In Psalm 121:1 the psalmist asks: “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?” He then gives the answer himself: “My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
This has not changed – our help is still from the Lord. Through His power God enables the new disciple (Christian-believer) to do these things and to live this new life. The Lord Jesus describes it in John 15:5:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing“
The Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, teach us, guide us, and equip us with power (John 14 & 16; Acts 1:8). We have no excuse – if we are willing, He will give us the ability through His Spirit. If He gives us the ability, and we consciously live in dependence on the Holy Spirit, then we can. Our new (reborn) life is from God, through His Holy Spirit. We can live it only through His Holy Spirit, never by our own strength.
Just as one believes that Christ accomplished your salvation, so you must believe that the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to live the life of faith. Paul expresses it in Colossians 2:6–7:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (NIV)
Paul declares his complete dependence on Christ through the Holy Spirit in Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,”
And in Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me,”
Also, in Galatians 5:16:
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
If a person is a reborn believer, the Spirit of God dwells in him and will give him strength to live the new life. Romans 8:8–9 says:
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
If you have read 1 John as recommended, you would have seen this precious truth in 1 John 5:4–5:
“For whatever is born of God (born again Christian) overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world (sin in your life) – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” See also 1 John 3:6–11.
We have no excuse – the power and help from above are available if we truly desire them. Romans 8:4:
“He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Keep in mind, the “requirements of the law” are nothing more than the practical living out of biblical love.
Will God, through His Spirit, make a holy life possible if we truly desire it? In 2 Peter 1:3 we receive this assurance:
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,”
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24:
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
Believe that through Christ you are dead to sin (excessive self-love). Romans 6:11:
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
Believe that as a child of God you are led by the Spirit of God, according to Romans 8:14:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (children) of God.“
Also believe that the love of God has been poured into your heart according to Romans 5:5:
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.“
The new disciple (a Christian believer) is someone who earnestly strives to live in holiness—a life devoted to God. 1 John 3:6:
“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.“
Unfortunately, the self – the ego – remains a problem in us as believers, always wanting to be first. Even in devoted followers of the Lord Jesus this remains a struggle, which must be resisted with power from above. Therefore, if in a moment of weakness, we do sin by giving in to the self, there is comfort in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
The Lord Jesus also knows human weakness and our tendency toward sin. Therefore, He teaches His disciples to pray, among other things: Mat 6:12-13:
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
This promise of forgiveness must never be used as an excuse to sin and then simply confess and receive forgiveness again.
This new life – a life of complete peace and joy in the Lord, regardless of circumstances – will be possible if we can (or will) say with Paul:
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)