So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 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.
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Romans 7:14-25]
Paul gives a great explanation of our struggle with sin. Wanting to do what is right, but still doing what is wrong instead- the war between spirit and flesh. I know, even now, that I am experiencing this struggle. I'm at the end of my rope, crying out, "What a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?"
It's that last part I have a hard time recognizing, accepting, and moving forward with that- Thank God, the answer is in Jesus! Jesus has already freed us from this stupid, rotting body of death we insist on dragging around. It's done. And we have a new life in Him through the Holy Spirit- the counselor that dwells within us to help us fight. It's not something that we need to keep attempting and failing on our own. Because of God's love for us, we can win. Jesus already won the battle against sin for us. We just have to lay aside the selfish pride in our hearts and let God win the daily dissensions within to live a life more like Jesus so others will see Jesus in us and God will be glorified through us.
But we, being the prideful and selfish creatures that we are, fixate on how awful we are. How we can't get it right. How we just keep conceding to our struggles and brood over the messes that we are. I've been caught in a rut such as this for weeks. Months, even. I read this quote last weekend and it was a slap in the face:
Do you know why most Christians don't get any better or why you don't get any better? It's because you're doing it wrong, dummy! You are obsessed with sin and your faith has become another "system of laws" where you feel guilty and try and try and try to do better. Doesn't work, never has, and never will work. So stop it. Only really shallow people keep doing the same thing over and over again with the same result, thinking that the next time the result will be different. You're just making a mess out of it. People get better by obsessing on Jesus and his love…not by obsessing on their own sin and disobedience. That's what the cross is about, to wit, a covering for sin. So that's not the issue anymore. Not... only that, the imputation of Christ's righteousness to our account is a gift beyond measure assuring that God's anger will never be directed at us again.
And, by the way, an obsession with sin may be the greatest form of pride. Frankly, it is quite narcissistic.
--Steve Brown- author, radio-broadcaster and seminary professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL
Slap. People get better by obsessing on Jesus and his love, not by obsessing on their own sin and disobedience. Ugh. Jesus, not me. My life is for Jesus, not me. The reason I am where I am and I do what I am doing is for Jesus, not me. My eyes should be fixed on Jesus and his perfection, not my sin and messiness.
That was a pretty good slap, and it just might be the trick...
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