If the meaning of Jesus' words "it is finished" means we are free from sin, why do we still struggle with things like food addictions, temper outbursts, gossip and other self disciplinary issues?
Perhaps because we are attempting to do it by our own strength we fail. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control (Galatians 5:22-24). Jesus gave us the secret to allowing this fruit to be manifest in our daily lives when he said "he who abides in me bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Paul writes about how to do this when he said, "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their mind on the things of the spirit...for if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live (Romans 8:5,13). And in the letter to the Ephesians he writes, " those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires".
Christ has given us all we need to successfully battle the ungodly desires (2 Peter 1:3). We can be victor over any addictive behavior by first acknowledging the problem, secondly acknowledging we cannot stop it on our own, thirdly asking God in the moment of temptation for strength to overcome, fourthly walking away quickly and finally deliberately refocusing our mind on something spiritual like glorifying God.
