No, it is not possible. Even after we become Christians, we will continue to live in our fallen flesh. Apostle Paul wrote to believers in Galatia saying, “the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.” (Galatians 5:17 CSB) Paul wrote about his own personal struggle against sin in Romans 7:18 (ESV), “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
It’s important to recognize that Christians will struggle against sin until death. “If we (Christians) claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth,” 1 John 1:8 (NLT).
So how should we live? Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” Matthew 16:24. Daily, we are to ask God for grace to help us obey His will.
It is by practicing the denial of self-will and obeying God’s loving will that we are transformed. Jesus, Himself, was made perfect by obeying God. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him (God) who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,” Hebrew 5:7-9.
Finally, when we do fail to obey perfectly, we are to pray to God and “confess our sins.” Then God will be “faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
This is the fight of faith, so do not be discouraged. God will not give up on you. Philippians 1:6, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” God has promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.
Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast 5-part series: “Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature?”
