YOUR SOUL IS FREE FROM SIN, BUT YOUR FLESH IS NOT; STOP FOLLOWING IT!!

FREEDOM FROM SIN

“... [You have been] made free from sin….” (Romans 6:18 KJV). “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you SHALL be free indeed” (John 8:36 KJV). “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (freedom)” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV).

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“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not (HE OR SHE IS FREE FROM SIN): whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil (FOLLOWS THE FLESH); for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (BY FREEING PEOPLE FROM SIN). Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin (HE OR SHE IS A NEW CREATION); for his seed remaineth in him (THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT): and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (BORN ANEW; REJOINED TO GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT)…” (1 John 3:6-9 KJV).

While you (your SOUL) HAS been SET free FROM SIN, you STILL live in the FLESH while upon earth. The FLESH will NEVER follow God’s instructions! “…For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “… it does not submit to God's law (instruction, nor can it do so…” (Romans 8:7 NIV). “…it never will. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “…The sinful nature (FLESH) wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. …” (Galatians 5 NLT). 

What this means is that the SOUL is FREE from SIN, but your FLESH is “NOT” free from sin. When you SIN it is NOT your NEW CREATION self that is doing it; it is your FLESH. “… if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ... ALL THINGS are become new (except the flesh)...” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin … I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.  And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature (fLESH). I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). 

You cannot depend upon the FLESH to live a HOLY LIFE, because it cannot HELP you. “…it never will. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “… it does not submit to God's law (instruction, nor can it do so…” (Romans 8:7 NIV). “…THE FLESH SETS ITS DESIRE AGAINST the Spirit…” (Galatians 5:17 NASB). 

PARTNERING WITH THE FLESH LEADS YOU “AWAY” FROM GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE. “…those who are ACCORDING TO THE FLESH set their MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH…” (Romans 8:5 NASB). “…WHOEVER SOWS TO PLEASE THEIR FLESH, FROM THE FLESH WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; …” (Galatians 6:8 NIV).

 PARTNERING WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT LEADS YOU CLOSER TO GOD. “…the flesh profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB). “…The Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature (FLESH) desires…” (Galatians 5 NLT). 

YOUR FLESH AND THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT ARE ON OPPOSITE TEAMS. “…These TWO FORCES are constantly fighting each other…” (Galatians 5 NLT). 

HOWEVER, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE “POWER” TO CHOOSE “LIFE” AGAIN through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. “… It is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).  

The HOLY SPIRIT “EMPOWERS” you to put demands upon and take authority over YOUR flesh until it BECOMES your SLAVE and you STOP being the slave to your flesh. Why do you want to put demands on or take authority over YOUR FLESH? Because, “….you are slaves of the one you obey (follow)…” (Romans 6:16 NIV). YOU ARE FREE; STOP FOLLOWING YOUR FLESH!

Therefore, “... discipline [YOUR] body and make it [YOUR] lave...” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB). “…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). YOU CAN “…choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).  “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…Jesus (the WORD) saith…I am …THE LIFE…” (John 14:6 KJV).

YOU ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE POWER, SLAVERY, OR DICTATORSHIP OF THE EVIL ONE. You are INDWELLED by the ALMIGHTY “POWER” of God’s HOLY SPIRIT. “... [Therefore, You have been] made free from sin….” (Romans 6:18 KJV). “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you SHALL be free indeed...” (John 8:36 KJV). 

YOU HAVE ALL THE POWER YOU NEED TO RESIST SIN, TAKE AUTHORITY OVER THE FLESH, AND LIVE HOLY! “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Lord (Jesus, the WORD OF GOD) is that Spirit…” too (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV).  “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK ... ARE SPIRIT…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT). 

HOW? “…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (the WORD) “INTO” [YOUR HEART] (which is PART OF THE SOUL)…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…Jesus Christ (the WORD) is IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “….Apart from [THE HOLY SPIRIT], you (THE SOUL) can do nothing (CAN’T FREE YOURSELF FROM SIN)…” (John 15:5 NIV).   “…where the [HOLY] Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (freedom from sin)” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). 

HOW DOES GOD’S INDWELLING POWER WORK? “…The …HOLY SPIRIT …is the SOURCE of [FREEDOM FROM SIN]. …it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to FREE FROM SIN) THROUGH each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). ^“…That great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work “IN US” what is pleasing to him (freedom from SIN), through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…It is God which worketh IN YOU (freedom from SIN) both to will (to want to be free from sin) and to do (to live free from sin) of his good pleasure (be holy)…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…by the grace of God I am what I am (FREED FROM SIN)…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…I do nothing of myself (like becoming freed from sin)…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (of freeing me from sin)…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…He helps me (become free from sin)…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). 

When you were FREED from SIN, everything is FREE, including your mind. However, your MEMORIES, your past KNOWLEDGE, your EXPERIENCES, or how you grew up or were DEVELOPED as a human being is still intact. God does not ERASE the old mindset. Thus, your MEMORIES, your past KNOWEDGE, your past EXPERIENCES, and how you grew up or were developed was HEAVILY affected and influence by the FLESH. 

Because the OLD mindset is STILL in TACT; the flesh will continue to affect you emotionally, mentally, and influence your behavior UNLESS you choose to ALLOW the WORD OF GOD to begin to TRANSFORM you MIND. “… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (in order to put demands upon and take authority over the flesh)….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “….you are slaves of the one you obey (follow)…” (Romans 6:16 NIV). Therefore, “... I discipline my body and make it my slave...” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB). “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God (therefore, the old mindset, affected by the sinful nature, is also hostile to God). It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature (through the old mindset) can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).

“… (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).“…Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do (by the dictates of your olf mindset) what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit (the WORD OF GOD) you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God (the WORD) are children of God…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). 

“…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by (the old mindset affected and polluted by) SIN? …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).“… The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (the Word of God)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). Jesus had another name. “… His name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “… Jesus (the WORD of GOD) …came and SPAKE, unto them saying, “All POWER is given unto me IN heaven and earth…” (Matthew 28:18 KJV). “… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (through Jesus, the Son and the WORD)….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “…If the Son therefore shall make you free, you SHALL be free indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV). 

YEARS ago God delivered over a million and a half people out of the land of Egypt.  God told them: “…I am the Lord, I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians...” (Exodus 6:6-7 KJV). “…I will rid you out of their bondage...” (Exodus 6:6-7 KJV). “…I will redeem you with a stretched out hand...” (Exodus 6:5:6-7 KJV). 

AND GOD DID JUST WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO: “…The Lord bought [Israel] out with a mighty hand and redeemed [them] out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of…Egypt. … (Deuteronomy 7:8 KJV).

THEY TESTIFIED: “…the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders…” (Deuteronomy 26:8 KJV). 

GOD SAID: “…I am the Lord, I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians...” (Exodus 6:6-7 KJV).

 THEY CONFIRMED THAT: “…The Lord bought  [THEM] out with a mighty hand (just like he said he would) and redeemed [them] out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of…Egypt. … (Deuteronomy 7:8 KJV). 

That particular night God DELIVERED thousands. “…That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children…” (Exodus 12:37 NLT). The Israelites had been in slavery, in the land of Egypt, for over 430 years. “…The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.  In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the Lord’s forces left the land. On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. So this night belongs to him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation…” (Exodus 12:40-42 NLT). 

NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN, GOD SAID: “…I will rid you out of their bondage...” (Exodus 6:6-7 KJV). “…I will redeem you with a stretched out hand...” (Exodus 6:5:6-7 KJV). 

GOD WAS THEIR DELIVERER. “…The Lord bought [Israel] out with a mighty hand and redeemed [them] out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of…Egypt. … (Deuteronomy 7:8 KJV). 

THE LORD, THEIR GOD DID IT! “…your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians…” (Exodus 6:7 KJV). “…the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt…” (Deuteronomy 26:8 KJV). 

GOD STILL DELIVERS PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE. HE HAS NOT CHANGED. “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). 

IT IS NOT TOO HARD FOR GOD TO DELIVER PEOPLE FROM ANY KIND OF BONDAGE. “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…The things which are impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). 

PEOPLE CAN NOT DELIVER THEMSELVES FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE SINFUL NATURE. “…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Who will free me (DELIVER ME) from this life that is dominated by SIN (THE SINFUL NATURE)  …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord (THE WORD OF GOD)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “… [JESUS CHRIST, the WORD of GOD]… It is the power of God at work , saving (FREEING FROM SIN) everyone who believes (DEPENDS UPON THE POWER OF HIS WORD)…” (Romans 1:16 NLT). 

The SINFUL NATURE has “NO” CONTROL over the SOUL that is REJOINED with the HOLY SPIRIT; it is FREED from the POWER of SIN. “…Because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death (spiritual death) …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).“…God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son (THE WORD, HIS CONFIRMING POWER) as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit...So letting your sinful nature control your mind (command center of the SOUL) leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind (NEW command center of the SOUL) leads to life and peace.” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). 

THEREFORE, “… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (the command center of the SOUL)….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).“…Because you belong to him, …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “… the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin  …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).“…God declared an end to sin’s control over us...” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). 

YOUR SOUL IS FREE, BUT YOUR FLESH IS NOT; YOU CAN "CHOOSE" TO STOP FOLLOWING THE FLESH, BY RENEWING THE MIND AND DEPENDING UPON THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT TO EMPOWER YOU TO LIVE A HOLY (SIN FREE) LIFE!!