One of the key elements for a Christian to have victory over sin is to have the right mindset about sin. I have met too many believers who are still chained to their past sins and really bad decisions. Instead of walking as a free Spirit-filled believer, they walk as a guilt-driven, I'm not worthy of forgiveness, flesh-filled, stinking thinking, defeated Christian.
We need to raise the standard of our living. This means that we need to see ourselves as children of the King, confess that we are children of the King, walk like the children of the King, and behave accordingly. When we live a "what's the use" attitude we expect to sin and are surprised when we don't. Instead, we should expect to walk a Spirit-filled, Holy Spirit empowered holy life and be surprised when we don't.
True Christian love does not come forth from a guilt-ridden heart. True Christian love comes forth from a heart that is pure and having a good conscience and a sincere faith. This means I am not walking around chained with guilt from my past.
1 Timothy 1:5 ESV The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
If we don't walk in faith and a good conscience we stand the possibility of having our faith shipwrecked.
1 Timothy 1:19 ESV holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
The first Covenant, the Covenant of the Law, could cover our sins but it could not give me a pure conscience.
Hebrews 9:9 ESV (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
The New Covenant, the Covenant of grace, the Covenant of the cross, the Covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ, frees me from the guilt of sin and gives me a pure conscience.
Hebrews 9:13-14 ESV For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, (14) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.