by Neil Anderson
October 2
Romans 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit
The center of all spiritual bondage is the mind. That’s where the battle must be fought and won if you are to experience the freedom in Christ He purchased for you on the cross. Paul wrote: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Before you came to Christ, bad habits and sinful thought patterns were established as you learned to live your life independently of God. Your non-Christian environment taught you to think about and respond to life in a non-Christian way, and those patterns and responses were ingrained in your mind as strongholds. When you became a Christian, your old fleshly habits and patterns weren’t erased; they are still a part of your flesh which must be dealt with on a daily basis. Thankfully, however, you are not just a product of your past; you are a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and now you are primarily the product of the work of Christ on the cross.
Old strongholds can be destroyed. Patterns of negative thinking and behavior are learned, and they can be unlearned through disciplined Bible study. Some strongholds are the result of demonic influences and spiritual conflicts from past and present mental assaults. If people believe Satan’s lies, those lies will control their lives. These people need to be freed from the shackles of Satan’s lies by God’s truth. Jesus said: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Victory is truly available for those who are in Christ. There is a war raging for our minds, but we are on the winning side, for we are more than conquerors in Christ!
Prayer: Today, Lord, I tear down all thoughts established in my mind against the knowledge of You. I choose to believe who You are and who I am in Christ.
Doubt? Or Unbelief? 
We Need the Good Shepherd
Yes Satan is the Father of lies and one is that we will sin till we die which is not confirmed in the Scriptures as we can see below, yes we must put our Carnal flesh to death and Jesus has set us free from the Slavery of sin so we can. (Romans 8 :12-15-Colossians 3:4-6 -Galatians 5:24 -26)
Romans 8 :12-15 Therefore, brothers/sisters, we have an obligation but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. or if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons/daughters of God.
We are to also aim to be perfected in Love ( Matthew 5:48 -Hebrews 6:1 -Philippians 3:14-16 -2Timithy 3:17-1 John 4:17-19 -1John 4:16-17 -2Corinthians 13:11)
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1 John 3:1-11 (9) 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 John 3: 1-11 ( 6-7 ) Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
1 John 5:18-20 We know that no one who is Born of God Sins; but He who was Born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our Love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in Love; but perfect Love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love. We Love Him, because He first Loved us.
1 John 2:4-6 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith hebideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
Christian Love in our Unity in Christ Jesus -Anne.
Hi Anne,
No one can be completely free from sin, there is not one person on this earth who never commits a sin. To say otherwise is taking the Bible out of context. The passages you quote above mean that – we who are in Christ will not live in habitual sin, not that we will sin no more at all.
Look back in the Old Testament, some of the greatest people in the Bible sinned! King David, “a man after God’s own heart”, committed adultery and murder. Moses disobeyed God. Abraham tried through Sarah to get a son (therefore circumventing God), he lied about Sarah being his wife. Peter denied Christ 3 times. Jesus own brothers thought He was nuts, one of whom wrote James and became the leader of the Jerusalem church.
I would encourage you to re-think your position on this.
People say we can be sin free through the Holy Spirit, I don’t think so…you (anyone) who believes this, you are kidding yourselves.
So: you never unjustly become angry with anyone?
Never have a sinful thought?
EVERYTHING you do is from faith? (otherwise it is sin Romans)
You love all people?
You never ever say anything wrong to anyone?