While we must be changed at the second coming of Jesus, we also must be changed today if we want to follow Jesus. It is sad that so many do not understand that conversion is a radical transformation of nature. It is true that we will not have holy flesh until the second coming, but we can have a holy character while living in sinful flesh. It is the greatest miracle that God can do. To create Adam holy was easy for God, but to re-create you and me into a reflection of Christ while in these vile bodies is not easy for God. It requires our cooperation. He does His part, but we must do ours. We must learn of Him who gave all for us and then yield up our wicked sin polluted hearts that He might cleanse us from all sin. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin....If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:7,9.
When we are truly converted, this is justification, we become partakers of God's divine nature. It is then that we are able to keep the flesh, our vile body, under subjection at all times. Power to resist sin comes when we are justified, are converted. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Corinthians 9:27.
Justification has to do with being reconciled to God that we might be removed from the condemnation of having sinned. The wages of sin is death and all have sinned. So all deserve to die. But, because Christ has suffered and died for all men, we may live IF we will accept the Gift of that sacrifice. It is called "justification". That is we can be justified in having eternal life. How can we be justified in having eternal life? By accepting the free gift offered, by dying to self, by making a FULL surrender to Jesus. "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:17-19.
"They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life..." We who receive God's grace and His righteousness will be saved. This means that we allow Christ to have the heart, the whole heart. When we do this, we are filled with His Spirit and that is why we are justified of having life, we are made holy by His indwelling presence. All of the fruits of His Spirit are in the life, not one is missing. The moral character is holy. The motives are changed at conversion. It is a radical change that takes place when Jesus comes into the heart. This is true conversion, this is justification. One is also sanctified when converted, but both our justification and our sanctification must continue daily. Without Christ we can do no good thing, but with Christ in the heart, we can all things. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.
When we are truly justified, converted, then the promise that I will have enmity towards sin is seen in the life. The sinner has power to overcome. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.