(Note: Paul is continuing his discussion of the Old Testament Law.)
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. 17 In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
REFLECTIONS
Written by James Davidson
There is a battle raging within each of us Christians. We are forgiven. We have the assurance of eternal life. We have the Holy Spirit working in us transforming us from one degree of glory to another. But our old rebellious nature still lives on in us. We know what is right. God has taught us that through his Word. And we often want to do what is right because the Spirit is working in us. Sometimes we do but often we don’t. Our self-centered nature gets the better of us and we disobey God. Or we can do the right thing with mixed motives. To paraphrase one commentator: ‘Even our very best acts and activities are disfigured by the egotism which is still powerful within us.’ We are all very much works in progress. And we will be till Jesus calls us home.
It’s important to accept this truth about ourselves. Otherwise, we will have too high expectations of ourselves. We could think that as a Christian we should be virtually perfect. We could be devastated when we sin as if our salvation was in doubt. No, this struggle is the normal Christian life.
And it’s important to accept this truth about our fellow believers. Otherwise, we could have too high expectations of them. We could expect them to be virtually perfect. We could be devastated when they sin against us or sin generally. No, we should expect to be sinned against from time to time by our fellow believers. This is normal church life.
On the other hand, we shouldn’t use this truth to justify being complacent about our sin. After all, the apostle Paul has just said in the previous chapter: ‘Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.’ (6:13-14)
In short, be realistic about the sinful nature, but strive for godliness.
Let’s pray: Father, you know that our sinful nature still lives in us. So often we want to do what is good but we cannot carry it out. Please forgive us. By the power of your Spirit, help us to increasingly present the parts of our body to you as instruments of righteousness, for your glory. Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James is one of our assistant ministers.