SUNDAY July 25, 2021
Sin Dwells in Us
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Romans 7:14-17
Paul realized the Law was holy––spiritual. Paul did not always recognize that within himself he warred against his flesh, now he was fully aware that he was sold under sin. He understood the battle with his flesh––his carnality. How many times do we find ourselves in the same kind of situation as Paul?
The renewed, inward man wants to please God, but the flesh does not want to. There are times when our inward man desires to pray and to serve God. Yet how many times do we yield to our flesh, fail to pray, and neglect to serve God? Can we in our own strength try to fight these spiritual battles?
If a person is not governed by the Spirit of God, they will fail to have a victorious, Christian life. Christians are to walk in the Spirit, and as they do, they will not fulfill the desires of their flesh. Paul clarified this truth:
I [Paul] say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish… (Galatians 5:16-17).
If you try to please God without walking in the Spirit, you will be frustrated. Paul encourages us in this battle by saying: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). It is through Christ alone that we can have the victory.
Believers are to walk by faith in obedience, knowing that apart from Christ, they can do nothing (John 15:5). Christians are not perfect––they are not in heaven yet. They are a work in progress (Philippians 1:6).
A victorious Christian life is not a superior brand of Christianity reserved for the elite of the elect. It is the normal Christian life for every Christian.
~Ronald Dunn~
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