Our personal experience is living proof that we all struggle with sin. For those who assume they do not, or think that they have it under control (but really don’t), read the Epistle of I John with a focus on Chapter 1 verses 8-10; here the beloved Apostle states:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” (KJV)
So there you have it, according to the Word of GOD, we all sin (you and I and everyone else on the planet-always have, and always will), and if we say that we don’t, we call the Word of GOD (Jesus; John 1:1-3, 10-14) a liar, and the truth is not in us. John was not the first, nor the only writer to share this insight; both the New Testament and the Old Testament confirm this premise.
Join with me as we look at another Apostle’s take on our not-so-divine nature.
In his Epistle to the Romans the Apostle Paul uses the term ‘sin’ (hamartia-missing the mark) forty-eight times (only fourteen times in all of his other writings); “For all have sinned (missed the mark) and come short of the glory of GOD.” (Ro 3:23; 5:12) Paul understood clearly that he and we have a problem and that problem exists in everyone. He was convinced that sin is not only an evil we commit, but a power that holds us in bondage to it; he calls us “slaves of sin” (Ro 6:17, 20). He repeats his slave imagery, “sold under sin”, emphasizing what may escape us in the twenty-first century (Ro 7:14). This portrait of hopelessness was not lost on first century readers who were intimately familiar with the practice of slavery and indentured service. His metaphor paints a vivid picture of man, freedoms lost, sold on the slave block to his new master-sin. In the same way a slave was sold to a master (without choice) and under the power and authority of the master (without choice) so he who is a slave to sin is sold to, and bound by it.
The Apostle speaks of himself as one who is “brought into captivity to the law of sin” (Ro 7:23). Here he likens himself to a captured prisoner of war, in this case taken captive by the law of sin and held in its grasp. Albeit strange to interject law here, Paul desires to contrast the law (principle ) of sin that holds the unbeliever captive and the holy Law of GOD that should instead be master. He is emphasizing the dichotomy between sins right to rule over GOD’s creation and GOD’s right to rule.
Sin has no justification in controlling those who are made in the image of GOD, but has nonetheless taken control through our flesh (the Adamic nature). With our flesh Paul says we serve the law of sin, but with our mind we serve the law of GOD. (Ro 7:25) The persistent campaign that rages within us is war between the law (principle) of sin bound in our flesh and the law (holy commandments) of GOD, recognized and embraced in our mind. Paul’s description of this conflict is an account of unregenerate man i.e., Paul before his Damascus Road meeting with the Lord (Acts 9). It is a picture of man attempting to live life based on good morals and ethical values (the Jew attempting to live by the Law).
Paul’s battle with sin rages out of control in every unregenerate person; it is nondiscriminatory and cannot be won on our own terms in our own strength. On one hand with our mind we recognize the necessity of virtue and moral character wishing and willing to incorporate these into our lives while on the other, in the flesh, we are greeted with a piercing salvo of corrupt evil desires that demand satisfaction. Wanting to do well, but unable in the weakness of our flesh (Ro 8:3) to carry it out what is righteous and good, we fall headlong into sins grasp performing the opposite. Here’s what the Apostle says about that dilemma:
“For I know that in me (that is in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of GOD after the inward man. But I see a law in my members, warring against the law of my mind. . .” (Ro 7:18-22)
We must not misunderstand his inspiration, he is not inferring that he or we are not responsible for our actions; on the contrary (Gal 6:7,8), his point is that man’s failure to put in motion what he wishes to do is an example of an outside influence at play in our lives. There is another actor in this drama; indwelling sin. Paul concludes that because of our Adamic nature, sin is resident in all of us (Ro 5:12; I Cor 15:21, 22) attempting to control what we do; this understanding causes him to cry out: “O’ wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Ro 7:24)
You might say “OK, I get it; I’m convinced, everybody sins. This isn’t news, just look around at our society. But, I call myself a Christian and I can relate to Paul’ illustration; that’s me! I know the kind of person I am and I have tried repeatedly to change but to no avail; I’m that man trying my best to do things GOD’s way and continually failing miserably. I persist in doing what I have always done even though I don’t want to, and it doesn’t get better, it gets worse when I realize that living like this means that I really do not know the One I call Lord.” O’ pitiful excuse for a man that I am, what can I do? Is there not a way out of this anathematic predicament? Yes!
Paul answers our plea; “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.” (Ro 7:25) The answer lies in Jesus Christ; He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father unless it is through Him (Jn 14:6). He and He alone has defeated the Adamic nature, the outside influence, and the actor in the drama of life lived in the flesh. Without Christ there is no way. Without Christ there is no truth. Without Christ there is no life.
So the answer to our dilemma is calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save us. If you have already asked the Lord Jesus into your life, accepting Him as Savior, but are living life outside of His strength; living on your own, having life your way, it’s time to make a change. If you haven’t given your life to Christ, it’s time to make a change. Pray this prayer with me:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ. O’ merciful and righteous Savior, I need you in my life now. I need you to take this burden (name the problem or problems that you are having) from me. I cannot continue in this and I cannot break the bondage it has on my life. Jesus, I want to be free. I’m a sinner, and I need you desperately. Forgive me of my sin. Show me the way out. Come into my life and save me! I believe You are the Son of GOD and have died for my sins and the sins of the world.
Thank you for Your mercy and Your grace-In Jesus name-Amen.
Now that you have prayed, confessed your sin, and repented (turned away from your old way to GOD’s way), it’s time to take action and action comes in the form of accepting GOD’s forgiveness coupled with obedient living in holiness. Focus your attention on reading the Word of GOD. I suggest you begin with the Gospel of John, the fourth book of the New Testament. Find a fellowship (place of worship) where the Bible is taught from Genesis to Revelation and get involved. Make yourself accountable to a Believer who will ask tough questions and give you Biblical answers to yours. Clean up your house, apartment, room or wherever you live; I mean get rid of all the stuff that prevents you from living a holy life in Christ. This includes books, magazines, Internet, movies, friends (Yes them to), jobs, anything that does not draw you nearer to your Savior. Be like those who practiced magic in Ephesus who when they came to know Christ brought all of their books together and burned them in front of everyone as a testimony of their faith in Christ. They were not interested in how much they were worth, they just wanted to be rid of what had caused them to miss GOD’s standard. (Acts 19:17-20)
Live in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. See my next post for living a holy life in Christ-"Dead Man Walking".
I welcome your response, questions, and comments; In Him-Bob Ruckman
