Hi Mike,

Just wanted to ask a question or two. If we are free from sin in this flesh, then why do I still sin? There is a particular sin that holds me captive day in and day out. I don’t want to continue in this sin anymore. Does God allow me to sin to bring me under his subjection? Why does God allow me to be subjected to this sin? It seems there are times in my life where God chooses me to know his mysteries. And once I learn them, I walk into a desert wondering where God left me and how to get out. He leaves me thirsty with an oasis in the midst. When I walk towards the oasis, it seems I never can reach it. It gets farther away as I get closer. I want to get closer to him everyday. Why did God seem more involved with his people in the old testament than in our current time? There are times when I day-dream of walking with God like I did as a young boy holding hands with my father. If God created us to be physical, why does he chose to reveal himself spiritually and not revealed to the eyes, standing in front of me, talking to me? These are some of the issues I am facing. Thank you for all your site has done in my walk with Christ.

Hi D____,

Thank you for your question. I am asked this many times by those who are having this same struggle.

We speak much of God’s sovereignty here at iswasandwillbe. com. I fear that even most who read this site regularly are unwilling to face the fact that when Christ says…:

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not frui t he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye [ are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

… it is not simply being “in Christ” that causes us to “bear fruit.” Verse 2 tells us the same thing 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 tells us. We can be “in Christ” and “still be carnal…[and] bear not fruit,” but if we “abide in Christ” and do not become discouraged when we discover that we must “live by every word of God” and not just the words “Now ye are clean…,” then we will be brought to understand that our “now ye are clean…” state comes only “through the word which I have spoken unto you.” And that “word I have spoken unto you” is “every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God:”

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

… and again:

Luk 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

What this tells us is that God is truly “working all things after the counsel of His own will:”

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

We are so afraid of attributing evil to God that our confession of His sovereignty amounts to little more than lip service. Do you and I really believe that it is God who is working all things after the counsel of His own will? Or do we believe that He is only working our good works after the counsel of His own will? For those who can receive it, “God Himself tempts no man;” instead God Himself sends evil spirits to trouble us and to tempt us:

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God [who sold Joseph into slavery]: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

This is true of the worst and grossest sin ever committed; the betrayal and murder of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Now what does all of this tell us about our sins and weaknesses? For all who can receive it, we are being told that our sins and weaknesses are the power and throne and great authority given to us by the dragon  to whom God has given authority over our flesh:

Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw [which is in you and me] was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat [Greek: thronos, throne], and great authority.

It is just as Christ tells us; we are all “of our father the devil” before we become “the seed of Abraham… sons of God… in Christ.” It is all “after the counsel of His own will”. It is all predestined and so designed; the multitudinous failures, and the ultimate victory.

It is the goal of Satan to keep you from seeing the hand of God in your failures. It is His job to make you feel that Christ is not with you in the lowest valley of your life. So long as you see God as detached from evil, your sense of guilt will keep you from ever hoping that He can indeed deliver you from sin and shame. Christ came “not in the nature of angels… but took on Him the seed of Abraham… sinful… flesh and blood… the same flesh and blood as the children.” Yes, indeed, He was “without sin… yet made sin.”

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Leave out those bracketed words above; they are not in the Greek. Christ came into this world “made of a woman, made under the law … made sin… naked… of the dust of the ground… of the same flesh and blood as the seed of Abraham:”

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham .

It is the work of the Devil to deny all this:

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Why is such a point made of Christ being “the son of man… the seed of the woman… Eve … because she came out of Adam?” Here is why?

Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man
Gen 3:20  And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living [including  the physical Christ].

So while all of Babylon’s ministers are trying to convince you that Christ is so “separate from sinners” that He cannot identify with His own weak and sinful creation, God declares otherwise. God’s declaration is that it is because Christ resisted every temptation  that He can identify with those temptations, because he “took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.”

It is in this same book of Hebrews, that we are told:

Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Being “separate from sinners” did not keep our savior from “eating with publicans and sinners:”

Mat 9:10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Christ would have preferred the company of these people who are you and me when we are still the slaves of sin in our lives, to the company of those who think that Christ ought not identify Himself with these people:

Mat 9:11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Christ tells every sinner “go and sin no more,” and that is what I am telling you, but nowhere are we ever once told that such a change happens instantaneously. Rather we are plainly told:

Gen 33:3  And he [Jacob – God’s typical elect] passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother [Esau – our carnal, rebellious flesh].

What this tells us is:

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

What does this reveal of the mind of God? It tells us that God wants us and has preordained us to become completely [that is what ‘seven’ means] aware of our own total helplessness against the power of the dragon to dominate our lives. This awareness must be experiential and not just academic. And that is why I quote this verse at every opportunity:

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

So be patient. Realize and accept the fact that you must live a life of weakness before you can live in strength. Never be complacent, and yet never lose hope or patience. You are saved by hope, and you possess your soul in your patience:

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

I hope this helps you to see that Christ is with you in your lowest hour, even as you succumb to the power and authority of the beast within. He is with you because He, too, had to fight that fight. It is His victory over those same pulls of His “made sin… why call ye me good… sinful flesh and blood” body that assures your victory over sin in your flesh. That victory is inevitable. Do not lose patience or hope!

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Whether we do so or not, Christ recognized that even His flesh was “sinful flesh and blood… none good but one, that is, God.” He identifies with your struggle, and He will deliver you in His time and in His way.

I hope this has at least given you the hope that is given us in Christ. It is “in me,” that is “in Christ,” that we “bring forth fruit,” and it is also “through Him that we can do all things,” including overcoming the weakness with which you are now struggling. Rest assured, it will inevitably require a traumatic spiritual earthquake, but you will be given the strength through Christ to overcome this sin. It is in His Word and His Words are sure:

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

As I have said before, repeat that verse in your mind all day every day. The Adversary hates those Words of Christ, because they are not a lie; they are the only Truth, and your feeling that you cannot overcome this sin is a lie. Don’t you believe that lie! Your overcoming will be of Christ, and there will be no glory for the flesh, but Christ in you will conquer your weak and dying flesh.

Mike