If you claim to ‘have no sin’, then you ‘deceive yourself and the truth is not in you’. That’s what the Bible teaches and you’ll find it there in 1 John 1:8.

But that is not to suggest that a follower of Jesus will continue to practice sin simply because they are a ‘flawed human being’ or, as we like to say in our church circles…” a sinner saved by grace”. I still remember the first time I heard someone make the statement: “I’m a saint who sins.” They had a hard time coming to terms with several passages I shared that stated “those who abide in Jesus no longer sin.” (1 John 3:6,9; 5:18).

Let me be clear here: We were ALL sinners at one time, and to suggest otherwise is to call God a ‘liar’ (1 John 1:10; Rom. 6:23). But that doesn’t mean you continue to sin after you repent and come to Jesus with a surrendered heart in order that He might cleanse you with His truth (and blood) and set you free from all sin (John 8:32-36; 1 John 1:7).

But…But…But…IF….you do stumble and sin along the way, which young ‘babes in Christ’ have a tendency to do as they learn to walk and abide in Jesus…then know that we continue to ‘have and Advocate with the Father’ who is faithful to forgive us of those sin (1 John 2:1; 1:9). But that would be the exception and not the rule; and if you are being taught differently, then you are being taught error.

I should also address a common phrase many of us have become familiar with, when it comes to God’s mercy and forgiveness. It’s that blanket statement made how when Jesus died on the cross, he paid for and forgave “all past, present, and future sins”.

My concern here is that lots of folks take that to think they are not responsible for any ‘future sins’ they may commit, as if they were given some ‘blanket immunity’. Paul shoots that false premise down immediately in Romans 6:1-2. That would be like a criminal receiving a full pardon for his crime and then thinking he can go out and commit future crimes and not have to face the consequences for his actions ever again. What did Jesus tell that man He healed, about ‘going to ‘sin no more’ or (what)…might happen to him, in John 5:14? Friends…sin still brings death and destruction, and to think otherwise is to be…deceived. (Eph. 5:5-6; Gal. 6:7-8). It doesn't matter how many times you’ve been baptized or ‘re-dedicated’ your life to Jesus.

So why do many sincere professing ‘Christians’ still continue to struggle with the ‘same old sin’…over and over and over? Sadly, we have been indoctrinated to believe a lie that suggest we will always struggle with sin ‘on this side of heaven’, failing to overcome them. (Notice I didn't say 'temptation')  We almost wear it as a ‘badge of honor’…when we claim to continue to be ‘sinners saved by grace’. 'Nobody is perfect', we tell ourselves and one another…or ‘Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Really? Is that what you tell yourself when a pedophile abuses your child, or a thief(who attends church) breaks in to your parent’s home…or a teenage boy in the church choir takes advantage of your daughter and robs her of her virginity? Let’s not judge these people…since they are ‘baby Christians’ who are ‘flawed human beings’, right?

Why is it that we expect, if not demand… to see some people overcome their sins that affect us and others around us…but somehow our ‘petty sins’ get a free pass because ‘we aren’t perfect’? What is wrong with that picture?

If you read yesterday’s message about dealing with ticks on a dog, then you would understand why it would be foolish to claim your dog ‘had no ticks’ after drying him off from a much needed bath. You don’t know for sure what is hidden underneath all that hair of his, which is why the next step is to comb through to find and remove them all. Which ticks are you going to leave on him, and why?

As you may know already from experience, some ticks are easier to remove than others. Some newer and smaller ones might come right off…and others prove to be a challenge and require a bit more concentrated effort. So it is when it comes to overcoming various sins in our lives. But this you can be sure of- if the Holy Spirit is involved, there is no ‘tick’ that He cannot remove…IF…you want that ‘tick’ (sin) gone once and for all. What many have failed to recognize is that some of those ticks are ‘spiritual’ in nature…and you ain’t gonna overcome it on your own because you have ‘will power’. We tend to forget that it is not ‘flesh and blood’ that we contend with…but ‘spiritual forces of darkness and evil’ (Eph. 6:12).

So what ugly and stubborn ‘tick’ has clung to you far too long that has caused you (and others) much grief and anguish, convincing you you’ll have to ‘live with this the rest of your life, or until you get to heaven’?

As previously stated…some ticks just come off quicker and easier than others; as do some ‘sins’ in our lives. Others…can prove to be more challenging, for a host of reasons. There are various ‘hacks’ and remedies out there you can find to assist on removing deeply lodged ticks on a pet; and while I don’t want to refer to scriptural truth as a ‘hack’, I do believe there is truth that can help set you free from certain sins once and for all. Who would not want to be free…and be ‘free indeed’? (John 8:32,36).

For starters…why not consider that this particular ‘tick’ or sin in your life is ‘spiritual’ in nature. That tendency you have to throw a ‘fit of anger’ might actually be a ‘spirit of rage’, or a ‘critical spirit’ or ‘demon of lust’, etc. Now don’t be so quick and defensive to say “I’m a Christian and I can’t have any demons!”. Call them what you will, but why do you continue to struggle with this thing then? In the same way that God told the Israelites that those Canaanite nations were stronger and more powerful than them…and that without God’s help, they would never overcome and defeat them…so it is with various sin issues in our life that are indeed…’spiritual’.  It's not the Hittites and the Jebusites we are contending with anymore.

That sin issue may have proven to be a match for you and your sincere ‘will power’, but rest assured…there is not a demon in hell who is a match for the Son of God…and Who is more than ready and willing to set you free (Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18). Now where a pet owner might have a special ointment or solution to apply to a stubborn tick that is embedded in their beloved pet, we have a substance that can be applied ...which is the ‘blood of Jesus’ (1 John 1:7). And the good news is …His blood is 100% effective; as in it works every time…IF…the one in need of treatment is willing and desiring to be free indeed. It begins with confession…calling it for what it is…and humbling one’s self before the Father. And in that very moment, as this sin is confessed and repented of from the heart…the blood is applied by faith to that particular sin/spirit…and it has to go…immediately. There is no negotiating on his part.

It’s possible that in that moment, you might actually ‘sense’ something…’leaving you’. No need to be alarmed…this is what you have wanted…and ‘needed’ to happen. And that is what this ‘unclean spirit does’…it ‘goes out of a man’ (Matt. 12:43).

Oh…there will be some ‘follow up care’ with this particular ‘treatment’…and we can pick up with that here tomorrow, Lord willing.