Galatians 5:16...

"I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (sin)."

People who do not know God, who are not born again and who have not received power from on high (the Holy Spirit), are in bondage to sin. They are controlled by Satan and by the lusts of their own flesh. They are in darkness. And their end is destruction.

The Lord spoke to Paul… “To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:18

Romans 6:5-6… “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin”

1 John 5:19… “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the power of the wicked one”

Galatians1:4… “who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and father.”

2 Timothy 2:25-26…”…If God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil , having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

Scripture teaches us that all people are in bondage to sin and this is why they need to be born again. So that they may be set free from sin and have the power to live holy and righteously here on this earth. We receive glorious benefits from this! Eternal life!

Romans 6:22-23 ^“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Titus 2:11-12… “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

We are set free when we die to ourselves …

Romans 6:7… “For he who has died  has been set free from sin.”

2 Timothy 2:11…”if we die with Him we will live with Him.”

Romans 6:6…  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Matthew 16:24… “then Jesus said to His disciples, if any one desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Once we have received the Holy Spirit (are born again)… we no longer are enslaved to sin. But IF we sin, it is by choice. We have the power to NOT sin any longer.

Hebrews 10:14…”For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

1 Peter 2:24…“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Romans 6:12-16… Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Scripture also teaches that when a person is born again they have received a new nature (the nature of God or new man) and that the old nature (old man) has been put to death. This happens instantly at conversion, this is not a process.

Ephesians 4:24…”and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

2 Cor. 5:17… “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Colossians 3:9-10…” Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with is deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him….”

2 Peter 1:3-4 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”

The Christian calling is a life of holiness and a life of walking in the Spirit (which is the power to attain holiness)

Romans 6:22-23 ^“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life”

2 Timothy 1:9…”Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling.”

Galatians 5:16,25… “I say then walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

The Scriptures tell us that if we walk in the flesh (sin) we will die! We are obligated to walk in the Spirit. If we live in the flesh (sin) we cannot please God. If we walk in the flesh we will fall continually and live powerless, defeated lives struggling day upon day. We will fail and we will ultimately perish.

But do not think that we can ever reach holiness without the HOLY SPIRIT reigning in us. It is all the work of God. We humble ourselves and submit to Him and He is our power and righteousness. He is our strength… He is our power… He is our Victor!

(Romans 8:1-6) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:12-13

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:8…”So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God”

Romans 8:6…”To be carnally minded (in the flesh) is death.”

As Christians, we are ALL called to crucify our flesh and to walk in the Spirit. If we are faithful in this,then we will have victory in all areas of our life! God is no respecter of persons. This is for every Christian no matter what place they are at…  What wonderful thing if we could all grasp this truth!! That there is victory for all of us. Not just certain Christians. Not just the Apostles… Not just Jesus Christ… but for ALL OF US!!!! 

May we all walk in the newness of life and reap from a life of holiness that we are called to live! Thank you Jesus for making the way! Thank you Lord Jesus for setting us free from the power of sin, the power of death, and the power of the devil over our lives! Thank  You  for destroying our sin nature and allowing us to become partakers of God’s own divine nature. Thank you for being our perfect example and showing us the way to glory!! Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank You!

What a glorious, glorious  gospel!