Romans 7:7-25, The Battle with Sin

 ⁷Does this mean that the Law is sinful? Certainly not! But if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known what sin is really like. For example, I would not have known what it means to want something that belongs to someone else, unless the Law had told me not to do that. ⁸It was sin that used this command as a way of making me have all kinds of desires. But without the Law, sin is dead.
    ⁹Before I knew about the Law, I was alive. But as soon as I heard that command, sin came to life, ¹⁰and I died. The very command that was supposed to bring life to me, instead brought death. ¹¹Sin used this command to trick me, and because of it I died. ¹²Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good.
    ¹³Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. ¹⁴We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate. ¹⁶Although I don't do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good. ¹⁷So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
    ¹⁸I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot. ¹⁹Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong. ²⁰And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
    ²¹The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right. ²²With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God. ²³But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do. ²⁴What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? ²⁵Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me.
   So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin.

I counseled an employee. He had been rude and dismissive to a co-worker, who had complained to me. During our conversation the employee excused his actions by saying it was his co-worker's fault for being so sensitive.

Huh?

We hear it all the time...people blame their bad behavior on others. Notwithstanding the fact that others have responsibilities as well, it has never been accepted rationale to blame others for our own actions. The attitude demonstrates an alarming lack of maturity and is destructive to relationships.

But..."the devil made me do it!"

"Really! I'm not a bad person. That's a stupid rule!"

And so, we blame the rule for our transgression. If the rule didn't exist we wouldn't be guilty of anything. And, really, what's the big deal?

Can we imagine the state we'd be in if God had his standards but never shared them with us? How would we figure our #4 on our own? Or, #9? Paul says we ought to be thankful to God for the information and consider the Law our friend. After all...it's what can keep us out of trouble.

Even at that, we struggle. As believers we agree with the Law but our human lusts are at war with the Law. This is a lifelong struggle that we cannot escape. The power of the Holy Spirit can mitigate the tension but it proves the truth...that we are all "recovering sinners".

What a dilemma! Is there any hope? "What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me".

Remember yesterday? "Jesus paid it all!"

Live boldly out there today...