Struggling with Sin
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Romans 7:14-8:4
14. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 18. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 21. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, 23. but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. 24. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Rom 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4. in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
This is one of those scriptures that, when you hear it read at church, you scratch your head and think , “What?” And I have done that many times! I think though, that what Paul is saying that we are all, and have always been—beginning with Adam—sinful by nature. I believe that Satan and his band of fallen angels battle for our souls mightily. They use every opportunity to invade our minds and our hearts – and most frightening of all – our souls. They sit in wait—ever watchful for an opportunity to seize upon us! When we’re tired; when we’re overwhelmed; when we’re thinking about how great we are for the recognition we just received at work; when we give $5 to a homeless man on the corner and think we’re pretty holy. He waits for the tiniest bit of human frailty to be exhibited—and then he pounces!
Paul is pointing out that “the law” of man has been corrupted by our sinful human nature. I think he’s trying to re-frame that contention, though. The ways of the world aren’t intended to be counter to God’s law. But man has corrupted them. And by observing and acknowledging this corruption – not only in our fellow man, but in ourselves – we can begin to turn away from and to fight against the sin that is within us—and that exists and runs rampant in the world. I’ve probably confused things even more! Bottom line: We are all sinners. God’s grace allows us to be saved from our sins. But there is a cost for our salvation: deny the law of man; become like Christ. Sin will always be with us, and within us. We cannot fight against sin on our own steam. We need God and His perfect Son to help us, to arm us, to fortify us against the ways of this sinful world.
And therein lies our hope! All is not lost! Though watching the evening news may make you think so. Though driving down the street and witnessing how other drivers on the road act; and working with people who are not saved; and living next door to people who don’t know the truth; and grocery shopping and banking and rooming next door to an unsaved family on your vacation may make you think you are the only one who gets it. Don’t get discouraged! You are not the only one. You are not alone. God is with us. And He always wins. He is stronger and more powerful than all the forces of evil!
That is cause for rejoicing! In our humility and our shame we offer up our imperfections to God. Through His Son we are forgiven—and are then commissioned to declare the Good News to others. The Holy Spirit gives the power, courage, wisdom, inspiration—whatever we need to carry out our commission! The triune God created us. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. A creator who loves us that much will never leave us alone. He just can’t do it! He dotes on us and loves us way too much to allow us to stray too far from Him. He will let us wander off; but He waits for us to return. And he doesn’t chastise us, or yell at us. He opens His arms and welcomes us back. For that we are ever humbled and grateful. For that reason we cannot stop declaring the Good News!
I hope today you will share the Good News of our salvation and redemption through God’s grace, the sacrifice of His beloved Son, and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Mary
