because he is a slave to righteousness; set free from sin indeed.

Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of

God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Knowing what you were and who you are is imperative. Believer present yourselves as slaves of righteousness for holiness; that is what you have in you and that is who you are!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The slave to sin will reap the wages of sin; the slave of righteousness will reap the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The believer has the higher law of God working for them. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

As new creations in Christ Jesus we are called to lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares. Looking unto our Advocate Jesus is the only way to consistent victory. Eyes up, faithful Jesus started this walk of faith in you and will finish it, as you surrender to His advocacy. Jesus shed His blood so you could walk with victory over sin.

1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

The old testament examples cannot be forgotten or ignored. They never walked with victory over sin but walked is sin's deceitfulness. We cannot carry the attitude that we are doing so good on our own that we can’t fail. It is God’s faithfulness that will keep you in victory and continue to keep your steps with victory. Trust in the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus to keep you; do not commit spiritual idolatry by believing you can keep yourself from sin. Beloved, flee from idolatry!

Ephesians 4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Grace teaches us and calls us to practical steps to walk in victory. Put off the old man, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Put what God says about you above all else. Put on the new man! Note the new man, God has made you, was created in true righteousness and holiness. You don’t have to go find holiness and righteousness and bring it into your life. You live out of the new creation which was built with holiness and righteousness abiding in it. This indeed is an act of faith toward Jesus and the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Graces teaches us to be aware of the company we keep. The believer will not walk with victory over sin if they are surrounded with people outside the pursuit of God. Evil company corrupts good habits; it may be time to change the people you hang out with. As we awake to the righteousness found in the cross it will draw us away from sin. Victory can remain elusive if we will not heed the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

In view of God’s mercy present your bodies a living sacrifice. Not in your own strength or by your own will and better performance, but in view of God’s mercies you can present yourself to God; it is your act of worship. God has never called you to conform; you cannot take the old man and make a good guy out of him. You have become a new creation now take the mind and allow God to transform it. The old way of thinking needs changed by transformation. Pour in the word of God into your mind. As you surrender to the living word of God it will divide between soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It will change the way you think. There is a progression as you allow your mind to be transformed. The good, the acceptable and then the perfect will of God.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

God has called us to love what He loves and to abhor what he abhors. If one is struggling with sin ask yourself, do you agree with how God feel about it. Repent for not abhorring it like God does. Ask Him to renew your mind so you and He can be in agreement. Loving what He loves and hating what He hates is an area we need to renew our mind in.

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

The whole issue of loving righteousness and hating lawlessness cannot be overstated. The only way to walk in victory is through the covenant of grace. However, some have claimed sin does not matter anymore now that Jesus dealt with it! Jesus did not set you free to sin; Jesus set you free from sin. Those who are trying to see how close they can get to sin makes me question if they have truly been born again. When one has made a genuine confession of faith it comes with a heart change; one hungers to know how close can they walk in relationship with God.

Here in Hebrews, God the Father is speaking to Jesus about the kingdom He has given Him. Jesus is the head of this kingdom we are a part of. His kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness; in fact, Jesus rules with the scepter of righteousness. The scepter of righteousness is extended to all those who put their faith in Him.

Jesus loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, the Father anointed Him with the oil of gladness more that all His companions. If you are going to walk in the fulness of that anointing you must love what Jesus loves and hate what He hates. Renewal of the mind is the way to get in agreement with Jesus.

As I have counseled, people have told me, "I enjoy doing it". Their soul is conflicted wanting to be free, yet wallowing in the mud hole of their bondage. Without coming to the God mindset that one will continue in their struggle.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Satan has strongholds in a believer’s life, if they have thoughts that exalt itself against the knowledge of God. The lie of satan is the only power he has over the believer. Paul writes a strong secret about spiritual warfare. Cast down arguments and high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God. Your thought life can hold you captive even after salvation. Bring the thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; there in awaits your deliverance.

Victory will be elusive to the one who has not renewed their thinking and thought life; bringing the thought life in agreement with the word of God makes the victory be experienced. Jesus called it becoming a disciple.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Grace teaches us that God knows those who belong to him. If you name the name of Christ depart from iniquity. You decide if you will be a vessel of honor or dishonor; God calls you to be the vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the master. Walking with the renewed mind is so important!

Practical teaching is here in this passage. Flee youthful lusts! There may be some activities God is calling us away from. This includes separating yourself from evil company. However, it not just what you are being called away from but what you are being called to.

Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Instruction to pursue what God has put in you. These are a partial list of the fruit of the Spirit. God put it on the inside of you; you are called to nurture and stir up that which God has put in you. Please note God said this pursuit should be with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Make company of those who you know to hunger and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Some have tried being the vessel of honor by a better performance. That will not bring about the victory. One is not separated from iniquity from the power of their good performance. We must come back to the power of the cross for our salvation and for our sanctification. We must believe we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. A perfected work in our spirit and a process of renewing our mind for our souls. For by the offering of Jesus Christ He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Receive the engrafted word of God which is able to save your souls.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Humbling yourself under the mighty hand of God is being in agreement with the power of His word. Will the trouble come? Yes, the trouble will come, but not just to you. All who are serving God will face the roaring lions lies. Victory is only found in God’s way. Many have devised plans and scheme which employed only bring more bondage. God calls you to submit the word of His grace so you can be a partaker of the divine inheritance.

You have the invitation cast your care upon God because He cares for you. Don’t try and handle the trouble by yourself; cast the care to the One who has already demonstrated His love for you.

There is one single way to resist satan; you do it by being steadfast in the faith. Be sure the object of your faith remains Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The finished work of the cross is where your victory is experienced.

Going through the fire is part of the process. However, after you have suffered for a while, Jesus Christ Himself will come and perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. Jesus is doing it in you; trust Him.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

REST YOUR HOPE FULLY UPON THE GRACE THAT IS BROUGHT TO YOU AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. The greater the revelation the greater the victory you will experience. Gird up the loins of your mind! Take every stray thought which has acknowledged itself against the revelation of grace through Jesus Christ, and bring in into captivity. It will bring you His victory by experience. That is what obedient children do; they are not conformed but transformed by the Father Himself.