I have had a chronic back problem for some years. One of the reasons for my problem was bad postural habits. I had developed a habit of keeping my knees straight and bending my back while stooping, when I should have been doing the opposite—keeping my back straight and bending my knees. Recently I have been training myself to adopt the right posture, which has helped me and greatly healed my back. This reminded me of my spiritual training.
The Bible tells us that when we receive Jesus in our hearts, we become new creations. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But salvation does not automatically bring an end to our tendency to sin. We had developed habits and patterns of sinfulness in our old lives, which we carry into our new lives. We need to train our hearts in a new direction, towards godliness (1 Timothy 4:7–8). We need to put off the habits of the old self and put on the habits of the new self, created after the likeness of God (Ephesians 4:22–24).
In his benediction to the church in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul prayed that God would sanctify them completely and that their whole spirit, soul, and body would be kept blameless at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Just like the Old Testament tabernacle had three main areas—the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, and the Outer Court—we can look at human beings as having three entities—spirit, soul, and body. Our spirits could represent the Holy of Holies or innermost part of the temple, our souls and minds could be like the Holy Place, and our bodies like the Outer Court. When we are born again, we are re-created in the image of God in our spirits. However, our souls and minds have to be renewed for godliness to manifest in our outer selves (Romans 12:2).
As believers, we are to walk in the consciousness of our new identity in Jesus; we are made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV). 1 The Holy Spirit works within us as we shed old habits and form new ones. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
- https://www.gotquestions.org/to-be-sin-for-us.html ↑