Our struggles with sin

Romans 7:15-20 (NLT)

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.  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.

Years ago I was teaching an adult Bible class on the book of Romans.  When this passage from Romans 7 was read and discussed, everyone in the class agreed that this described themselves.  There may not be another passage in Scripture that strikes people the same way.  With very few exceptions, rational and introspective people will agree that we want to do what is right, but don’t do what is right all the time and we know what we should not do, but sometimes do it anyway.

Why do you do something you know is a sin?  Why do you sometimes commit the kinds of sins listed in Exodus 20 (Ten Commandments), Mark 7:20-23, Galatians 5:19-21 and elsewhere?  Why do you not do something that you know you should do, e.g. skip church, fail to give time, energy and money in needy circumstances, fail to help others, (remember Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan)?  Why do you, as Paul puts it in Romans 7:21, want to do what is right, but inevitably do what is wrong?  Right now, as you are reading this, you are being reminded of a sin of commission and/or a sin of omission and asking yourself, “why did I do that?” or “why didn’t I do that?”

There is an answer and also a solution.  Paul gives both, but you have to read further in Romans 7 and especially Romans 8.  The answer is that you do not do what is right because you were born into sin.   Paul writes in Romans 7:25 that “because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin”.   All human beings were born as sinners because of the original sin of Adam and Eve.   Romans 3:23 states that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  Romans 5:12 states that “when Adam sinned, sin entered the world.  Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”  You hate to think of yourself as a sinner, but that’s what you are according to Scripture.   You hate to think of your children or grandchildren as sinners, but they are, not because they inherited sin from their parents, but because  we all are born into a fallen world that is filled with sin and death.  I do believe that if a child dies before he/she is capable of knowing the Law (Old Testament commandments), that child is with Jesus (Matt 18:3-6, Mark 10:5, Luke 18:17). 

The good news---in fact, great news---is that there is a solution to your sin nature.  This solution does not mean that you stop sinning, but it does mean that there exists forgiveness for your sin and you will not be condemned forever.  You must read Romans 8.  The first verse gives the conclusion, then subsequent verses 2 through 17 explain the conclusion.  Romans 8:1 states that if you belong to Christ Jesus, you are not condemned.  The condemnation of sin is that it separates you from God.  However, Christ, through His death on the cross, paid God’s penalty for sin.  By believing in Jesus and what He did for you, you are freed from the power of sin that leads to death and separation.  Again, you must read and meditate on Romans 8:1-17 to understand and appreciate what God through Christ did for you to deal with the sin nature you were born with.    

While these truths in Romans 7 should give you great comfort and encourage you not to beat yourself up and think of yourself as no good because you cannot stop sinning, Romans 8 does teach you must transform your body, mind, and will to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not to be controlled by your sin nature (read, for example Romans 8:9).  This is a daily process of praying for forgiveness for your sins and asking the Holy Spirit to take control of your life that day.  All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:14). 

In light of your struggles with sin, how do you feel after reading Paul’s conflict in Romans 7? Do his words help you to have a more realistic self-image?  What kind of sin are you most struggling with that you need to fight its dominance by allowing the Holy Spirit greater control of your life?