Oftentimes people do not get delivered from sin because they are justifying their behavior for one reason or another. They say they want to be delivered. They may come up for prayer and ask for deliverance. But they do not receive deliverance because they are double-minded. They do but they don't want to be delivered. They do because they know it is wrong to continue in sin. They don't because deep in their heart they are not convinced total deliverance is a requirement. They want to just keep on muddling along.

However, all the rewards we associate with the Christian salvation go to the overcomers.

We can overcome sin through the Lord Jesus Christ! Christ has sufficient power to enable us to turn away from each and every behavior. He possesses enough wisdom and authority to lead us to total victory.

Is total victory necessary?

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (I John 3:8—NIV)

Does the Bible promise us that under the new covenant we can gain victory over sinful behavior?

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:16—NIV)

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

But as long as we are in the world we have to sin!

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

When I go to Heaven I will not sin.

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Nobody's perfect.

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

God wants me to sin in order to reveal His great love and grace toward me.

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Jesus did it all and so we don't have to worry about sin.

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

God sees me only through Christ and so He doesn't know whether or not I am sinning.

"Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

We have permitted Satan to persuade us that Christ does not have the power to enable us to overcome sin. All kinds of doctrine have invaded Christian thinking that have as their foundation the concept that the new covenant does not include deliverance from sinful behavior.

For example, we are under a dispensation of grace different from all previous covenants of God, particularly the Law of Moses. Whereas prior to the dispensation of grace people had to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, now all they have to do is believe in Jesus Christ.

The just shall live by faith means if we believe in Jesus Christ our behavior is of little consequence.

The commandments of Christ and His Apostles apply only to the Jews. The Gentiles go to Heaven by grace.

To be continued.