Living Sinless
[original text in italics]
We have seen that Christ bore our sins and he set us free from sin. Therefore, let us not meddle with it any longer, as sin in carries within itself destruction. Although we can still make mistakes, sometimes succumb to the tricks of Satan, or yield to the desires of our own flesh [body], these occurrences should happen less and less as we mature in Christ. The Lord, being loving and patient, reminds us of what to do if we sin:
​
1 JOHN 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
​
1 JOHN 2:1-6 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous [state of approval and acceptance]. He is the propitiation [sin offering, pardon, atonement] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep [watch over, guard, preserve] his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
​
Recognize that God cannot tempt anyone. Believers sin when they give in and are ensnared by their own desires. These desires originate from their old self, their old nature, their old flesh.
​
JAMES 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
​
Do not pray that God would resist the devil for you and cause him to flee. God commands you to resist the devil and the devil will flee from you. Resisting sin prohibits Satan’s ability from prospering against us.
​
JOHN 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
​
JAMES 4:7 Submit [place or put under rank] yourselves, then, to God. Resist [take a strong complete stand against] the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near [extremely close in presence] to God, and He will draw near to you.
​
As discussed in the Become A Disciple section, we must apply discipline to faith and walk in the fruit of the Spirit:
​
GALATIANS 5:13…19-24 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh… Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who practice [regularly perform] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness [kindness that is also serviceable and benevolent], goodness [virtue, moral excellence, intrinsic goodness], faithfulness, gentleness [strength in gentleness, temperance], self-control [self-mastery]; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
HEBREWS 10:26 -31 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment
​
Living without sin prevents the evil one from touching you:
​
1 JOHN 5:18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects [guards, watches over] him, and the evil one does not touch [lay hold of] him.
​
If you struggle with sin, temptation, or mental anguish, we will show you how water baptism cuts off the old self so that you can faithfully walk in godliness. God has mandated water baptism to free the believer from the desires of the flesh so that they can truly walk in newness of life right now. Following water baptism, we will cover the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which empowers the believer to reign with Christ in this life. God has provided everything you need to walk as a new creation!
​