Romans 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. ESV

The Spirit asks you to consider the truth, to believe the truth, to act in a manner which reflects your belief. In Christ you are dead to sin and alive to God. Sin no longer has the ability to command you. If you truly are dead to sin, and the truth says you are, why do you sin?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Old things died. How many old things died? All things become new. What do you cling to from the past that does not consider itself new? Memories, our new creation in Christ retains the memories of a past life, but memories are not who you are in Christ.

The Spirit of truth asks you to consider that you are not your memories. How you thought in that old dead life is not how you should think in Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

Unfortunately reshaping thoughts in a renewed mind is difficult because the memories of what we were in that old life is still a strong memory. The enemy will try and use those memories to shape your identity in Christ, but it is a lie.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

This proverb always made me sick to my stomach to think about. What a disgusting image. Yet in truth many repent of their sins in the same manner. Their sin makes them sick for a moment, their conscience being bothered for the moment and they turn away from the pain of the moment. Where do they go when they turn away?

Recently I quoted scripture about the men who were going to stone a woman caught in adultery. They were convicted by Jesus in their hearts of their own sins, dropped the stones, turned and went away. Where did they go? Back to their old life, their old ways, to continue in sin.

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Is your answer yes? God’s grace is bigger than my sin.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Sanctification is a process of separation, to hold you in righteousness and hold sinfulness at a distance. Sin does not go away, we go away. We have to be taken to a place where sin is no longer a priority. To simply believe God’s grace is bigger does not make me sick to my stomach, like Proverbs 26:11. I will return to it if I do not go with God, go away to stay away.

In the Lord’s prayer it says “lead us not into temptation” which is the implication that you are walking with God. Walk by faith, walk in the Spirit, follow truth, and let His lamp be a guide unto your feet. All these are expressions of true repentance from sin and going with God.