057. I was converted several years ago, but am constantly giving way to temptation. I know t...

I was converted several years ago, but am constantly giving way to temptation. I know that my sins are forgiven, but is there any way in which I can have daily victory over sin?

There is. The salvation which is offered to us in Jesus Christ is a threefold salvation:

First, salvation from the guilt of sin. This we get through the atoning death of Christ on the cross. When Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary He made a perfect atonement for our sins and put them away forever (Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 10:12-14), and the moment we accept Him, that moment we are saved from the guilt of sin. Every sin is blotted out. It is just as if we had never sinned. Our standing before God is perfect. We are justified in His sight (Acts 10:43; Acts 13:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Second, salvation from the power of sin. This we get through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, having risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, ever lives to make intercession for us, and is able to save not merely from the uttermost but “to the uttermost” those who come to God by Him (Hebrews 7:25). By His resurrection power in our lives He gives us day by day victory over the power of temptation and sin. Having been reconciled to God by His death, now being reconciled we are saved day by day from the power of sin by His life, that is, by His resurrection life (Romans 5:10).

Furthermore, the risen Christ imparts to us His Holy Spirit, and what we cannot do in our own strength (namely, overcome sin) the Spirit of God whom the risen Christ gives to dwell in us accomplishes for us (Romans 8:1-4). So then the way to get victory day by day over sin is to stop trying to fight sin in your own strength, and to look up to the risen Christ, believing that He has all power in heaven and on earth, and that He therefore has power to set you free from the power of sin, and just to trust Him to do it.

Furthermore, surrender your whole life to the control of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to come in and take possession of all your desires, all your purposes, all your plans, all your thoughts. He will do it. He will bear His own fruit in your life—"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). If we “walk in the Spirit,” that is, submit our whole life to His control, we shall not “fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Third, salvation from the very presence of sin. This we obtain through Christ’s coming again. This we shall enjoy when He does come again and when we are made perfectly like Him, because we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).