There are two problems with the first assumption (when our sins are forgiven and Christ is born in us the evil spirits flee from our personality). First, the writings of the New Testament do not suggest that the believer no longer has a problem with sin, but exhort the Christian to guard himself constantly against temptation. When he does sin he is to confess his sin. Many passages from Paul, and the other Apostles as well, counsel the Christian concerning the danger of lapsing into sin.

Second, the behavior of Christian people reveals the presence of every type of evil spirit: adultery, fornication, the lust of the eyes, child molestation, outbursts of anger, spite, malice, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, jealousy, envy, several kinds of occult practices, drunkenness, addiction to drugs, the love of pleasure more than the love of God, pride, haughtiness, arrogance, the spirit of division, criticism, gossip, gluttony, disobedience, rebellion, spiritual ambition, murder, impatience, cowardice, unbelief, lying, stealing, covetousness, idolatry, avarice, to name several. This is what we find in the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To say such spirits are not present in the Christian churches is to ignore reality. These behaviors are present. They are practiced. The Christians are bound with such unclean spirits even though they have faith in the Lord Jesus, perhaps speak in tongues and prophesy, and are attempting to serve God.

The second assumption, that we are released from moral bondages after we die may be true. But what passage of Scripture suggests we are delivered from moral bondages on the basis of physical death? After all, physical death is the last enemy to be destroyed. If physical death is our enemy, how has it then become our redeemer?

What passage proclaims we are released from moral bondages when we rise to meet the Lord in the air?

Moral bondages originate in the spirit realm, not in the flesh of man. Lust is an evil spirit. The body of man contains biologic urges, but the lust that fills the earth today is not coming from man's biologic urges just as gluttony is not his normal appetite for food.

The nature of these bondages is spiritual. They can be cast out of our flesh.

On what basis, then, do we suppose our entrance into the spirit realm delivers us from evil that is spiritual in nature?

There only is one Redeemer and one Judge. His name is Christ.

If we are to be delivered from evil spirits it must be at the hands of the Lord Jesus. There is no other redeemer.

The Lord Jesus is able to judge the evil in us and to deliver us. The time has come for such judgment to begin, and it is beginning in the house of God:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I Peter 4:5,6)

Again:

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (I Peter 4:17)

To be continued.