I'll get slammed whether I preface my answer or not but I'll do it anyway in hopes that someone might understand.

I was not raised to be anything. Sometimes went to the United Methodist church til I was 10 years old. When I was 14 my parents separated and I went the sex drugs and rock-n-roll route. When I was 21 I started searching for God. I looked into a few 'religions' and new age things and then borrowed my sisters kjb. Read it for a few days. I had not been to church nor had anyone preached or witnessed to me, but one late night, 2AM in the morning, on my way home from partying I kinda had a breakdown. Called out to Jesus, the breakdown went away (I was born again) and I went home and went to sleep.

I was putting another band together and met a drummer that was going to visit a new little "spirit filled/non-denominational" church, so I went with him, then went regularly. Years later I went to bible college but quit. The doctrines people believe have always amazed me. I have studied the bible for 16 years in the hebrew and greek and have always had major issues with 98%+ of the 'church'.

Don't worry I'm getting to the point.

Something wasn't right. I was missing something but I couldn't figure out what it was. I finally came to the conclusion what I had, was not at all what God intended. I was born again, but there was still some major sin issues in my life that neither I or God was happy with, but I couldn't stop. This taking up my cross, dying daily, asking for forgiveness of sins that are already forgiven, knowing I would be doing it again that day and being unable to stop the never ending lifeless, religious, cookie-cutter-christian experience could not be anything other than what all religions offer and what I always resented. I refused. Not God. Just refused to be religious. I refused to 'go to church' (as if that's possible) and hear the heresy. I refused to be a part of the mustard seed church (Laodocian) that grew into a large tree inhabited by devils and false doctrine (leaven=corruption) of the pharisees. The mustard seed parable is not saying the church will be great and good. Just look around!!!

Ten years later the truth, and what I had missed, was revealed. Romans 5-8, Galations, and Colossians tell me I am dead. I am to live as one alive from the dead. I am crucified with Christ, yet I live, but it's not me, it's Christ in me the hope of glory. Dead men can't sin. He that is dead is free from sin and alive unto God. Yes, here I am typing on a computer. Like Abram believed his dead body was able to produce seed, I believe I was crucified with Christ and I'm incapable of sin. Yes, I do still sin, but so much less it's like being born again, again. I have completely stopped sins in a few days that I struggled with for 14 years!

When I do sin I have an advocate. That is his office. What he does. He is already mine. I do not need to confess the sin that has already been forgiven for him to speak on my behalf. He is God, he knows, and defends. You'll have to re-read 1John 1 which is a contrast themed book showing the saved and the sinner. It is not telling you to confess to be forgiven! How could it if you already are forgiven past, present, and future?

If I want to carry a cross I will need to risk my life for preaching the gospel because in every case that is what carrying the cross and dying daily is in the bible. How can I die to self when myself was crucified 2000 years ago? The old man is dead and I am a new man. Christianity is not ancient greek dualism.

All 143 times in the bible flesh is flesh. The word is sarx in the greek. The sinful nature doctrine is bunk. Spiritual death is bunk. I can show you a lot of scripture that say mans spirit is alive, well, and functioning, but no one can show me one verse that speaks of spiritual death. Adam was already corruptible and so was the world in which he lived. He had the tree of life from which if he ate he would live forever, remember? He was mortal before 'the fall'. The day he ate from the tree of knowledge the tree of life was guarded and 'dying he would die' (translation -look it up!). Animal blood was spilled so something did died that day for immediate payment of sin. So Adam lived, had sons and daughters, and died. So did all of his descendants. So in Adam all physically die and physical death passes on all men because we don't have the tree of life to counter our mortality. Jesus died physically and killed us physically to answer the problem. Flesh.

Point? The truth has set me free! Free from false doctrine of men and doctrines of devils, which are religion. I have absolute confidence in Jesus, the God-man. I have his resurrection power and his provision displayed in my life for all to see. When temptation comes I believe I am dead to sin and the power of God intervenes in a moment of worship far greater than I ever imagined. Try it!