There is another truth to consider, and that is the spiritual nature of sin. We may assume that when our body dies and we are separated from it, we also will be separated from sin; for the Apostle states that sin dwells in our flesh.

But stop and think. Evangelical Christians understand we are surrounded with various unclean spirits, such as those of alcohol, lust, lying, and violence. Now consider: these spirits cannot exercise their passions except as they find an outlet through a human being. Is this correct? Yet the passion exists in them, in the spirit realm, whether or not they can find a human outlet.

So the sins resident in our flesh exist also in the spirit realm apart from a fleshly vehicle of expression. This being true we can understand that when we die and pass into the spirit realm our spiritual personality may contain the same lusts and passions we now have, if they have not been removed from us by the power of Jesus Christ.

If this is the case, what is the advantage of pursuing deliverance in the earth if Jesus Christ can deliver us from sin while we are in the next world?

There are three great advantages to gaining the victory over our sinful nature in the present world. First, if we do not, through the Holy Spirit, overcome our sinful nature we no longer remain without condemnation. The ascribing of the righteous requirements of the Law of Moses to us depends on our living above our sinful nature.

In order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4 NIV)

We see in the above verse that righteousness is imputed to us only as we choose to live not according to our sinful nature but according to the Spirit of God.

Second, if we do not avail ourselves of the present grace and thus put to death the sinful practices of our body we will not be entrusted with greater deliverance in the future.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Luke 16:10 NIV)

Third, the rewards of rulership go to those who overcome while on the earth. It is my opinion that, while we may be able to obtain further deliverance in the spirit realm, provided we have been faithful in our present opportunities, the spirit realm is not an appropriate environment to teach and test the victorious saints, the rulers of the world to come.

For example, the Lord Jesus Christ came from eternity with God. Yet it was in the earth that He learned obedience. It may be true that the iron scepter of overcoming strength can be wrought only in the fires of earth.

The Lord Jesus said we must overcome as He overcame.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21 NIV)

Perhaps all Evangelical people would agree the promises of the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation are assigned to the victorious saints.

To be continued.