Okay,
let's get real! Many people quote Paul's famous words in Romans chapter seven
concerning his struggle with sin. The good he wanted to do, he could not do;
but the sinful things that he did not want to do, he just couldn't help
himself, and he did them more than he wanted to.
Some
people use this concept to excuse sin in themselves and others. They say that
even Paul could not overcome sin. When they struggle with walking in the flesh,
rather than in the spirit (Galatians 5:15-25), they justify this penchant to
sin as common to all humans.
We
stop right there. Why? If you read on, Paul makes a proclamation that is the
key to this struggle between the flesh and the spirit. Then…he makes a
victorious statement at the end of chapter seven that we can grasp, understand
and apply in our own life.
Paul
cries out in anguish, wondering who will deliver him from the bondage of death
through sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 7:24).
This is when he reveals the secret to
overcoming sin, when he proclaims:
"Thanks
be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 7:25a)
I
can hear him shouting these words to the rooftops. I know that I shouted them when
I first read these words, and I continue to shout them every time I think about
them.
Then,
Paul goes on to inform us in Romans 8:2 that the Law of the Spirit sets us free
from the Law of Sin and Death. We cannot keep from sinning until we realize that
though we are powerless over our flesh, Christ in us overcame sin and death for
us.
In
our mind, we know that we are a slave to God and we desire to obey His
precepts, because there is safety within their parameters. Yet, when our flesh
is tempted, we do not access the power of God in us to resist temptation and to
find His way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Like
Paul, we are set free from the dictates of our flesh, free not to sin. The
Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is our guarantee of Christ's presence in
our life. He gives life to our spirit, soul and body as He crucifies the sinful
desires in our life.
Those
who live according to the dictates of the flesh do so because our mind is
focused on the flesh; however, once we set our mind on what the Spirit of God
within us is directing us to think, say and do, we start to live according to
God's perfect principles, and the peace of God reigns in our heart (Romans
8:5-6).
Prayer:
Father
God, although You saved us from our self, we are still human and we still fall
back into the trap of sin once in a while. Thank You that, in times like these,
we share in Paul's joyful announcement that there is no condemnation for
authentic Believers who love You and walk in Your purpose for our life (Romans
8:1).
However,
You make it clear, that if we say we have no sin, we fool our self (1 John 7:8;
Romans 7:25). Also, if we continue to live in sin, Your Spirit does not reside
within us (Hebrews 10:26; Romans 8:7-9). Yet, You want to rebirth our spirit
and give us power over our sinful nature (1 John 1:7-9; Galatians 2:20). Help
us to enter Your rest (Hebrews 4:10), to walk in Your Spirit (Galatians
5:15-25) and to follow Your will for our life each moment of the day.
Thought
for the Day:
Christ
in us already overcame sin and the flesh for us, when He fulfilled the
requirements of God's law now He gives us a way of escape from every temptation
we will ever experience (1 Corinthians 10:13), because if indeed we are Born
Again children of God, He makes us heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus as we
share in His glory. - Romans 8:3-4, 8:10-17
