Every true Christian knows by experience that the Holy Spirit does not, upon saving us, take possession of us and thenceforth supernaturallyΒ causeΒ us to live lives pleasing to God. Rather, as with salvation, so with the Christian life, He operates in the believer βby grace through faithβ.
Powerful assistance to overcome sin is freely provided by grace, but this help must be appropriated by faith in each individual case. There is no blanket provision for continuous victory throughout our whole life. We must look to Him in faith for the help we need in each separate battle.
Thus the Scripture teaching with regard to victory over sin is not that it isΒ not possibleΒ for the believer to sin, but rather that in any given case it isΒ possibleΒ for himΒ notΒ to sin. Thus too, the question in times of temptation is generally whether we truly desire to overcome, for deliverance is freely provided by grace if we will but appropriate it by faith.
But just how is deliverance provided? The answer is:Β BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.Β No longer need the believer remain enslaved to sin; for the Holy Spirit within, who imparted spiritual life to begin with, will also impart strength to overcome temptation. When tried and unable even to pray as we ought,Β βthe Spirit also helpeth our infirmitiesβΒ andΒ βmaketh intercession for usβΒ (Rom. 8:26). When weak and ill, we may beΒ βstrengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner manβΒ (Eph.3:16). Indeed, the Spirit even strengthens Godβs people physically to overcome sin, for we read:
βBut if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [strengthen] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in youβ (Rom. 8:11).
And the following verse goes on to say:
βTherefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the fleshβ (Rom.8:12)
The thought is that, since believers have the Holy Spirit to help them overcome sin, they are debtors β andΒ notΒ to the flesh, but to God, to live pleasing to Him.
