Can A Believer Be Free From Sin?

Romans 7:14-25, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ​​Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.​​ So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

Can we be free from sin? The answer is both Yes and No, depending on how to look at it.

The answer is yes, in the sense that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and when we got saved death no longer had any dominion over us (1st Corinthians 15:52-58). Romans 6:9, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” Physical death is simply a graduation from this life to the next. There is no second death for the child of God. I do not believe there will be a break in consciousness when we die. How could there be if we have eternal life? I think when we die, we'll see our body for the first time, as our spirit leaves this world. I cannot prove that Scripturally, but that is what I think happens.

Can we be free from sin? "NO," in the sense that we are sinners by nature and by choice. Rebellion against God and authority is in our blood, passed down from Adam's sin (Romans 5:12). Only Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15), because He did not have an earthly father. God Himself was Jesus' biological Father. That is why Jesus is called the only "begotten Son" in John 3:16 and 1st John 3:16. The modern Bible versions are of the Devil, completely removing the word "begotten." By removing this word, the new Bibles teach lies. Jesus is not God's only son, He is God's only BEGOTTEN Son. Every believer is an adopted son of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:15). You and I are sons of God, but Jesus is God's only biological Son. The word "begotten" is extremely important, because it is a direct proclamation of Jesus' deity.

We're Just As Guilty As The Next Sinner

As we read in our text passage from Romans 7:14-25, the Apostle Paul struggled with sin continually. All humans struggle with sin. We sin in different ways, but we all sin. Don't condemn others because they sin differently than you do! 1st Timothy 5:24, “Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” Some people's sins are known beforehand, as the Bible says. Once your sins become public (even if mere allegations) in these modern times of mass media—that information will be archived, analyzed, itemized, magnified and scrutinized on the internet for all time. The sins you commit at dawn will be on YouTube by dusk!

However, any time that we condemn someone for their sins, it is only because you are self-righteously overlooking our own sins. I am a dirty sinner, and so are you! The only difference is that someone else got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, but you didn't! Also, no one cares if an unknown person sins, but if a well known person does something wrong, then everyone else wants to know about it. Critics and trolls love to jump on the bandwagon, to get their pound of human flesh. It's feeding time!!!

We are all horrible sinners! Romans 3:23-26, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” I love that—THE JUSTIFIER OF HIM THAT BELIEVETH IN JESUS!!! God the Father justifies anyone and everyone who believes in Jesus! Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Most people categorize which sins are the worst, but the Bible teaches in James 2:10 that all sins are equal, as far as guilt is concerned, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” If you gossip about someone, you are just as guilty as the person you are tearing down. You are committing murder with your mouth! It is in our human nature to be cynical (i.e., to see the worst in people). The Bible teaches that we should give others the benefit of the doubt. The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12 is to always treat others the way we desire to be treated. James 2:8, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” You would always want people to give you the benefit of the doubt.

No Believer Can Attain Sinless Perfection

Can a believer be free from sins? As long as we are living in this earthly body of flesh we will struggle with sin. We can choose to walk in the Holy Spirit at any given time, but we won't always make that right decision, because we are sinful by nature. The Bible teaches that God will never allow us to be tempted above that we are able, but with the temptation, God will make a way to escape. 1st Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." We all endure the same sinful temptations. 

The Bible says GOD IS FAITHFUL!!! God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist. God knows how much we can handle. No believer can ever blame God for our sins. Sin is a choice. When we sin, it is only because WE CHOOSE to sin. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!! This was a very interesting statement to find in a passage about escaping temptation. The Bible doesn't say that a faithful man will avoid temptation; but rather, it says our faithful God will deliver us. The Bible says GOD IS FAITHFUL, and He will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to endure. 

Daniel's friends' Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego couldn't escape the fiery furnace, but GOD WAS FAITHFUL. These three young men were all tempted to sin. They were tempted to commit idolatry. King Nebuchadnezzar threatened them with a horrific torturous death, to be burned alive in a fiery furnace. There are sins of both COMMISSION and OMMISSION. If you think about it, we always commit these sins together, because the only way we can COMMIT something wrong, is to first OMIT obeying God.

The Bible teaches that we are tempted when drawn away by our OWN LUST, and enticed. So if we want to avoid the death which sin causes, then we must avoid the enticement which lust inspires. James 1:12-15, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: ​​But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." So here we see that sins of commission always begin when we look away from the Savior. A man cannot be drawn away by his own lust, unless he is not walking close with the Lord. Psalms 90:1, “LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” In simplest terms, sin is the absence of righteousness! Before any person ever sins, we first slack off in our love for God.

So although we can never be free of sinning completely, we have been freed from the condemnation of the law through faith in Jesus Christ. There is liberty for the believer, because we have been freed from the curse of the Old Testament law. Salvation is by God's free grace. The purpose of the Old Testament LAW is to show humanity our sinfulness, that we are guilty and needy sinners (Romans 3:19-20). The LAW brings us to CHRIST (i.e., grace) to be saved through faith alone (Galatians 3:26-29). LAW and CHRIST (Romans 10:3-4). So we have been freed from sin in the sense that death no longer has any power over us (i.e., we have eternal life). However, we are still subject to commit sin as long as we are trapped in this fleshly tabernacle (the body).


Service Is Different Than Salvation

Just as Jesus died on the cross, was buried and physically resurrected three days later, even so ought we to die to old life, and raise up in newness of life as God's child. This is not salvation (sonship), but service (discipleship). We are saved by faith alone, but we serve God by faith plus works. That is why James 2:18-22 teaches to shew each other our faith by works. James is speaking about Christian service. In sharp contrast, the Apostle Paul in Romans 4:6 is speaking about salvation, which is by faith alone (Romans 4:5). Many Bible students confuse these passages and get it wrong. We must never confuse or combine service with salvation. They are two separate decisions. If you mix these two, then you get Lordship Salvation (which is a false plan of salvation). So we get saved by faith, period. And then as God's redeemed child, He commands us to serve Him. 

Many Bible students confuse the Gospel of Matthew for salvation, but Jesus is speaking about service. Matthew presents Jesus as a King, Who is worthy for us to serve. In the Gospel of John, the Apostle John presents Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, the Christ, in Whom we trust to receive eternal life (John 6:47). Romans 6:5-9, "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." 

As believers, we have to continually make a choice to either WALK IN THE FLESH, or to WALK IN THE SPIRIT. John 8:34, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” When we walk in the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are dead to self, and our body is freed from sin. This simply means sin has no power over us if we do not commit it. But when we choose to sin, we enslave ourselves to it. If we obey the speed limit and stay within the law, we don't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket or appearing in traffic court. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Laws are for evildoers!

It is important that you understand these truths. The Bible is not teaching that we can attain sinless perfection; but rather, we can choose to live an upright life, and in so doing we will be freed from much pain caused by sin. Proverbs 13:15, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.” We've all seen the horrific consequences of drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction. Sin thrills and then it kills! Sin fascinates and then it assassinates! The Devil is a beautiful liar. Satan always shows everyone the sinful good times and neon lights of Las Vegas Strip (aka, “SIN CITY”), but he doesn't show people the ruined lives in local hospitals, bankruptcy courts, state prisons and morgues. Jesus warned Peter: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” (Luke 22:31b).

So when the Holy Bible speaks in Romans 6:7b of being “freed from sin,” it doesn't mean that anyone can live above sin. It simply means that our sins have been forever washed away by Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:18-19). Therefore, why should we continue living in willful sin, knowing that we have been freed from the curse and condemnation of the law? We are not in danger of going to Hell anymore (John 3:18, 36). No amount of sinning could ever jeopardize our eternal position in Christ as His redeemed child (Romans 5:20; Acts 13:39). 

Romans 6:11-12, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” This Scripture passage clears up the matter. The word “reckon” means “to think.” The Bible is simply saying that since Jesus Christ has washed all our sins away (past, present and future), we ought to consider ourselves as effectively being dead. We already possess eternal life through faith in Christ. We are already on the winning side! We've got everything good to look forward to (Romans 8:32; John 14:1-3). So why would we want to wilfully live in the snake pit and hog pen of sin, the very sins from which Jesus rescued us by faith?

The Scriptures admonish every believer to abstain (avoid) the lusts of the flesh. 1st Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, ​​abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” We are not settlers here on earth, we are just passing through as pilgrims. Our home is in Heaven.