“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. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me
from the body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7: 15, 24-25
The struggle within, that ageless battle between
our old selves and our new and righteous natures, is something we all
must take control of at some point in our Christian lives. We cannot
allow ourselves to be taken by surprise at the battle, nor can we
choose to sit idly by as the war rages, simply hoping it will pass. We
must know our ground and actively defend it. We do this through
personal inspection.
The Word of God in 2 Corinthians 13:5 admonishes us
to participate in such honest self examination, but I've found in
ministry that too often we try to ignore the things in us that need
correction. Beloved, neglect will not cause issues to disappear. We
must face them in the light of Scripture, and there find the remedy for
our souls' ills and lasting victory in the name of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, if we're not careful, we can become
comfortable in our imagined level of maturity and insensitive to
younger brothers and sisters who really want God to be glorified in
their lives. Yes, we need to stand boldly against sin, but we also have
to be loving and compassionate. We can't point fingers of judgment,
sending folks to hell at every opportunity. We need to come alongside
them and lift them up, lingering and laboring until they find maturity
in that area.
Romans 6:11 says, “Reckon yourselves to
be dead indeed to sin.”
It's easy to glorify God with our spirit in praise
and worship on Sundays, but it's not so easy to glorify God with our
bodies. I'm not just talking about sexual sins either. You may not
struggle with lust, but you might find being a busybody and a gossip
enticing.
Verse 12 goes on to say, “Therefore, do
no let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in its
lusts.”
You can't let sin have dominion over you. After
salvation we're no longer slaves to sin. We are saved, sanctified, set
apart from sin and for God. But just because you're sanctified doesn't
mean you no longer have the ability to sin. You're not under sin's
obligation, but you still have the capacity to rebel against God if you
walk according to your flesh rather than His Word.
Some students of the Bible would argue me on that.
“The Bible says he that is truly born again cannot commit sin.” They
are 100% correct. Still, we must understand 1 John 5:18 in context. It
doesn't mean you no longer have the capacity to sin; it simply means
born again people no longer practice sin as a lifestyle.
You can and will walk in sin if you take your eyes
off Jesus. Our spirits are willing but our flesh is weak. We want to
say and do the right things. But like Paul, it seems like we end up
doing the wrong thing regardless and repeatedly. Great news, though:
Paul gives us the keys to lasting victory.
The first thing you need to do to
find deliverance and lasting victory is to run to Jesus.
Let me say it this way: run, don't walk. You can't make a casual stroll
at a time like this; you have to run to Jesus. Your deliverance is in
Him. He won't leave you hanging; He'll come to your rescue. Whoever
calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
The second thing you need to do is
change your mind. The battle rages there. Until you get
it straight in your mind, your body will do what was conceived in your
mind. Your mind has to be transformed, changed by the renewing power of
the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
In order to change your mind, you have to come in
repentance. “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 3:2).”
You've got to move your mindset from one of the world to the new you in
the kingdom of God.
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not
fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the
law. All the law can do is reveal the problem; it can't resolve the
problem. The law was established and presented to show you your need
for salvation, but it could never bring you true salvation. That is
found solely in the One Who fulfilled the law - Jesus Christ.
Finally, you need to live in the
Spirit of God. Paul exhorts us in Philippians chapter 3
verse 3, “Have no confidence in the flesh.” Forget
your reasons for personal pride, your titles and certificates. They may
appear to signal you've reached your destiny, but they're rubbish
compared to the righteousness of Christ. The goal, the real destiny we
seek, is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We must
remember to actively press on toward that end.
Paul is a great role model for us in avoiding the
snare of sin. He was focused and maintained, submitting to God and
willingly choosing to forget things behind him to press toward that
goal. He wasn't superhuman; he was just convinced in his spirit that
with Christ's help he could be victorious over the flesh.
Beloved, it is necessary for you to emulate Paul if
you are to live righteously. Like Paul, you must come to the place of a
willing release of those hindering things or people behind you. Keep
your eyes on the prize and strain every spiritual muscle to make it to
the end of this race. If you make a determination to live this Word
we've uncovered today, I assure you it will influence every area of
your life and bring you victory over sin in Christ Jesus our Lord.