Romans 7:15-25
15 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. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 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. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 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.
Paul describes the struggle of following the law and not sinning against God in this scripture. He talkes about doing the very things he doesn't want to do, but still finds himself wrapped up in sin and the fight to do good. For many of us, this is our exact struggle too. How can we stop sin and start doing things that are holy and righteous in Gods site?
Romans 8:1-81 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
We first need to understand how God views us after our mistakes and struggles. He doesn't see our sin and calls us as individuals shamful or is disgusted with us as his children. He knew when he sent Jesus we would fail, and he still chose us. God wants us to come to him in our weakness so he can heal us.
2 Corinthians 12:9-109 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God knew we would struggle but his grace is sufficient for us. The sacrifice Jesus made was sufficient in covering our sin past,present and future. When Jesus died on the cross, all of our sins today were future tense. This is what he means when he says his grace is sufficient for us. The price of our sins were already paid, we no longer have to sit and sulk when we sin. If we sin, God has made a way for us to run to him so he can show us how to be free from the sin that easily entangles us. He has the KEYS to set us free from our sin that has been covered by Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:1313 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
If this is all true, Why do we still fall into sin? Jesus has given us the answer to help us over the temptation to sin and live a fleshly life.
James 4: 1-10Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
There are many things according to this scripture that causes us to sin. The most important key part is when James tells us to SUBMIT to God RESIST the devil and he WILL FLEE. The first thing he has instructed us to do is Submit to God, why? Then he says to resist the devil, why? Because it is only in the place of true sumission to God are we empowered to resist the enemy. We can't fight off sin and temptation when we can't obey and submit to God in all our ways. Obedience to Christ is what gives us power over the wildes of the enemy and the flesh.
Romans 6:1616 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
When we choose to obey Christ he gives us the power to fight off the enemy and become slaves to righteosness rather slaves to sin.
John 14:1515“If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Submission and obedience shows that we love God, our love for the father will produce true sacrifice in submission to his vision, plans and desires for our lives. When we can learn the art of submission unto Christ, the enemy nor the flesh have a hold on us.
1. Submission of the mind and casting down every vain imagination that is in enmity with God.
2. Submission of our wills to align them with Gods desires for us.
3. Submission of our bodies and being a living sacrifice.
The word is our tool to resist the enemy and to have true intimacy with God in everything pertaining to our lives. If we want change and to walk in Gods will for us, this is the KEY, Submission.
Amen!!!!!
