What about the problem of sin in my daily life? Confession for forgiveness to restore to fellowship? Many say we lose fellowship because of sin, and therefore must confess and forsake it in order to be restored. That is Israel under the OT Law. That is like placing a bucket under a leak in our roof. You have not solved the problem! Constant confession under religion, or misunderstanding I John 1:9, only puts us in greater bondage to sin (Romans 7:24) like a bucket puts us in bondage to a leaky roof! Victory over sin does not come from dwelling upon it. Just trying harder not to sin next time doesn’t work either. We’ve all tried that and failed.
First, we must know the complete satisfaction God has with the payment for all sin by His Son on the cross! That is what the Bible calls “Propitiation” (Romans 3:25). When we trust Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation we have the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7)! Our daily acceptance with God is on the same basis as our eternal life, through Jesus Christ! Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Not through confession either to a man, or telling God what he already knows, or through our own efforts and promises that we will do better next time! Romans 5:2 goes on to say, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand!”
So how do we gain victory over sin in our daily life? The sixth chapter of Romans has the 3-step answer for the believer!
1. KNOWING: Romans 6:1-10 – I have a new identity as a new creature and stand before Him in grace!
I have been spiritually baptized into Jesus Christ, into his death, burial, and resurrection. I am one with him and possess his life. I am dead to sin and free from its bondage (verse 7) and control. (Adding a water ceremony to these verses only muddies what God really wants us to know and understand.) I need to know I am a new creature in Christ! My sin has been fully paid for and sin’s power over me has been broken. That’s a fact we need to know.
2. RECKON: Romans 6:11 – I’m already forgiven and have been freed from the power of sin – in Christ!
Believe that our freedom in Christ is the reality of my new identity in Him, regardless of how I might feel. By faith we need to believe what God has said! If a homeless man wins the lottery, should he go back to the cardboard box under the bridge? Of course not! He needs to believe he now has the resources for a new way of life, and spiritually so do we! We need to believe we are free!
3. YIELD: Romans 6:12-19 – Walk in newness of life.
We must establish new thought and behavior patterns, replacement if you will. The Bible calls that putting off the old man, and putting on the new man. Not to gain acceptance, but because we already have it! “Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.” Lifestyle choices and a new mindset does make a difference! Without this third step, we will be stuck in neutral.
All three steps are needed for victory to walk in newness of life!

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