“For the good that I would I do not do: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and brining me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7: 19-24 KJV)
“For I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7: 19-24 NIV)
This is something we all struggle with. Anyone who tells you differently is lying. 1st John 8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” The struggle against the flesh, as Paul puts it, is a constant battle. Many Christians lose heart when they hear other Christians or the world tell them that they are not saved, or they are a bad Christian, or they are a hypocrite because they have habitual sin in their life, but here is Paul, arguably one of the most influential men of the Christian faith and author of the majority of the new testament. Founder of churches, leader, pastor, man of deep faith. Called by God to preach the word to the very people he persecuted. And he says that his flesh wants to sin. He even says that he is a wretched man and asks who will deliver him from his body, his flesh, his house of sin. I find this to be a great encouragement to me. If Paul himself says that the law of his flesh desires sin so much that he is prepared to die so that he can live without sin in heaven, then I know that my struggles with sin are not something I can overcome on my own through shear force of will. In fact, Paul chastises the Galatians for thinking that they can achieve sinlessness or good works of the Spirit through their own will power, “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3 NIV)
You see, overcoming sin is done through our salvation in Christ and through his continued work in us through the Holy Spirit. When we become saved, we become two people. Our spirit person which is cleansed of sin, and the old, dead flesh that continues to try to live by the law of sin. This is what Paul is speaking of when he says that his “inner being delights in God” but that he “sees another law at work in him.” Wanting to do good and trying to do good, and wanting to be sinless or overcome habitual sin in the flesh through your own will power will never be something you can achieve. Intercession with God will help you to discover what drives your sin and the wisdom of the Lord will lead you to break the chains that bind you, one by one, step by step, until through his guidance and wisdom we are able to finally be rid of that sin. Rest in the promise of God’s word that if you have asked Jesus to be your savior as it says in Romans 10:13 then you are saved. Take a moment, realize that you are saved and live under the grace of God. Then sit quietly, seek the Lord, and ask for his guidance and wisdom. Let him show you which step to take, and heed that voice. Have a great day and God bless!
