Since I became a Christian, I've always believed that sin was an inevitable part of Christian life. Others have suggested the same, that no matter how hard you try, you aren't going to stop sinning. However, I've realized there is a difference between impossible and hard to do. A holy life is possible through Christ alone, but its so much work I think people just gave up trying, but the Scriptures imply to me it is completely possible in Christ. If Jesus, being fully human, could lead a sinless life though tempted by Satan, why isn't it possible for me if the same Spirit which lives in Christ lives in me as well? Yes, Jesus was also fully God, but surely a sinless life can't only be accomplished by fully Man/fully God hybrids? If that were the case, God could have saved himself a lot of trouble by just making Man/God hybrids instead of just Man. I feel like people point that out just to give themselves excuse for their sinning (just like I once did).
Here's the hard reality. If you believe
1) You have been washed by the blood of Christ and are a new Creation in him, the old is gone and the new has come. (2 Cor 5:17)
2) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 Jn 3:9)
3)We have died to sin through being baptized into Christ's death and are made alive in Christ's resurrection (Rom 6)
4) "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."(2 Peter 1:3-4)
Then there is no excuse for sinning. Plain and simple.
You might say, "But we're still suffering from the residual effects from the Fall" but Christ has picked you up. Or you could say "We're still fleshly and are awaiting our spiritual bodies", but Christ, even in his flesh, did not sin. I for one have run out of excuses for myself. Should I appear tomorrow before the mercy seat, I want something more to tell Christ than excuses for why I didn't do this or why I did that. I want to be able to tell Him, "Lord I studied your Word and I tried my best and by your help I have overcome."
Now God is gracious and knows you aren't going to get it right right away, but if God were to come to me and say "John, you've been telling me you are going to start a more consistent prayer life for 7 years now and every year its been a new thing that's come up so you 'Don't have enough time' or 'never got around to it' or it just 'slipped your mind'. I've been patient and faithful to you, but I'm growing tired of your empty vows to me. I love you, but you have not committed yourself to me like you have said. Don't you think its about time?" There is only so long that God will let you use the training wheels, but eventually you'll need to learn how to ride.
Personally, it wasn't because I was afraid of failing or to scared to try this "sinless life", I just didn't think it was possible or that I could do it. Recently, though, I began to question my feelings of powerlessness over sin. The more I read the scriptures the more evident it seems that sin is not an inevitable and that I CAN do something about it! Just like riding a bike, I was never meant to always be in a state of riding a bit, wobbling, and falling. I was meant to ride proficiently without falling (and maybe even learn a few tricks)! However, living a sinless life is impossible to teach yourself and doing it on your own willpower results in failure. So what is the secret?
We must look at the only human to have ever lived a sinless life, Jesus Christ, for the answer. Actually, he is the answer. Those who are in Christ are new creations capable of living sinless lives. Those whom God gives knowledge of Christ have everything they need for holy and sinless lives. Christ is the key to transforming our hearts and minds and escaping the corruption of this world. But Christ isn't magic. Being in relationship with him doesn't instantly transform you from sinner to saint anymore than being in a relationship with Babe Ruth turns you from coach potato to star athlete. However, Christ gives you access to his power over sin and death through the giving of his Holy Spirit as your counselor and adviser, your coach and trainer if you will. However, you must put these resources to good use and apply what they say! Who has ever heard of hiring a personal trainer and disregarding all their advice and commands?
Becoming a Christian is not for the spiritually lazy or for those who just want an easy way out (of Hell). Becoming a doctor is hard work and lots of studying. Becoming a star athlete takes time and dedication. Living a sinless life is no different. Just as we make excuses for not eating right or exercising properly, we often make (the same) excuses for not having our spiritual lives in top shape. However, your spiritual life is of the utmost importance "for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:8) Being a disciple takes discipline and being holy requires the Holy Spirit.
I want to encourage you if you once thought like I did that a sinless life was just an ideal and was unrealistic. I want to tell you it is completely possible and that everyone can do it. I mean everyone for Christ turns away no disciple who wants to learn from him and commit their lives to learning his ways and walking in them. Such is the path to salvation that so few find because it looks like hard work (because it is). However, those who find themselves at the end of the path after a long and arduous race will find it the most rewarding experience (as most often is the case when we accomplish difficult tasks).
I want to touch upon something I said earlier. I said that there was no excuse for sin, and this is true. We must all face the reality of our sin instead of trying to hide behind our excuses. However, this is not to say that there is no grace for sin. Under the Law, those who sinned died with few notable exceptions made by God. Consequently those who try and live a sinless life by the law will die by the law. Just picture trying to learn how to ride a bike on a tightrope situated over an active volcano. There is no mercy if you fall. But grace gives you a safe place to grow. Only under grace can we slowly come to realize that the chains we have been bound with since birth have been removed by Christ. Under grace and the watchful eye of God can we slowly start to realize how free we are to move about.
However, when bondage is all you've known, a life of freedom is scary and the temptation remains to put the shackles back on because at least is was a life you knew and were familiar with. Take the Israelites wondering in the desert for 40 years, grumbling the whole time about how they wished they were back in Egypt as slaves. So to can we be tempted to sin, but we must realize the promised land is much better than the place of bondage. It is faith in God that he will guide you that gets you through any uncertainty and temptation to go back to your familiar chains. Remember the promises, and keep your eyes on Christ, and the impossible becomes possible (but you still must step out of the boat, nevermind the raging sea).
These are some of the foundations for living a sinless life. In the next part, Taking Part in the Life of the Trinity, I will explore some of the core traits and qualities that lead to holy and productive lives.
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