“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.” (Romans 7:18-20 NLT)
For centuries we have looked at these verses and have seen in them the excuse we think we want to profess Christ but still live like the devil. “What’s the use? I can’t help myself. I’m a sinner and I can’t help but sin.” Do you want to know the irony? All of that is exactly right. It’s all true, it’s just not complete.
If all we had was Romans 7 we would be helpless and hopeless, but gratefully, the Lord also gave us Romans 8 which says: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”
What does that mean? Does it mean we can continue to sin at will without fear of punishment and still have a home in heaven? No, not at all. It means the sin we’re powerless to overcome in the strength of our flesh, the Holy Spirit will empower us to overcome in HIS strength, but we have to ask and obey.
It means we have a choice. Yes, of course, in the energy of the flesh I am powerless to withstand the assaults of the enemy, but because I now “belong to Christ Jesus,” I have an Advocate, someone to stand by my side, someone to empower me and enable me to do what in my flesh I was powerless to do.
Because of what Christ did on the Cross, because of His payment for our sin, we can be forgiven, cleansed and freed from the penalty of our sin, but that doesn’t give us permission to continue to walk in them. The power of sin’s hold on us has been broken, so, the same faith that brought us to redemption must now be activated to lead us in the journey of sanctification.
Does that mean we’ll never sin? No, but it does mean we don’t have to sin. We may still choose to disobey and make wrong choices that result in sin, but it’s a choice we make. To believe sin has to be our default behavior is to misunderstand salvation and the gift of God’s grace. Why would the Lord’s desire be for us to be like Him – pure, sinless, perfect, if He was okay with us continuing to wallow in sin, impurity, and debauchery.
Please read Paul’s words in Ephesians 5 carefully when he writes: “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world.” There’s more, you can click on the highlighted link above to read the rest of the chapter.
Paul’s message is clear: sin has consequences, here and in eternity. It makes no sense to believe the Lord would die for our forgiveness and not give us a means of living a redeemed and forgiven life. He DID, and that’s the point Paul is making in Romans 7 and 8 and in many other places in his writings.
There’s too much here, let’s pick it up in tomorrow’s post.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 