A completely new life in the Spirit is the transforming gift of God. Through divine grace, we who are “dead in trespasses and sin”‘ become victorious (Ephesians 2:1, 3, 8-10). John 15:4, 5 holds the recipe to success for overcoming sin: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” JTL13 6.6
The apostle Paul recognized that “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15). He lamented his wretchedness and cried out, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). Paul answers his own desperate question in Romans 8:1, 2. “So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.” Jesus has made it possible for us to perfect Christian character through the power of His name as we resist evil by His grace and under His instruction. Until we are translated, a tension remains between God’s forgiveness cleansing us from sin and the reality that our sinful nature remains with us until our glorification at Jesus’ Second Coming. (1 Corinthians 15:53) JTL13 6.7
In our new life in Christ, there is always the possibility of sin (1 John 2:1). However, we have left off rationalizing sin, or providing excuses for its existence in our life. Justifying our sin is part of our old life apart from God. Instead of efforts to vindicate our wrongdoing, we fall down and weep at the feet of Jesus, asking for renewed strength to overcome; inviting Him to cover us with His perfect robe of righteousness. Relying on the righteousness of Christ delivers us from the weight of pursuing perfection in our own strength (1 John 1:9, 10). JTL13 6.8