Yes, Child of Grace, we do have a new nature, the old man has been crucified; and yet we are able to sin. But, as 1 John 3:9 points out, we cannot sin, or we do not sin (if born of God):

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

However, if we do, God has a plan to receive us, when we confess our sin.

“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)

“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.” (Jeremiah 31:18)

“Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.” (Jeremiah 31:19)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“The Struggle” is a series of devotions that reveal the process of God healing us and saving us (or preserving us) through chastisement and instruction and saving us (preserving us). He is Sovereign; and He is the Promise Keeper.

Praise His Holy Name for being our Security in His Promises.

Many of us have made bad choices because of following our flesh. But praise Him for His Love, Mercy, and Grace to heal us and preserve us. Even in our mistakes, faults, failures, and sins, God has a purpose to use our failures to conform us to His Image.

Child of Grace, never, never, underestimate the deception of the old man that is still within us until death. But, being a new creature, we have the Victory in Christ.

Be sure, as a Child of God, “your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). The first thing that will “find you out,” if you trust in man, is your ability not to bear fruit. You will be like a “heath” (a naked tree) in the desert; fruitless, barren, naked, a reproach, and really useless to God and your family and even to yourself. You will seem powerless, falling to the tricks and lies of the flesh. You will become miserable and finally accuse God as your problem

But, The Problem is not God – but your choice to yield to your old man, to your deceitful heart which, without grace, is desperately wicked.

What does your tree look like? Is it a heath (a naked tree)? Or is it a tree full of green leaves and fruit?

If you are like a heath, what can you do to change?

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Be exercised by God’s Chastisement, His Instruction, and His Preserving Ways; and yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Be ashamed of your bad choice to trust in man. Repent and confess and follow Christ. That is, Trust in the Lord, let Him be your Praise.