​What does the Bible say is our only defense against our proclivity for sin?  Is it embracing law?  Or is it hiding from the world?  As I pointed out in the previous post the Apostle Paul used his personal experience to demonstrate that does not work.  Read Romans 7:7-12 for yourself and see what I mean. No, the answer is living by faith, resting in the protection of the Holy Spirit.  Paul put it this way in Galatians:     
Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
 
What does it mean to walk (live) in the Spirit?  Walk in the Spirit is actually one of several descriptive phrases Paul uses to describe how to live by faith.  In this case I believe he was elaborating on his earlier statement in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.   
 
And he also gave us a list of outcomes that come from walking in the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. These are not skill we have to develop, but manifestations of the Spirit’s presence in us.    
 
V. 25 makes the connection between everlasting life (if we live in the Spirit) and walking in the Spirit.  Both are the results of faith.  We receive everlasting life by believing Jesus Christ for life and we walk in the Spirit by believing Him for living that everlasting life. What we have to believe is what God has revealed to us in the Bible.  Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  So, knowledge of God’s word is key to walking in the Spirit. 
Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. That is another descriptive term for walk in the Spirit.  We know that because it produces similar outcomes: v. 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Notice Colossians 3:16 does the same:  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Knowledge of God’s word is essential to walking in the Spirit.   

In looking at why believers should not go on sinning after believing in Jesus Christ I suggest we start with Romans.  The first thing to know about Romans is the reason God had Paul write it.  You find that in Romans 1:16-18 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.  So, the Gospel of Christ has the power to deliver (salvation) everyone who believes from what?  The wrath of God that is presently being revealed against the sin of those who suppress the truth.  Because the just are to live by faith.  Faith, not effort and force of will.  

That is the central theme of Romans, avoiding God’s displeasure with sin.  A concern for both believers and non-believers.  For the non-believer step 1 is to become a believer and gain the everlasting life God offers.  In Romans Paul uses the word justified to describe the receipt of everlasting life and deliverance from the penalty for sin.  Chapters 2-4 of Romans deal with justification. Then in chapter 5 he switches over to addressing believers and their need for deliverance from God’s present-day wrath against sin.  And as I addressed in the previous post, believers still have to deal with sin in their lives.  2 key verses that introduce this shift in focus are: 
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Romans 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
 
Notice Paul makes a distinction between being Justified and being saved in v. 9.  V.10 makes the same distinction between reconciliation and saved.   Obviously, Paul did not use the word saved the way we do today.  He wrote justified people who are at peace with God (Romans 5:1) still need to be saved (delivered) from wrath by Jesus Christ’s life.  Since believers are already saved from hell, this deliverance from wrath must refer to God’s displeasure with our ongoing sin.  Sin which Paul says in Romans 6:23 brings premature physical death.  I know that verse is used a lot in evangelism but it is really addressed to believers.  It defines one of the consequences believers can suffer in this life for living in sin. 
 
This is to what Romans 1:17 was referring: For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”  The last clause actually reads in the Greek as “the just by faith shall live.”  I like that better.  The believer’s only way to escape the bondage of sin is by faith.  Trying harder, doing better do not work.  Paul says he tried it that way and it killed his fellowship with God (Romans 7:7-12).   So, we need to understand how the just live by faith. 
 
More to follow.  

You may have heard someone say that if faith in Jesus Christ and His promise of everlasting life is all there is to it, then people will go on sinning.  Well, if we are going to be truthful about it, those who teach faith must be followed by perseverance also go on sinning.  Look at the number of Pastors who teach a faith plus works salvation who have had to leave the ministry because of moral failures.  The last time I checked the stats show something like 20% of evangelical pastors have fallen into that trap.  So, preaching a faith plus works salvation is no protection against sin.  It might actually keep someone from believing in Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life by faith alone.    
 
A well known verse many use when sharing the Gospel makes it clear we never measure up to God’s expectations. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We’ve all sinned in the past, but the second clause of that verse says we presently fall short.  It actually means we always fall short, no matter what we do! 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. the Bible states doing good cannot erase sin, only Jesus Christ can do that.  Urging people to do better, try harder will not change the reality of who we are; sinners who can only be saved by grace through faith. 
 
Likewise, faith is the only solution for dealing with our sin after having received everlasting life.  The Bible makes it clear we cannot live as we should by the force of our will.  It is only by faith in what He has revealed in His word, the Bible.  It requires the renewed mindset only the Holy Spirit can bring.  We cannot do it on our own. 
 
Romans 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
 
Romans 12:1&2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
 
Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
 
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
More on each of those in the next few blog posts.  

And what exactly is the offer of life from Jesus Christ?  Well, using His words it is Everlasting Life.  I capitalized Everlasting Life because it is not ordinary life.  It is life that once received never ends.   Amazingly, the Lord Jesus Christ offers anyone and everyone who will believe Him for the gift of that life to actually receive Everlasting Life immediately. 
 
So, when can someone receive this gift of everlasting life?  Well, according to Jesus Christ, Himself the giver, you receive it when you believe He is the giver of life and believe He’ll give it to you!  Take note of this Biblical passage:
 
John 5:22-25 - For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
 
Those are Jesus Christ’s words and He perfectly understands the language He used.  And here is what He said means: God has committed all judgement to Jesus Christ, His Son.  And here is the Son’s judgement - he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent me has (a present active indictive verb); everlasting life, and shall not come (a present passive verb) into judgement; but has passed (a prefect active indictive verb) from death into life.  Present tense means the one who believes has that everlasting life the moment they believe.  They have presently passed out from future judgement.  The perfect tense means this passing from death to life is permanent as is the freedom from judgement.   
 
There are people who teach everlasting life is something you receive in the future when you die.  Others say you can receive it now, but it could be lost if you fail to live up to your beliefs.  Both positions ignore the clear and emphatic teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.  My advice is you should stick with what Jesus Christ has said because the Father has committed all judgement to Him.