“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭8:1‬

Like I’ve already stated, this freedom comes through relationship with God. The strength of the Spirit is found in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Remember, we have the Holy Spirit. Not an unclean spirit, not the spirit of Islam, or Buddha, or any of that. The one and only Spirit of the Lord. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (See 2 Corinthians 3:17)

Ahh but brother…

This has been a primary revelation for me since I gave my life to Jesus, and without fail, people will say things like “what, are you trying to say that you’re perfect?” Or, “He that says he is without sin is a liar and the truth is not in him.” Let’s address these two thoughts.

First, this is not about perfection, so don’t think that way. The Bible says that I’ve been made perfect. (mature, complete) The problem with trying to be perfect is that you’ll always be moving towards God instead of living from God. The goal is not perfection, that was already taken care of by Jesus, so don’t think about it. The goal is living from the Spirit. Living in the freedom that Jesus has paid for. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14‬

You may never stand boldly in prayer or in front of a non-believer and share Jesus with them if you’re always wondering if you’re ok with God. The Lord wants His righteousness to hit your soul (mind, will, and emotions) so that you can think from Heaven’s perspective. A transformed mind greatly enhances the life of a Christian.

Secondly, the verse quoted from 1 John 1 is almost always taken out of context. Let’s wrap it in the verses around it and see what it’s really saying. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-10‬

Look at this carefully. In verse 7 it says that the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin. Then in verse 8 it says that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves. Now it’s clear. Imagine that you are sharing the gospel with someone and you inform them that Jesus’s blood will cleanse them from all of their sin, and they say “what sin? I don’t need the blood, I don’t have any sin.” Guess what, that person is deceiving themselves. They need the blood of Jesus. In verse 9 it states that, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So in verse 7 we are cleansed from all sin, and verse 9 we are cleansed from all unrighteousness. That’s a pretty sweet deal. In verse 10 he makes it even more clear by stating that if we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar. We have all sinned, and we all need the blood of Jesus.

Check out the very next verse, it’s amazing. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:1

Did you read that? It says IF. Not when you sin, but if you sin. Why does it say that? Because it’s not about sin! It’s been dealt with, and God wants it out of our thinking. He wants us to think from Heaven! Imagine that you were told not to eat strawberry cake every day of your life, what would you think about? Strawberry cake! So what would you eventually do? You would eat strawberry cake! (I’m trying to say that strawberry cake is sinful. Best eat chocolate cake. Haha, but you get what I’m saying)

God wants us to walk in His freedom and share his Kingdom with the world. He wants his church to be bold. And boldness comes from righteousness. Believe that you are a Saint, not a Sinner.

Be free, in the mighty name of Jesus!

I could seriously go on forever, but what I believe was helpful is what I’ve shared. I pray that God would seal this in your heart and that you would walk in the love and power of God with a clean conscience.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭