Human beings are born with a body, a soul and a spirit. At
birth, our spirit is dead in the sin of the first Adam (Colossians 2:13; Romans 5:12). It
remains that way throughout our life until we come to Christ, the second Adam,
for salvation (1
Corinthians 15:45). This keeps us from experiencing the second death in
hell (Revelation 21:8),
because our spirit is Born Again through the blood of Jesus (1 John 3:9).
God’s Holy Spirit within us conforms us into the image of
Christ through sanctification (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). This is a process in which we
can cooperate and participate in order to have our mind renewed more quickly (Romans 12:2). If we
fight the work of God in our life through our carnal nature, then we suffer
longer from the effects of our pride and rebellion.
The good news is that God works in our soul – our mind,
will and emotions - on several levels. Jesus delivered us from a life of
carnality and death (Romans
7:24-25). He gives us both the desire and the power to surrender fully
to God’s will and way (Philippians
2:12-13). His truth sets us free indeed (John 8:32-36). What we find impossible,
Christ in us makes possible (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13).
Once the Spirit of God does His regenerating work in us (Romans 7:17), we can
face the sin that tempts us, without the need to give in to it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Over time, our desires are renewed, and sinful pursuits no longer have any
value for us. The Holy Spirit renews our mind and sets us free from the need to
live in sin (Romans
8:13). We walk in victory over both sin and death through Christ in us (1 Corinthians 15:57).
If you are still living a lifestyle of sin, and making
excuses for it, then your spirit is still dead in sin (1 John 3:9). You have not been truly
Born Again, even if you go to church and work for God. You simply need to
choose to turn away from sin and to totally surrender your entire life to God (1 John 1:9). Yield
your body, mind, will and emotions to God rather than to sin (Romans
6:13).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for not leaving us as orphans on
this earth (John
14:18). Your Holy Spirit within us leads us into all truth (John 14:26, 16:13);
so that we will despise sin as much as You do, and we will not follow deceiving
spirits and lies taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1). We are no longer blinded by the deceitfulness
of sin, but we walk in newness of life (Hebrews 3:13; Romans 6:4). You cause us to die to sin and to
live, move and have our existence only in Christ (Romans 6:8; Acts 17:28).
Thought for the Day:
Due to the anointing of the Holy One within us, we walk in
the truth and no longer fulfill the lusts of our flesh. – 1 John 2:20;
Galatians 5:16-25
