Still Sinning
Q:
I was saved a few years ago but I’m still sinning! I have earnestly asked God to give me power over all sin, but I have no answer, and I cannot tell where my mistakes are. I understand that a man has to confess to God that he is a sinner and believe that Christ died for him in order to have the new life. I am anxious to leave off all sin. I want to live as God would have me to live, but I do not know what to do.
A:
Before I attempt to answer your question, I want to assure you that soon we will experience the reality of our salvation from the dominion, power, and presence of sin when the Lord Jesus comes.
As to your question, I would suggest that you are experiencing the struggle of the man in Romans chapter 7.
A lesson that every believer ought to learn is stated in verse 18, "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." As long as we are in this scene there will be a conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Although I am saved, yet I still carry with me the old package I inherited from Adam when he disobeyed God. So now I need to always have before me that I am crucified with Christ, and if I want to experience victory over sin, it is not by my own strength and energy, but through Christ living in me (Gal. 2:20). Though we are His, we need to understand that living in Christ is not by my own power (Peter learned that lesson in Luke 22:33) but by surrendering all to Christ and entering into all that I am in Him (Rom 8:2,11,16-18).
In conclusion, it is not a matter of overcoming sin now by my own power (I can’t! See John 1:8-10) but allowing the Sprit of God to form the life of Christ in me (Gal. 4: 19). This is how I will have a victorious Christian life. J.A.
