Even though it can be hard for many to believe, the Bible clearly tells us that in the New Covenant it is completely possible to be free from sin—not only visible, outward sinful deeds, but also the root of sin that I have inherited and that lives in my human nature.
Our human nature
By nature, we always want to do our own will, which in other words is to sin. On my own I can’t overcome these tendencies, this sin that lives in my human nature.
We can see this in the examples we have in the Old Testament. Every year the high priest had to enter the Holiest with blood of goats or bulls to get forgiveness for his own sins and the sins of the people. Even the most god-fearing of them, those who were outwardly blameless according to the law, were not able to control the sin that lived inside them, and these sins would come back again and again.
Jesus’ sacrifice
By sacrificing an animal in the Old Covenant, the people could receive forgiveness for the sins they had done, but the blood of animals could not take away the sinful desires that lived in their human nature, for that another sacrifice was needed. This sacrifice was brought by Jesus.
We can read about this in Hebrews 10:4-7 (NLT): “For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, ’You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
“I have come to do Your will.” It was in His body that Jesus brought this sacrifice, and this sacrifice was His own will, which He gave up to do God’s will. He never gave in to the sinful lusts and desires of his human nature (his flesh) that He inherited when He was born into the world, so He never once did sin, even though He was tempted. (Hebrews 4:15.) In this way He made it possible for us to follow in His steps and have fellowship with God, if we also just like Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit never give in when we are tempted. (1 Peter 2:21.)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh …” Hebrews 10:19-20 (ESV). The blood that Jesus took with Him into the Holiest, where God was present, was the “blood” of his own self-will, and this was done once for all. The sinful desires in his human nature were actually put to death within Him, so they didn’t come back again as was the case in the Old Covenant, and therefore there was no need for the yearly sacrifices to receive forgiveness.
But what about the sin in our nature?
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, He received the power to forgive the sins that we have done, if we truly want to follow Him. This makes it possible for us to make a new start, but we also notice daily that the sin that we have in our own human nature, hasn’t been taken away by forgiveness.
The only way to be finished with sin in my human nature, in my flesh, is to go the same way that Jesus went. It’s written that He is our Forerunner (Hebrews 6:20), and He made this “new and living way … through his flesh” for us to follow Him on.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21-22 (ESV). Following in His steps means that I don’t do sin either, and this is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, by saying No to myself and hating the sinful desires in my flesh. Then the sin that I am tempted to will be put to death within me, so that no sin is done. Then I’m free from that sin!
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from [stopped with] sin so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2 (ESV).
“My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say ‘No’ to your desires.” Romans 8:12-13 (CEV).