Is it not for our own sakes that we are yet weak and awed when we stand before this Savior, who purchased us with such a great price.  We stand knowing full well that we could never have done what He has done for us in order to achieve even just our own redemption.  And knowing that we in this flesh could never become sinless on our own even in order to pay our own way out of hell itself.  

What God had required to redeem us, He alone could provide.  For in our flesh we are left with only regrets.  Yet our Soul and Spirit soars in His presence. 

Galatians 5:15  But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.  16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (NASB2020)

A man’s own flesh is an ever present enemy that he carries with him.  We are called to walk above and apart from the flesh which we have crucified with Christ. Yet, Paul tells us of the thorn that was still felt by him in his flesh. Had he failed to fully crucify this enemy that still plagued him.  No, he tells us that he three times called upon the Lord to remove this thorn and yet he was not delivered of it, but was told that the grace of God was sufficient for him.  

I am convinced, that Christ alone is able to deliver us from all that plagues us in this life.  And He will, but in order to keep us humble and pressing on toward the high calling that is in this walk in and with Christ we are not yet fully delivered.  Our faith rests in the hope which is substantive for it has delivered us from our sins. We have the evidence of these things that we could not physically see.  But they are things which have already left us, and He filled us with new life in His Spirit.  Therefore our journey continues onward as we walk a straight but narrow road with Him. We have not yet arrived, and we press on to accomplish His desires in ministry, and in our own overcoming of the things that do yet hinder us in this way. 

Interestingly, our overcoming is accomplished only through our recognition of our own weakness in areas where we are not yet fully delivered of self.  When Jesus said: “it is finished” He was not implying our own journey, but His own.  We are called to walk in Him that He may fully sanctify us as we ourselves yield to His overcoming power within us.  We overcome through Him. God does not condemn us, but He does convict us.  

If He does not chasten us; then we are none of His.  Expect it, even as you are expectant of this world’s persecutions and Satan’s condemnation.  But you alone are responsible for your sin. Our overcoming, at least in part,  is revealed in the confession and relinquishing of these fleshly things to be nailed to the cross and cleansed  by His blood.  Our sin is ours alone until we accept His payment for it in full. 

Galatians 5:5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (NASB2020)

Revelation 2:11 ‘The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ (NASB2020)