Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. (I John 3:7-9)

We must be born again in Christ in order to experience the new nature God has for us.  That nature is the new wine of God’s presence living inside of us guiding us into all right conduct and behavior.  Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”  His good purpose is for you to be grafted into the vine and to live a life not bound by sin and oppression and to be fruitful.

When the Spirit of God begins to operate inside of us, we are born into a new experience.  The dirt and turmoil of our past lives is lifted from us and the new wine which comes by a supernatural encounter with God begins to change our lives.

The head master of the wedding banquet in John 2:10 said regarding the miracle of the wine, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”  To me this man is prophesying about the work that Christ is about to do to the nature of man.

Because of the work on the cross, a supernatural transformation took place.  The dirty water in the clay pots of mankind was turned–by the work of Christ–into the best wine.  This is accomplished in our lives by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit working in us.

Jesus said that He is coming for a church without ‘spot’ or ‘wrinkle.’  This sounds like a completely transformed church to me.  I believe we are entering into the hour of the spotless bride.

This nature that we come to in Christ is a sinless nature.  Those who begin to walk the path of Christ have experienced being released from old sins that once bound us.  Indeed if you have walked the path long enough, then you have experienced release from many sins.  Your new nature begins to amaze you because no longer do you look like the sinner than you once were.  The bondage of depression and anxiety is lifted and peace takes its place.

I don’t think we can enter into the time of the spotless bride unless we begin to believe that is what God wants to do.  There are many Christians who do not believe that they can be free from sin.  I wonder if this mindset is not stopping the church from becoming the radiant bride.

We need to pray that God will help us to believe that we can be transformed.  Indeed it sounds like John thought that you would recognize Christians because they would be sin free.  He thought that if you sinned you were of the devil.  How many of us ministers would say that today?  How many of us would rather offer counseling than deliverance?  How many of us would rather put together a self-help program than declare a miracle of healing of sin?

The next time you are tempted to think that it is you who works and wills sin out of your life, remember this is a lie and that God works and wills sin out of your life for His good pleasure.  This is the grace of God.  All you have to do is agree with His work in your life and repent and forgive.   As you do, you will become free.