The War Within
“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; 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 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. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 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.” (Romans 7:14-25)
Today’s Morsel: If we are not careful, we can think that Paul is struggling with sin in his life from some of Paul’s writings. But Paul isn’t struggling with sin. In his writings, he’s showing us what it is like to struggle when we retain sin in our lives as born-again believers. This is why we must repent of our sins and go on to perfection or we will struggle in this life. Paul gives us an example that the law of God is spiritual, but he is carnal. He’s giving us a picture of walking in the spirit versus walking in the flesh. Remember, now he's given us an example. And because when one is carnal, he says “for that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.” Because when we walk in the flesh, we are going to do always those things which are contrary to the Spirit. And that is why many struggle in their walk with God and are not doing His will. They have not stopped walking in the flesh. In Romans Chapter 8, Paul says: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:5-14) Paul continues by saying, “Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” He said I have sin in my life if I am not able to follow the law. And because of this, he says, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” You can’t do good when there’s sin present in your life. It is always going to be war within. You know what you ought to do, but sin won’t let you and the war rages. If you want to learn how to have victory over sin in your life, then you must walk in the Spirit so that you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Sing: Let me walk with You Jesus, don’t ever leave me alone. For without You I could never, no, never make heaven my home.
Thought For Today: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
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