The Inward Struggle With Sin

Romans 7:21-8:6

The New Testament reading from this past Sunday’s Lectionary continues on with Paul’s letter to the Christian community in Rome.  In this passage Paul shares the struggle he has with sin, and how as a believer, his new nature wishes to follow God, but sometimes his old nature rears its ugly head, and tries to draw him back into sin.

When we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we become children of God, and have been given a new nature.  The believer’s new nature no longer sides with sin, but agrees with God and opposes sin (vs. 22).  The old nature, the carnal flesh nature on the other hand, still has sinful tendencies and a draw towards sin (vs 23).  These two natures are always at war against each other.  As born-again believers, the closer we draw to the Lord, the more we see His absolute holiness, the more we will perceive our own sinfulness (vs. 24).  Like Paul, we may cry out in our despair and frustration at frequently falling back into sin, asking who can help us?  Who?  The Lord Jesus!  Completely relying on Him and His power (vs. 5).

One big weapon that Satan uses against believers is that of trying to discourage us from obeying Christ and enjoying His abundant life by bringing up past sins which have been forgiven (vs. 1).  We need to realize that once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, our sins are completely forgiven.  Our judgment for those sins was removed at the cross.  Our justification is by faith alone, on the basis of God’s grace.  The word “condemnation” implies a verdict of guilty and the penalty it deserves.  No sin we ever have committed or will commit, if we have accepted Christ and are truly saved, can or will be held against us.  Jesus paid the penalty.  No sin can reverse this decision.  We must be “in Christ Jesus”, that is, united with Him in faith.  There is no hope without Jesus.  With Jesus, though, God has declared us “not guilty”!  We have freedom from sin, and power to obey Him.  Condemnation is for those who reject Jesus (John 3:36).

The Holy Spirit replaced the law, which brought death, with the law of faith - the Gospel message (vs. 2).  He is the One who gives us the power we need to live the Christian life.  The Old Testament law (found throughout Exodus - Deuteronomy) could not make one righteous (vs. 3a).  Though Jesus came in the flesh, He was without sin.  The condemnation of God against sin was poured out on the sinless Jesus (vs. 3b).

The ceremonial part of the Old Testament law has been set aside (Colossians 2:14-17).  The civil part of the law was transferred to human government.  The moral law, which is based in God’s character, is presented in the Ten Commandments, which we seek to continue to follow.  The Holy Spirit gives us the power to obey God.  The word “walk” refers to our lifestyle, our habits and thinking that are present in our life (vs. 4).  Is our “walk” more according to our old nature, our flesh, or is it more controlled by our new nature and the Holy Spirit who indwells us?

In this world there are two categories of people - those who are controlled by their sinful nature, and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit.  The unsaved can only be in the first category.  The unbeliever’s mindset seeks to satisfy their unredeemed flesh.  They are spiritually dead.  Once we have accepted Jesus, we have the desire to follow Him.  We are spiritually minded, and seek to satisfy the new nature.  They seek to please God and have peace with Him.  Following God will bring us life and peace.  (vs. 5-6).

As Paul reminds us in this passage, if we are born again, and are “in Christ” and have a new nature.  We have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us.  It is through His power that we can walk in that nature, not in our own power.  Our own power will only draw us to our old nature.  If and when we do fall back into old sinful patterns, which we will from time to time, we do not need to fear condemnation from God.  There may be discipline, but never the fear of condemnation.  Jesus paid that penalty, and we can praise Him for that!