The belief that as long as we are alive in the world we must continue to sin comes from ignorance of the provisions of the new covenant. Under the new covenant, the authority of the blood and the power of the Spirit work together with the faith and obedience of the believer to deliver him from sin. There is no sin over which we cannot achieve victory through Christ Jesus. We must confess our sins, repent of them thoroughly, and pray unceasingly to God for the determination to resist them through the grace of God.

We are not to strive, become impatient with ourselves, or grow angry or despairing when we find we are bound by some uncleanness. Rather we are to abide in Christ Jesus, knowing it is His will that we gain complete victory in every area in which He leads us.

What sin is it that Christ cannot overcome in us? Fornication? Hatred? A vicious anger? Violence? Unforgiveness? Profanity? Lying? Stealing? Drunkenness? Bitterness? Gossiping? Criticizing? Christ is more than conqueror of each of these and of all other sins and disobediences that hinder us.

We shall be delivered from sinful deeds when we seek God's help in Jesus' name. A period of time may be required before we gain control of our behavior but the Scripture promises victory. We cannot be forced to sin if we belong to Jesus. We are not obligated to satisfy the cravings of our body and soul. Sin cannot maintain dominion over us if we are determined to serve the Lord Jesus.

The light of the testimony of the Christian churches has been nearly extinguished because of the sins of the Christians.

But, one may ask, did not the Apostle Paul state he could not do the things he wished because of the presence of the law of sin in his flesh?

Paul was referring to the moral agony of the righteous person who determines not to sin, not to break God's laws, and then finds himself or herself doing what he or she despises. However, Paul did not mean by this we Christians should resign ourselves to moral defeat. He meant we cannot keep the Law of Moses, or any other law, by will power alone.

In the eighth chapter of Romans Paul instructs us that we, being under the new covenant, can put sin to death through the power of the Spirit of God.

Under the old covenant there was no provision for deliverance from the law of sin dwelling in our body. Under the new covenant we have the born-again experience, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the body and blood of Christ, and the ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Under the new covenant we can overcome Satan, the world, and our own lusts and self-centeredness. We can go from victory to victory if we are determined to do so, because God has given us of His Divine Nature so we may be able to escape the lustful corruption that is in the world.

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of a sin we are to deal with that particular sin through the grace of God. We are to leave the remainder of our sinful, self-centered nature under the guard of the blood of Christ.

There is total victory in the Lord Jesus!