“For we know that the law is
spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for
what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which
I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I
that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: 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 bringing 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? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself
serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now
no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in
that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of
the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit” (Romans 7:14-8:4).
Introduction
Why do we sin if we are indeed born again? Should we not be totally free
from temptation and sin since we accepted Christ as Saviour? These questions
have troubled some Christians for centuries, while others are happy to go on
sinning without question. Though we are not perfect, the Bible offers us no
warrant not to strive to be so.
Slaves no longer
We are a new creation, “Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), but this does not
mean we have already come to perfection. Everyday life proves this fact, for we
are constantly dealing with the fleshly desire to indulge in sin. Nor does it
mean that the Holy Spirit is not actively working into our hearts the power of a
sanctified life. “But we all, with open
face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same
image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2
Corinthians 3:18). The word “changed”
literally means “being
transformed” (Young’s Literal Translation), therefore
the Lord’s work
is progressive.
Our opening text reveals something of the dilemma felt by
believers who seem to be constantly burdened by their sin and lack of
perfection, but we have to note the radical change that has taken place. Though
we obviously do sin, saving grace means that we are no longer enslaved by it.
The power of sin no longer rules in our lives if we have truly given ourselves
over to Christ. The slave master has lost his authority over us. “Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6) … “And
have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him
that created him” (Colossians 3:10).
The battle
We recognise that there is a battle raging in our souls
over the power of sin. Satan, through temptation, is trying to bring us back
into slavery, but the Holy Spirit is drawing us into a deeper walk of faith and
holiness. The outcome of the battle is determined by the choices we make. “That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And
that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Who or what do we live for? “Likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye
should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as
instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those
that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God” (Romans 6:11-13).
New life
We see then that it all depends on who we yield [submit]
ourselves to. This new life that is given to us through the sacrifice of Christ
on the cross reveals that sin does not have to dominate us. “Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness
of life” (Romans 6:4). We are to fix our minds on this fact rather than
allowing sin to bring us into mental and spiritual bondage. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). The word “reckon”
can be translated as “consider”. Let us meditate on the fact that we
have a living relationship with the One who paid the price for our deliverance
from sin, and in doing so cooperate with Him rather than the flesh.
Conclusion
This battle for perfection is not going to go away while we
live in this fallen world. But with daily temptations comes daily strength to
overcome. Everyday we must learn to trust in Christ and His righteousness more.
God is going to finish the work He has started in us. “Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). As we
discover more sins that need to be eradicated from our lives, so we come to
Christ for the cleansing power and the power to resist. “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) … “Let
us go on unto perfection” (Hebrews 6:1) by setting our “affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
(Colossians 3:2).
© 5/1/2009